WSR 13-14-116

EXPEDITED RULES

BUILDING CODE COUNCIL

[Filed July 3, 2013, 9:30 a.m.]

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Modification of chapter 51-54A WAC, Washington state amendments to the 2012 International Fire Code, Section 405 – School emergency drills.

NOTICE

THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Ray Allshouse, Chair, State Building Code Council, P.O. Box 41449, Olympia, WA 98504-1449, AND RECEIVED BY September 4, 2013.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The 2013 legislature amended the number/type of school emergency drills to include lockdown drills. This rule will amend the Fire Code to requre [require] three rather than six emergency drills per school year, referencing RCW 28A.320.125 for lockdown requirements.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: This rule is needed to implement legislation passed during the 2013 legislative session.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 19.27.031, 19.27.074.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 28A.320.125.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Name of Proponent: State building code council, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Joanne T. McCaughan, 1500 Jefferson, Olympia, WA 98504-1449, (360) 407-9279; Implementation: Tim Nogler, 1500 Jefferson, Olympia, WA 98504-1449, (360) 407-9277; and Enforcement: Local government fire officials.

June 14, 2013

C. Ray Allshouse

Chair

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 13-04-063, filed 2/1/13, effective 7/1/13)

WAC 51-54A-0405 Emergency drills.

405.1 General. Emergency 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 Frequency. Required emergency drills shall be held at the intervals specified in Table 405.2 or more frequently where necessary to familiarize all occupants with the drill procedure.

405.2.1 Group E occupancies. The occupancy shall conduct at a minimum the following drills during the year:

1. One drill using the school mapping information system.


EXCEPTION:	Day cares not colocated on a school campus.

2. ((Six)) Three fire evacuation drills.

3. One shelter-in-place drill.

4. Additional drills shall be as required by RCW 28A.320.125.

Table 405.2

Emergency Drill Frequency and Participation


Group or Occupancy	Frequency	Participation
Group A	Quarterly	Employees
Group Bc	Annually	Employees
Group E	Monthlya,e	All Occupants
Group F	Annually	Employees
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 500 or more persons or more than 100 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	Day cares colocated on a Group E campus shall participate in emergency drills occurring on the campus.
f	Applicable to boarding homes, group homes, and residential treatment facilities licensed by the state of Washington.

405.4 Time. Drills shall be held at unexpected times and under varying conditions to simulate the unusual conditions that occur in case of an emergency.

405.5 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 participating.

6. Special conditions simulated.

7. Problems encountered and corrective actions taken.

8. Weather conditions when occupants were evacuated.

9. Time required to accomplish complete evacuation, or shelter-in-place.

405.6 Notification. Where required by the fire code official, prior notification of emergency drills shall be given to the fire code official.

405.7 Initiation. Emergency drills shall be initiated in accordance with Sections 405.7.1 through 405.7.2.

405.7.1 Fire evacuation drills. 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 drills proposed 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.

405.7.2 Shelter-in-place drills. Shelter-in-place drills shall be initiated by the shelter-in-place alert signal, generated by the alerting system in accordance with Section 915.

405.8 Accountability. As building occupants arrive at the assembly point, efforts shall be made to determine if all occupants have been successfully evacuated and/or have been accounted for in the shelter-in-place.

405.9 Recall and reentry. The recall signal initiation 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.