EMERGENCY RULES
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: To amend WAC 51-54-0400, 2006 International Fire Code for consistency with chapter 406, Laws of 2007.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 51-54-0400.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 19.27.074 and 19.27.020.
Other Authority: Chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW, chapter 406, Laws of 2007.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.
Reasons for this Finding: The state building code council, based on the following good cause, finds that an emergency affecting the general welfare of the state of Washington exists. The council further finds that immediate amendment of a certain council rule is necessary for the public welfare and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment would be contrary to the public interest.
The declaration of emergency affecting the general welfare of the state of Washington is based on the following findings:
The state legislature passed the Safe Schools Plan, SSHB [2SSB] 5097, in the 2007 legislative session, which requires that school districts have an updated plan in place by September 1, 2008, to include drills for sheltering-in-place and lockdown in addition to fire drills.
The council, in conjunction with their fire code technical advisory group, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, Washington school safety advisory committee, and the Washington association of fire marshals, has developed amendments to chapter 51-54 WAC, the 2006 International Fire Code, outlining basic requirements for lockdown and shelter-in-place plans. The emergency rule allows school districts the maximum possible lead time to develop their plans under these guidelines. These plans are essential to ensure the safety of the occupants of schools in the state of Washington.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: March 14, 2008.
John P. Neff
Council Chair
OTS-1404.3
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-01-093, filed 12/19/06,
effective 7/1/07)
WAC 51-54-0400
Chapter 4 -- Emergency planning and
preparedness.
401.2 Approval. Where required by the fire code official,
fire safety plans, emergency procedures, and employee training
programs shall be approved.
SECTION 402 DEFINITIONS
EMERGENCY DRILL. An exercise performed to train staff and
occupants and to evaluate their efficiency and effectiveness
in carrying out emergency procedures.
LOCKDOWN. An action used to position occupants behind secured
openings and isolated from threats.
Full lockdown. Occupants remain out of sight and as quiet as possible, with only limited authorized entry, exit, or movement within the building. Occupants in corridors, common areas, or unsecured areas move quickly to the nearest secured area.
Modified lockdown. Occupants of a facility are isolated from potential outside threats by remaining within a building with exterior doors and other exits secured, and that entry and exit from the building is limited to that which is authorized. During a modified lockdown, interior movement and other activities within the building may be allowed or restricted in accordance to the lockdown plan.
SHELTER-IN-PLACE. An emergency response used to minimize
exposure of facility occupants to chemical or environmental
hazards by taking refuge in predetermined interior rooms or
areas where actions are taken to isolate the interior
environment from the exterior hazard.
SECTION 404 EMERGENCY PLANS
404.1 General. Fire safety, evacuation, shelter-in-place, and
lockdown plans shall comply with the requirements of this
section.
404.2 Fire safety and evacuation plans. Fire safety and
evacuation plans shall comply with the requirements of
Sections 404.2.1 through 404.2.4.
404.2.1 Where required. A fire safety and evacuation plan
shall be prepared and maintained in accordance with this
chapter for the following occupancies and buildings when
required by the fire code official.
1. Group A having an occupant load of 100 or more.
2. Group B buildings having an occupant load of 500 or more persons or more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge.
3. Group E.
4. Group H.
5. Group I.
6. Group R-1.
7. Group R-2 college and university buildings. Boarding homes, group homes, and residential treatment facilities licensed by the state of Washington.
8. High-rise buildings.
9. Group M buildings having an occupant load of 500 or more persons or more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge.
10. Covered malls exceeding 50,000 sf in aggregate floor area.
11. Underground buildings.
12. Buildings with an atrium and having an occupancy in Group A, E, or M.
((404.4 Maintenance. Fire safety and evacuation plans shall
be reviewed by the owner or occupant annually or as
necessitated by changes in staff assignments, occupancy, or
the physical arrangement of the building.))
404.2.2 Contents. Fire safety and evacuation plan contents
shall be in accordance with Sections 404.2.2.1 and 404.2.2.2.
