Fire Safety Guidelines and Requirements CenturyLink Field and Event Center June 2015 The Seattle Fire Department is required to review and enforce all issues relating to public safety in assembly occupancies in the City of Seattle. The authority for fire safety requirements resides in the Seattle Fire Code and the Seattle Building Code. Our goal is to attempt to maintain a philosophy of flexibility when dealing with event planners, with the knowledge that public safety issues are the Seattle Fire Department s primary concern. The purpose of this document is to: Provide guidelines for the operation of the Stadium and the Event Center Help planners of public assembly events with the permit process, including; Permit application Floor plan approval Issuance of needed permits. Before a public assembly event can take place in the City of Seattle, the three permit process items must be completed. Communication between the event planners, the Stadium/Exhibition Center and the Seattle Fire Department is crucial to the issuance of a permit and a successful and safe public event. Most public assembly occupancies are designed and built with minimal emergency exiting to maximize meeting and exhibit space. Therefore, the Seattle Fire Marshal s Office cannot allow for compromise on the size or amount of viable exits and aisles. When exits and aisles deviate from the standard SEC floor plans or there is a proposal to partially block or visually obscure mandated exits a written proposal must be submitted to the Fire Marshal or their representative. These proposals will be handled on a case by case basis and are subject to review prior to issuance or denial of a public assembly permit. Roles and Responsibilities: SEC Coordinator (Seattle Fire Department) is responsible for ensuring the event complies with the Seattle Fire Code or an acceptable alternative. Client Representative is responsible to the Client, the Fire Marshal, and the SEC. Contractor Representative is responsible to the Client, the Fire Marshal and the SEC. Fire Marshal is responsible to the public for all safety issues. Permitting Process: The Permit Application for Public Assembly, Permit Application Fee and floor plans need to be sent together as a package to: Seattle Fire Department Page 1 of 5
Attention: Permit Desk (2 nd Floor) 220 3 rd Avenue South Seattle, WA 98104 The Fire Marshal or his/her representative reviews the floor plans. After review, floor plans will either be stamped approved or the required changes will be indicated. The SEC Coordinator or the Fire Marshal will communicate with the client or contractor on required plan revision(s). After floor plans have received final approval, the public assembly permit will be issued. The Fire Marshal will conduct a final walk-through of the show floor prior. This may occur prior to Doors, but also randomly during show hours. See page 5 for permit titles and fees. Points to consider during the permit process: 1. Booth and/or concert ticket sales cannot begin until the floor plans have been reviewed and approved by both the Fire Marshal and the SEC. 2. Floor plans must be submitted to the Fire Marshal at least 45 days before the first move-in day. (Suggest submitting floor plans as early as possible for review and approval.) There will be a late fee of 50% of the permit value added to the cost of the permit if the entire paperwork packet (plans, application, application fee) is NOT received by the Permit Section of the Fire Marshal s Office at least 30 days prior to the event date. 3. The Fire Marshal requires a floor plan drawing to scale along with the permit application. Drawings should indicate aisles, aisle widths, booths and exits for all occupied floor space. This shall include registration areas, espresso carts, giveaways, radio remotes, popular booths and/or personalities. Floor plan drawings must be 8.5 x 11. Larger sizes may be additionally provided to clarify detail. Remember to include displays outside the building. EXHIBITION HALL GUIDELINES SHOW FLOOR 1. A clear perimeter exit aisle of 12 feet must be maintained in all exhibit halls. 2. The West Hall, East Hall and Concourse hall have a minimum of five (5) straight East/West aisles. Perimeter aisles do not count in this East/West minimum. The minimum aisle width shall be 10 feet. Smaller East/West aisles may be allowed in some instances, but are considered an exception not the rule. 3. Both the main hall and garage/swing space must have a minimum of one (1) straight and continuous North/South cross aisle. The minimum aisle width shall be 15 feet. Page 2 of 5
4. The exit corridor leading from the mezzanine to the football stadium shall be a minimum of 12 feet. A minimum clear area of 15 feet shall be maintained in front of the entry/exit doors. 5. The storage of crates, cardboard boxes and fiber cases is not permitted in the facility except in designated and approved bone yards. 6. All fire hose cabinets, fire extinguishers, strobes and pull stations must be visible and kept clear and readily accessible during move-in, show days and move-out. 7. Any tent or covered structure over 100 square feet indoors requires a smoke detector and one fire extinguisher with a minimum UL classification of 2A 10BC. Any tent or covered structure over 1000 square feet indoors requires an automatic fire suppression system (i.e. automatic fire sprinklers) and will need to be wired into the CenturyLink Field Event Center s smoke alarm system. EXHIBIT HALL LOBBY AREA 1. Major attractions should not be located at the entrance to the exhibit space. i.e. espresso cards, giveaways, radio remotes, and popular booths or personalities. 