Event Planning Guide / Fire & Safety Regulations
FIRE & SAFETY REGULATIONS / a. general fire / safety regulations
The Rhode Island Convention Center abides by all standards established by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). You and your agents and employees must become familiar with the Rhode Island Convention Center safety procedures and regulations, instruct its agents and employees about the Center's evacuation plan in event of fire or other disaster and formulate a specific plan to evacuate any disabled person.All Licensees must, at all times, conduct their activities with full regard for public safety and observe and abide by all NFPA regulations. They also must meet all requests of the Rhode Island Convention Center or duly authorized government agencies and be responsible for the character, acts, and conduct of all person admitted to the Premises.
Licensees shall not admit to the Premises any number of people that would cause an unsafe condition and/or restrict attendees and personnel from safely and freely moving about in the Premises. The decision of the Rhode Island Convention Center and the Fire Marshal in this respect shall be final.
No portion of the sidewalks, ramps, entrances and exits, corridors, passageways, vestibules, halls, lobbies, stairways, escalators, elevators, driveways, or access to public utilities of the Convention Center shall be obstructed or used for any other purpose than ingress and egress. Access to fire detection and suppression systems, HVAC vents, and house lighting fixtures and controls shall not be covered or obstructed. Fire fighting and emergency equipment shall not be hidden or obstructed, including fire extinguishers, fire hose cabinets, and fire alarm pull stations.
The Licensee shall not, without prior written approval, put up or operate any engine, motor, or machinery on the premises, or use oils, burning fluids, camphene, kerosene, naptha, or gasoline for either mechanical or other purposes, use any agent other than electric for illumination, or otherwise bring combustible, explosive, or other dangerous or hazardous materials into the center.
Storage of crates is prohibited in the Rhode Island Convention Center without prior approval. Crate storage is the responsibility of the Licensee. Any materials stored in the building in an unsafe manner will be moved at the owner's expense.
All bunting, table coverings, drapes, signs, banners, decorations, and other materials must be flame resistant and are subject to inspection and flame testing by the Fire Marshal. All electrical equipment must conform to the National Electrical Code and be UL Approved.
The following materials are prohibited without the prior written consent of the Center: gas or electric cooking equipment, open flame devices, candles, vehicles, welding, cutting or brazing equipment, ammunition, radioactive devices, flammable liquid pressure vessels, exhibits involving hazardous processing and materials, fireworks or pyrotechnics, blasting agents or explosives, flammable cryogenic gases, aerosol cans with flammable propellants, portable heating equipment, and other equipment or materials that increase risk to fire and life safety. Should the use of any of these materials and/or devices be approved, the Licensee is required to provide an adequate number of fire extinguishers or safety materials to be placed in the vicinity of the material/equipment.
Vehicle gas tanks must be less than 3/4 but more than 1/8 full, and the cap for the fuel tank must be locked closed and cannot be removed while in the building. Vehicle electrical systems must be disconnected by removing at least one battery cable from each set of batteries. At no time during a show may vehicles be moved.
Exit signage, fire extinguishers, fire alarms, pull stations, fire hose connections and all fire-related equipment cannot be hidden, obstructed, or blocked. Any obstructions will be moved at the expense of the Licensee.
No doors are to be propped or tied open at any time. Automatic closing devices are not to be tampered with. No fire exits can be blocked by any means.
FIRE & SAFETY REGULATIONS / b. fire safety code fact sheet
The following is a listing from the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code Handbook - 1994. This listing represents general fire safety rules that the Providence Fire Department has specified as "Must Comply" codes.It is the responsibility of each Show Manager to review and comply with these codes.
Life Safety Code - 1994
Section 8-4.4.1 - Exhibition Halls - No display or exhibit shall be installed or operated as to interfere in any way with access to any required exit or with visibility of any required exit or any required exit sign, nor shall any display block access to fire fighting equipment.
Section 8-4.4.3 - Exhibits shall comply with the following:
(a) The travel distance within the exhibit booth or exhibit enclosure to an exit access aisle shall not be greater than 50 feet.
(b) Exhibit booths shall be constructed of non-combustible or limited-combustible materials, pressure-treated fire retardant wood meeting the requirement of NFPA 703 Standard for Fire Retardant Impregnated Wood and Fire Retardant Coatings for Building of Fire Tests for Flame-Resistant Textiles and Films, both small and large scale tests. Textile wall coverings, such as carpeting have a napped, tufted, looped or similar surface used as wall or ceiling finish, shall comply with 6-5.2.3 Plastic shall be limited to Class A or Class B interior wall and ceiling finish.
(c) Curtains, drapes, and decorations shall comply with 31.1.4.
(d) Acoustical and decorative material including, but not limited to, cotton, hay, paper, straw, moss, split bamboo, and wood chips shall be flame-retardant treated to the satisfaction of the Providence Fire Department. Materials that cannot be treated for flame retardancy should not be used.
(e) Exhibit booths that are multilevel, consist of multiple rooms with ceilings, or are over 225 sq. ft. with ceilings shall be protected by automatic sprinklers in buildings so protected.
