Under the Big Top

[LGreene]

For those of you involved in enforcement of egress requirements, would you allow this in your jurisdiction?

I Dig Hardware / I Hate Hardware » “What’s good about it?”

It seems like a problem to me but maybe there's a reason that the fire department would consider it acceptable? FYI...there are only 2 exits at this end of the lobby. At the other end are two doors with event staff standing in front of them. One leads to a fenced area where the bathrooms are located, and I think the other one leads to a staff area. The exit sign near those 2 doors points into the seating area. There are 5 exits from the seating area (occupant load 1723), 2 of which lead into the lobby space shown in the photo.

 

[fatboy]

come on.......they're just trying to keep up with the show.......

not being there, does not look good........

 

[cda]

Seems like no reason for the ropes to be there

I know cities that require stand by people, and they may not always be code knowledgable

They may be hired just to stand there, because the venue is required to have them

May not understand that they are there for several reasons

 

[LGreene]

I really don't know why they would want to block off those doors anyway...they lead out to the same walkway as the pair to the left. At the end of the show the doors were open.

 

[cda]

Was the unblocked the one you paid at or they collected tickets, or other to get into that room??

 

[LGreene]

Seems like no reason for the ropes to be thereI know cities that require stand by people, and they may not always be code knowledgable

They may be hired just to stand there, because the venue is required to have them

May not understand that they are there for several reasons

I'm familiar with having to hire someone to "stand there"...we have to do that with school events. But I think all fire department personnel should be code-knowledgeable. We need more feet on the street to point out problems, because right now I'm constantly hearing, "The fire department was just here for their walk-through and had no problem with those chains/padlocks/storage under stairs/etc." Maybe I need to do a basic door code article for a fire department magazine. Which ones do you think they read? Firehouse? Fire Engineering? International Fire Fighter?

 

[LGreene]

Was the unblocked the one you paid at or they collected tickets, or other to get into that room??

The unblocked door was where we presented our tickets to one of the two ticket-takers. The other door should have been locked from the outside to keep people funneling to that door. But what's the purpose of keeping people from exiting that way?

 

[LGreene]

come on.......they're just trying to keep up with the show.......not being there, does not look good........

The photo was taken a half hour before the show started, but the ropes were still there during intermission when the lobby was packed with people buying food.

 

[TheCommish]

keep the photos in a safe secure place, when the investigators come after the tragedy you will be able to easily provide them to the team

 

[cda]

Maybe try coffee break

Coffee Break Training for Fire, EMS Personnel | National Fire Academy

They are always looking for articles. Not sure who to contact, but try

gerry.bassett@fema.dhs.gov

woody.stratton@fema.dhs.gov

 

[cda]

Some of the thinking is that firefighters are here to save you not enforce codes

 

[LGreene]

Some of the thinking is that firefighters are here to save you not enforce codes

Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but it seems like it would be easier for them to save me if I have code-compliant exits. They didn't look like they were dressed to put out a fire, so I'm not sure what their duties included.

 

[cda]

Did they miss a few steps

http://www.cityofboston.gov/Images_Documents/Boston%20Fire%20Prevention%20Place%20of%20Assembly%20May%202010%20(2)_tcm3-17853.pdf

Do not see fire prevention on the list unless they count the rank as that::

http://www.cityofboston.gov/fire/PaidDetails/rates.asp

http://www.cityofboston.gov/fire/paiddetails/

 

[cda]

They only missed one on the list;;;

(e) The Head of the Fire Department may assign a paid fire detail to any place of assembly during its occupancy when, in his opinion, such a detail is essential for the public safety to ascertain the placement and working order of portable fire extinguishers or other fire control equipment, to maintain required aisles and means of egress, and to enforce other applicable provisions of this Code.