404.2.2.1 Fire evacuation plans. Fire evacuation plans shall
include the following:
1. Emergency egress or escape routes and whether evacuation of the building is to be complete or, where approved, by selected floors or areas only.
2. Procedures for employees who must remain to operate critical equipment before evacuating.
3. Procedures for accounting for employees and occupants after evacuation has been completed.
4. Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for rescue or emergency medical aid.
5. The preferred and any alternative means of notifying occupants of a fire or emergency.
6. The preferred and any alternative means of reporting fires and other emergencies to the fire department or designated emergency response organization.
7. Identification and assignment of personnel who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan.
8. A description of the emergency voice/alarm communication system alert tone and preprogrammed voice messages, where provided.
404.2.2.2 Fire safety plans. Fire safety plans shall include
the following:
1. The procedure for reporting a fire or other emergency.
2. The life safety strategy and procedures for notifying, relocating, or evacuating occupants.
3. Site plans indicating the following:
3.1 The occupancy assembly point.
3.2 The locations of fire hydrants.
3.3 The normal routes of fire department vehicle access.
4. Floor plans identifying the locations of the following:
4.1 Exits.
4.2 Primary evacuation routes.
4.3 Secondary evacuation routes.
4.4 Accessible egress routes.
4.5 Areas of refuge.
4.6 Manual fire alarm boxes.
4.7 Portable fire extinguishers.
4.8 Occupant-use hose stations.
4.9 Fire alarm annunciators and controls.
5. A list of major fire hazards associated with the normal use and occupancy of the premises, including maintenance and housekeeping procedures.
6. Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for maintenance of systems and equipment installed to prevent or control fires.
7. Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for maintenance, housekeeping and controlling fuel hazard sources.
404.2.3 Maintenance. Fire safety and evacuation plans shall
be reviewed by the owner or occupant annually or more often,
as necessitated by changes in staff assignments, occupancy, or
the physical arrangement of the building.
404.2.4 Availability. Fire safety and evacuation plans shall
be available in the workplace for reference and review by
employees, and copies shall be furnished to the fire code
official for review upon request.
404.3 Shelter-in-place and lockdown plans. Shelter-in-place
and lockdown plans shall comply with the requirements of
Sections 404.3.1 through 404.3.4.
404.3.1 Where required. A shelter-in-place and lockdown plan
shall be prepared and maintained for all Group E occupancies.
| EXCEPTION: | Daycares not colocated on a Group E campus. |
404.3.2.1 Shelter-in-place plans. Shelter-in-place plans
shall include the following:
1. Identification of the procedures of initiating the shelter-in-place plan throughout the facility or campus.
2. Identification of prearranged alert and recall signals to notify all occupants.
3. Identification of procedures for reporting the facility is sheltering-in-place to the local emergency dispatch center.
4. A means of two-way communication between a central location and each secure area.
5. Identification of protective security measures.
6. Location of emergency supplies.
7. Accountability procedures for staff to report the presence or absence of occupants.
8. Identification of crisis response team members in accordance with the National Incident Management System.
9. Actions to be taken in the event of a fire or medical emergency while sheltering-in-place.
404.3.2.2 Lockdown plans. Lockdown plans shall include the
following:
1. Identification of the procedures of initiating the lockdown plan throughout the facility or campus.
2. Identification of prearranged alert and recall signals to notify all occupants.
3. Identification of procedure for access to facility for emergency responders.
4. Identification of procedures for reporting the facility is in lockdown to the local emergency dispatch center.
5. A means of two-way communication between a central location and each secure area.
6. Identification of protective security measures.
7. Location of emergency supplies.
8. Accountability procedures for staff to report the presence or absence of occupants.
9. Identification of crisis response team members in accordance with the National Incident Management System.
10. Actions to be taken in the event of a fire or medical emergency while in lockdown.
404.3.3 Maintenance. Shelter-in-place and lockdown plans
shall be reviewed by the owner or occupant annually or more
often, as necessitated by changes in staff assignments,
occupancy, or the physical arrangement of the building.