EXCEPTION: Vehicles, boats, and similar exhibited products having over 100 sq. ft. of roofed area must provide smoke detectors acceptable to the Providence Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal.
Section A-8-4.4.3(d) - The Providence Fire Department may use the field flame test contained in NFPA 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame-Resistant Textiles and Films, as one method of determining flame retardancy.
Cooking/Heating
A. Cooking and food warming devices in exhibit booths shall comply with 31-2.4. and the following:
1. Gas fired devices will not be used.
2. Devices shall be isolated from the public by at least 4 ft. or a barrier between the device and the public.
3. Devices shall be limited to 288 sq.in. (.19sg m) of cooking surface area.
4. Devices shall be placed on noncombustible surface materials.
5. Devices used for cooking shall be separated from each other by a minimum distance of 2 sq ft. (61 cm).
6. Devices shall be kept a minimum of 2 ft (61 cm) for any combustible materials.
7. Single-well cooking equipment using combustible oils or solids shall have a lid available for immediate use. Multi-vat cooking will not be used.
8. Each exhibitor must provide a 20 BC fire extinguisher or an approved automatic extinguishing system located in their booth for the length of the show.
Propane Gas
Section 3-4.8 - Propane Use in Buildings for Demonstrations or Training, or in Small Containers. Pre-approved 10-pound propane tanks may be used in exhibits. All propane tanks must be separated by at least 20 feet. All tanks must be approved 10 days in advance of the show in writing by the Rhode Island Convention Center.
3-4.8.1 Containers having a maximum water capacity of 12 lb (5.4 kg) [nominal 5 lb (2 kg) LP-Gas capacity] shall be permitted to be used temporarily inside buildings for public exhibitions or demonstrations, including use in classroom demonstrations. If more than one such container is located in the same room, the containers shall be separated by at least 20 ft (6m). All propane tanks must be pre-approved in writing by the Rhode Island Convention Center at least 10 days in advance of the show opening.
Floorplans
Plans, in a form acceptable to the Providence Fire Department, shall be submitted to the Department for approval 120 days prior to the move-in of any exhibit or trade show. The plan shall show all details of the proposed exhibit or show. No exhibit or trade show shall occupy any exhibit hall without approved plans.
Section 8-4.4.4 - Vehicles - Vehicles with an exhibit hall shall comply with the following:
(a) All fuel tank openings shall be locked and sealed in an approved manner to prevent the escape of vapors. Fuel tanks shall be not more than three-quarters or less than one-eighth full.
(b) At least one battery cable shall be removed from each set of batteries.
(c) Fueling or de-fueling of vehicles shall be prohibited.
(d) Vehicles shall not be moved during shows.
Section 8-4.4.5 - Compressed flammable gases, flammable or combustible liquids, hazardous chemicals or materials, Class II or greater lasers, and explosives shall be prohibited within exhibit halls.
EXCEPTION: The Providence Fire Department having jurisdiction, may permit the limited use of any of the above items under special circumstances.
Section 31-1.4 - Draperies, curtains, and other similar furnishings and decorations shall be flame resistant where required by the applicable provisions of this chapter. These materials required herein to be tested in accordance with the NFPA 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame-Resistant Textiles and Films, shall comply with both the small- and large-scale tests.
Section A-31-1.4.1 - For details of flame-retardant treatments and tests thereof, see NFPA 701, Standards for methods of Fire Tests for Fire-Resistant Textiles and Films. Furnishings and decorations tested in accordance with this standard should comply with both the small- and large-scale tests.
Section 31-1.4.2 - Christmas trees not effectively flame-retardant treated, ordinary crepe paper decorations and pyroxylin plastic decorations may be classed as highly flammable.
Section 31-1.4.3 - Fire retardant coatings shall be maintained so as to retain the effectiveness of the treatment under service conditions encountered in actual use.
Section 31-2.3 - Open Flame Devices - No open flame devices shall be used in any assembly occupancy.
EXCEPTION No. 1: When necessary for ceremonial, religious, or demonstration purpose, the Providence Fire Department may permit open flame devices under such restrictions as are necessary to avoid danger of ignition of combustible materials or injury to occupants.
Section 31-2.4. - Special Food Service Devices - Portable cooking equipment, not flue connected shall be permitted only as follows:
(1) Equipment fueled by small heat sources that can be readily extinguished by water such as candles or alcohol-burning equipment (including solid alcohol "sterno"), may be used provided adequate precautions satisfactory to the authority having jurisdiction are taken to prevent ignition of any combustible materials.
(2) Candles may be used on tables used for food service if securely supported on substantial, non-combustible bases so located as to avoid danger of ignition or combustible materials and only if approved by the Providence Fire Department. Candle flames shall be protected.
(3) "Flaming Sword" or other equipment involving open flames and flamed dishes, such as cherries jubilee, crepes suzette, etc., may be permitted provided that necessary precautions are taken and subject to the approval of the authority having jurisdiction.