2. All registration counters, kiosks and entry units must be indicated to scale on the submitted floor plans. 3. All meeting rooms are subject to maximum occupant load as dictated by the Seattle Fire Code. Meeting rooms with an occupant load greater than 50 persons require a minimum of two (2) exits from the room. SHOW FLOOR MISCELLANEOUS 1. All curtains, draperies, hangings and other decorative materials suspended from walls or ceilings must meet NFPA 701 or California State Fire Marshal standards for flame retardancy. The use of oilcloth, tarpaper, sisal paper, nylon, Orlon and certain other synthetic materials cannot be made flame resistant and their use is strictly prohibited. (An approved certificate verifying the flame retardancy of those materials required to meet the flame retardant criteria shall be readily available.) 2. Special effects permits are required for indoor and outdoor fireworks. Each of these effects will be subject to review and will be handled on a case by case basis. Permits are not required to use smoke machines or lasers. Note: Smoke machine usage must be communicated to the Fire Marshal s Office. Page 3 of 5
3. LPG (Propane) may be used in extremely limited quantities under permit. Contact the Fire Marshal @ 206.386.1209. 4. Combustible storage is not allowed on the event floor. Combustible storage is specifically prohibited in dead spaces behind booth drape or in unsold areas. Cardboard must be removed from the event floor including empty cardboard boxes intended for repacking. Booth storage of literature, brochures and product is limited to full boxes that can be easily stored under tables in the booth and may not exceed one days supply. 5. Helium and Nitrogen tanks are not allowed on the event floor without prior approval of the Fire Marshal. Tanks must be properly labeled for contents and firmly secured in the upright position with valves protected against damage. 6. Indicate the location and size of Official Contractor Service Centers on exhibition floor plans. 7. Event planners requesting permission to mask off an area, block access to an exit or block exit visibility may in some cases be allowed to do so by adding illuminated exit signs and a double baffle in the drape. Prior approval from the Fire Marshal is required. It should not be assumed that this variance would always be allowed. These proposals will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Additional signs may be required for Fire Extinguisher or Fire Hose cabinets. DISPLAY VEHICLES and EQUIPMENT Display vehicles must be indicated on submitted floor plans and are subject to the following conditions: 1. The fuel load as determined by a working fuel gauge shall not exceed five gallons or ¼ tank, whichever is less. Vehicles with non-functioning fuel gauges will not be allowed in public assembly areas unless approved by the Fire Marshal. 2. Positive and negative battery cables must be disconnected and the ends covered with a non-conductive material such as electrical tape or rubber boots to prevent sparking. Disconnect switches may be use in lieu of with prior approval. 3. Fuel tank fill openings must be equipped with a suitable cap to prevent the escape of vapors. Additionally the cap must be either locking or taped shut to prevent tampering. 4. Fuel systems must not leak. 5. A set of keys to the vehicle must remain on the show site and available at all times together with complete information. This information must include the names and phone numbers of the vehicle owner and responsible party. Page 4 of 5
6. You must possess a valid fuel pass before entering building. This pass must be displayed in a visible location on the equipment or in the vehicle until the show opens. COOKING and OPEN FLAMES 1. Candles require an open flame permit. A single candle may be burned without a permit. 2. The use of Sterno does not require a permit. 3. Butane table top units do NOT require a permit, however fuel is limited to containers no larger than 10 ounces. One per unit with one spare. 4. Deep fat fryers are limited to a capacity one gallon. Capacities of more than one gallon must have a permit. A metal cover that fits snuggly over the fryer must be readily available. Have a U.L. rated K extinguisher must be visible, available and away from the hazard. 5. All cooking appliances must meet these requirements: Carry a nationally recognized listing. i.e. UL, FM, etc. Separated from the public by a minimum of four feet or have a protective shield ¼ inch thick, 18 inches high and border the front three sides. 6. A portable fire extinguisher with a minimum UL rating of 2A 40BC must be visible, available and away from the hazard in the cooking booth. The extinguisher must have been tested or purchased within one year as evidenced by a service tag or sales receipt. 7. All cooking is subject to the following (Cooking and other similar activities may require an additional permit): a. State and Local Health Codes. (RCW and URL s) b. City of Seattle Fire and Building Codes. c. Some cooking requires additional extinguishers. Consult with the Fire Marshal or his or her representative for requirements. d. This is a public facility and is subject to Washington State No Smoking Laws. Page 5 of 5
EXTENSION CORDS, PLUGS and LIGHTING 1. All extension cords must be a minimum of 14 gauge, 3 wire and grounded. Use ties or cable clamps when running cord Lightweight extension cords or zip cords are strictly not allowed 2. Power strips are approved for additional outlet plugs. Cube tabs are strictly not allowed Power strips can not be daisy chained 3. Cords, plugs and strips must have UL labeling 4. Lighting must be UL labeled and used consistent with their design. Page 6 of 5