404.3.4 Availability. Shelter-in-place and lockdown plans
shall be available in the workplace for reference and review
by employees, and copies shall be furnished to the fire code
official for review upon request.
Sections 404.4 and 404.5 are not adopted.
SECTION 405 EMERGENCY DRILLS
405.1 General. Emergency drills shall comply with the
requirements of this section.
405.2 Emergency evacuation drills. Emergency evacuation
drills complying with the provisions of this section shall be
conducted at least annually in the occupancies listed in
Section 404.2.1 or when required by the fire code official.
Drills shall be designed in cooperation with the local
authorities.
405.2.1 Frequency. Required emergency evacuation drills shall
be held at the intervals specified in Table 405.2.1 or more
frequently where necessary to familiarize all occupants with
the drill procedure.
| GROUP OR OCCUPANCY | FREQUENCY | PARTICIPATION |
| Group A | Quarterly | Employees |
| Group Bc | Annually | Employees |
| Group E | Monthlya,e | All occupants |
| Group I | Quarterly on each shift | Employeesb |
| Group R-1 | Quarterly on each shift | Employees |
| Group R-2f | Quarterly on each shift | Employees |
| Group R-2d | Four annually | All occupants |
| High-rise buildings | Annually | Employees |
| a The frequency shall be allowed to be modified in accordance with Section 408.3.2. | |
| b Fire and evacuation drills in residential care assisted living facilities shall include complete evacuation of the premises in accordance with Section 408.10.5. Where occupants receive habilitation or rehabilitation training, fire prevention and fire safety practices shall be included as part of the training program. | |
| c Group B buildings having an occupant load of five hundred or more persons or more than one hundred persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge. | |
| d Applicable to Group R-2 college and university buildings in accordance with Section 408.3. | |
| e Group E, and daycares colocated on a Group E campus shall jointly perform at least six fire and evacuation drills per school year. | |
| f Applicable to boarding homes, group homes, and residential treatment facilities licensed by the state of Washington. |
405.2.3 Time. Drills shall be held at unexpected times and
under varying conditions to simulate the unusual conditions
that occur in case of fire.
405.2.4 Recordkeeping. Records shall be maintained of
required emergency evacuation drills and include the following
information:
1. Identity of the person conducting the drill.
2. Date and time of the drill.
3. Notification method used.
4. Staff members on duty and participating.
5. Number of occupants evacuated.
6. Special conditions simulated.
7. Problems encountered and corrective action taken.
8. Weather conditions when occupants were evacuated.
9. Time required to accomplish complete evacuation.
405.2.5 Notification. Where required by the fire code
official, prior notification of emergency evacuation drills
shall be given to the fire code official.
405.2.6 Initiation. Where a fire alarm system is provided,
emergency evacuation drills shall be initiated by activating
the fire alarm system. The fire alarm monitoring company
shall be notified prior to the activation of the fire alarm
system for drill purposes and again at the conclusion of the
transmission and restoration of the fire alarm system to
normal mode.
| EXCEPTION: | Drills conducted between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., in Group R-2 boarding homes, group homes and residential treatment facilities licensed by the state of Washington, are allowed to utilize a coded announcement. |
405.2.8 Recall and reentry. An electrically or mechanically
operated signal used to recall occupants after an evacuation
shall be separate and distinct from the signal used to
initiate the evacuation. The recall signal initiation means
shall be manually operated and under the control of the person
in charge of the premises or the official in charge of the
incident. No one shall reenter the premises until authorized
to do so by the official in charge.
405.3 Shelter-in-place and lockdown drills. Shelter-in-place
and lockdown drills complying with the provisions of this
section shall be conducted in the occupancies listed in
Section 404.3.1 or when required by the fire code official.
Drills shall be designed in cooperation with local
authorities.
405.3.1 Frequency. Shelter-in-place and lockdown drills
required by this section shall each be held at least annually
to familiarize all occupants with the emergency procedures.
Group E and colocated daycares shall drill jointly.
405.3.2 Leadership. Responsibility for the planning and
conduct of drills shall be assigned to competent persons
designated to exercise leadership.
