Section 3104 — TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT TENTS AND MEMBRANE STRUCTURES

Tents and membrane structures, both temporary and permanent, shall be in accordance with this section and Sections 3107 and 3108. Permanent tents and membrane structures shall also comply with the California Building Code .

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §340] Existing Small Tents. Existing small tents are exempt from California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 2.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §341] Existing Membrane Structures and Other (Large) Existing Tents. Existing membranes of membrane structures and large (10 or more capacity) existing tents may continue to be used provided evidence of satisfactory flame resistance is available to the enforcing authority. Such evidence may be in the form of certification that the fabric passes the standard small scale flame resistance test as set forth in California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 8 regula- tions or through passage of effective field tests.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §321] Abatement of Fire or Panic Hazards. Any condition that presents a fire hazard, would contribute to the rapid spread of fire, interfere with the rapid exit of persons from the tents, or interfere with or delay the extinguishment of a fire, shall be immediately corrected as ordered by the enforcing authority.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §315.(a)] Flame Resistance Standards. (a) All tent fabrics and all interior decorative fabrics or materials shall be flame resistant in accordance with appropriate standards set forth in California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 8. Tent tops and sidewalls shall be made either from fabric which has been flame resistant treated with an approved exterior chemical process by an approved application concern, or from inherently flame-resistant fabric approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §332.(a)] Flame Resistance. (a) All tents manufactured for sale, sold, rented, offered for sale or used in California shall be made from nonflammable material or one of the following flame-resistant fabrics or material approved by the State Fire Marshal: (1) Fabrics complying with the State Fire Marshal’s requirements for flame resistance for exterior use, as set forth in California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 8, or (2) Fabrics complying with the flame-resistance requirements set forth in “A Specification for Flame- Resistance Materials Used in Camping Tentage” published in 1975 by Canvas Products Association International, hereinafter referred to as CPAI-84. Exceptions:

(1) Tents used for committal services at cemeteries. (2) Tents or similar fabric enclosures used within a sound stage or equivalent enclosure equipped with an overhead auto- matic fire extinguishing system.

Before a permit is granted, the owner or agent shall file with the fire code official a registration provided by the product manufacturer to verify that the materials have been tested by a California State Fire Marshal approved testing laboratory. The laboratory testing shall indicate that the floor coverings, tents, membrane structures and their appurtenances, which include sidewalls, drops and tarpaulins, are composed of materials meeting the flame propagation performance

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of Title 19, California Code of Regulations, Chapter 8, Section 1237.1. Additionally, it shall indicate that the bunting and combustible decorative materials and effects are composed of material meeting the flame propagation performance criteria of Title 19, California Code of Regulations, Chapter 8, Section 1237.1, as applicable. Alternatively, the materials shall be treated with a flame retardant in an approved manner and meet the flame propagation performance criteria of the applicable test method of Title 19, California Code of Regulations, Chapter 8. The certificate shall indicate compliance with the testing requirements of Title 19, California Code of Regulations, Chapter 8. The flame propagation performance criteria shall be effective for the period specified by the registration .

For California, all fabrics and all interior decorative fabrics or materials shall be flame resistant in accordance with the provisions set forth in CCR, Title 19, Division 1, and Chapter 8, and shall meet the requirements of this section. Tops and sidewalls shall be made either from fabric that has been flame-resistant treated with an approved exterior chemical process by an approved application concern, or from inherently flame-resistant fabric approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal (see CCR, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 8).

Membrane structures or tents shall have a permanently affixed label bearing the following information:

1. The identification of size and fabric or material.

2. The names and addresses of the manufacturers of the tent or air-supported structure.

3. A statement that the fabric or material meets the requirements of Section 3104.2.

4. If treated, the date when a flame-retardant treatment was last applied to the fabric or material, the trade name or kind of chemical used in treatment, name of person or firm treating the fabric or material, and name of testing agency and test standard by which the fabric or material was tested.

5. If untreated, a statement that no treatment was applied when the fabric or material met the requirements of Section 3104.2.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §334.] Requirements Pertaining to All Tents.

All tents manufactured for sale in California shall be labeled in accordance with the appropriate provisions of California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Section 335.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §335.(a) and (b)] Labeling of Tents.

(a) Each section of top and sidewall in large tents shall have a durable label, permanently affixed, bearing the following information:

(1) The Seal of Registration.

(2) If treated fabric, the name and registration number of the approved application concern and approved chemical used, and the date of treatment.

(3) If registered fabric, the trade name and registration number of the approved fabric, and the date of production.

In lieu of attached labels, the required information may be applied directly to the fabric by print, stamp or stencil.

(b) Small tents shall have a permanently affixed label bearing the information in California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Section 335, subsection (a), or shall comply with the provisions specified in CPAI-84 (1975) which reads as follows:

(1) Certification. A statement that the materials used in the manufacture of the item meet the flame resistance requirements of CPAI-84.

(2) Manufacturer Identification. An identification of the manufacturer of the item. If the item bears a private label, it shall identify the private labeler and shall also contain a code mark which will permit the seller of the item to identify the manufacturer to the purchaser upon request.

(3) Code Number. A number enabling the manufacturer to identify from his records the suppliers and suppliers’ lot numbers of the certified materials used in the item. The manufacturer shall also maintain records identifying the parties to whom he sold camp- ing tentage. Further, he shall maintain records identifying items manufactured from lots of certified material. Records shall be maintained for four (4) years.

(4) Warning label. 24 pt. type

WARNING

16 pt. type KEEP ALL FLAME AND HEAT SOURCES AWAY FROM THIS TENT FABRIC

12 pt. type This tent is made with flame-resistant fabric which meets CPAI-84 specifications. It is not fire proof. The fabric will burn if left in continuous contact with any flame source. The application of any foreign substance to the tent fabric may render the flame resistant properties ineffective.

This warning label or its equivalent must be permanently affixed to the tent at one conspicuous location, and must block letters on a white background. The first paragraph of the body of the label must be placed in a conspicuous location on each carton containing the tent.

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The affidavit required by Section 3104.2 shall contain all of the information specified in Section 3104.3.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §315.(d)] Flame Resistance Standards.

(d) Certificates of Flame Resistance or other documentation affirming the requirements of California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Section 315, subsection (a) shall be made available upon request of the enforcement authority.