405.3.3 Time. Drills shall be held at unexpected times and
under varying conditions to simulate the unusual conditions
that occur in case of an emergency.
405.3.4 Recordkeeping. Records shall be maintained of
required shelter-in-place and lockdown drills and include the
following information:
1. Identity of the person conducting the drill.
2. Date and time of the drill.
3. Notification method used.
4. Staff members on duty and participating.
5. Number of occupants sheltered and unaccounted for.
6. Special conditions simulated.
7. Problems encountered and corrective actions taken.
8. Time required to accomplish complete sheltering.
405.3.5 Notification. Where required by the fire code
official, prior notification of shelter-in-place and lockdown
drills shall be given to appropriate emergency response
agencies.
405.3.6 Signals. Alerting signals shall be separate and
distinct from the fire alarm and other signals.
405.3.7 Accountability. Efforts shall be made to determine if
all occupants have been successfully sheltered and accounted
for.
SECTION 406 EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND RESPONSE PROCEDURES
406.1 General. Employees in the occupancies listed in
Sections 404.2.1 and 404.3.1 shall be trained in the
procedures described in their emergency plans. Training shall
be based on these plans and as described in Sections 404.2.2
and 404.3.2.
406.3 Employee training program. Employees shall be trained
in fire prevention, evacuation, fire safety, shelter-in-place,
and lockdown in accordance with Sections 406.3.1 through
406.3.4.
406.3.4 Shelter-in-place and lockdown training. Employees
shall be familiarized with the alert and recall signals, their
assigned duties in the event of an alarm or emergency,
communication system, location of emergency supplies, and the
use of the incident notification and alert system.
SECTION 408 USE AND OCCUPANCY-RELATED REQUIREMENTS
408.2.1 Seating plan. The fire safety and evacuation plans
for assembly occupancies shall include the information
required by Section 404.2.2 and a detailed seating plan,
occupant load, and occupant load limit. Deviations from the
approved plans shall be allowed provided the occupant load
limit for the occupancy is not exceeded and the aisles and
exit accessways remain unobstructed.
408.3.2 Emergency evacuation drill deferral. In severe
climates, the fire code official shall have the authority to
modify the emergency evacuation drill frequency specified in
Section 405.2.1.
408.5.4 Drill frequency. Emergency evacuation drills shall be
conducted at least six times per year, two times per year on
each shift. Twelve drills shall be conducted in the first
year of operation. Drills are not required to comply with the
time requirements of Section 405.2.3.
408.6 Group I-2 occupancies. Group I-2 occupancies shall
comply with the requirements of Sections 408.6.1 and 408.6.2
and Sections 401 through 406. Drills are not required to
comply with the time requirements of Section 405.2.3.
Section 408.10 is not adopted.
408.11.1 Lease plan. A lease plan shall be prepared for each
covered mall building. The plan shall include the following
information in addition to that required by Section 404.2.2.2:
1. Each occupancy, including identification of tenant.
2. Exits from each tenant space.
3. Fire protection features, including the following:
3.1 Fire department connections.
3.2 Fire command center.
3.3 Smoke management system controls.
3.4 Elevators and elevator controls.
3.5 Hose valves outlets.
3.6 Sprinkler and standpipe control valves.
3.7 Automatic fire-extinguishing system areas.
3.8 Automatic fire detector zones.
3.9 Fire barriers.
408.11.1.1 Submittal. The lease plan shall be submitted to
the fire code official, and shall be maintained on-site for
immediate reference by responding fire service personnel.
408.11.1.2 Revisions. The lease plan shall be reviewed and
revised annually or as often as necessary to keep them
current. Modifications or changes in occupancies shall not be
made without prior approval of the fire code official and
building official.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031, 19.27.074, and chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW. 07-01-093, § 51-54-0400, filed 12/19/06, effective 7/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.020, 19.27.031, 19.27.074 and chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW. 05-01-016, § 51-54-0400, filed 12/2/04, effective 7/1/05.]