Section 404 — California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9)

FIRE SAFETY, EVACUATION

AND LOCKDOWN PLANS

404.1 General. Where required by Section 403, fire safety,¶

evacuation and lockdown plans shall comply with Sections 404.2 through 404.4.1.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.10] Evacuation of Buildings.

Upon notification of fire, conduct of any fire drill, upon activation of the fire alarm, or upon orders of the fire author- ity having jurisdiction, buildings or structures within the scope of California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1 regulations shall be immediately evacuated or occupants shall be relocated in accordance with established plans.

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404.2 Contents. Fire safety, evacuation and lockdown plan¶

contents shall be in accordance with Sections 404.2.1 through 404.2.3.2.

404.2.1 Fire evacuation plans. Fire evacuation plans shall include the following:

Emergency egress or escape routes and whether evacuation of the building is to be complete by selected floors or areas only or with a defend-inplace response.
Procedures for employees who must remain to operate critical equipment before evacuating.
Procedures for the use of elevators to evacuate the building where occupant evacuation elevators complying with Section 3008 of the California Building Code are provided.
Procedures for assisted rescue for persons unable to use the general means of egress unassisted.
Procedures for accounting for employees and occupants after evacuation has been completed.
Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for rescue or emergency medical aid.
The preferred and any alternative means of notifying occupants of a fire or emergency.
The preferred and any alternative means of reporting fires and other emergencies to the fire department or designated emergency response organization.
Identification and assignment of personnel who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan.
A description of the emergency voice/alarm communication system alert tone and preprogrammed voice messages, where provided.

404.2.2 Fire safety plans. Fire safety plans shall include the following:

The procedure for reporting a fire or other emergency.
The life safety strategy including the following:

2.1. Procedures for notifying occupants, including areas with a private mode alarm system.

2.2. Procedures for occupants under a defend-inplace response.

2.3. Procedures for evacuating occupants, including those who need evacuation assistance.

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.

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.

4.4.1. Areas of refuge.

4.4.2. Exterior areas for assisted rescue.

4.5. Refuge areas associated with smoke barriers and horizontal exits.

4.6. Manual fire alarm boxes.

4.7. Portable fire extinguishers.

4.8. Occupant-use hose stations.

4.9. Fire alarm annunciators and controls.

A list of major fire hazards associated with the normal use and occupancy of the premises, including maintenance and housekeeping procedures.
Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for maintenance of systems and equipment installed to prevent or control fires.
Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for maintenance, housekeeping and controlling fuel hazard sources.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.13(a)(2)] Fire Drills. (Group E Occupancies)

(a) Group E Occupancies.

(2) Emergency Pre-Fire Planning. Each school prin- cipal, district superintendent or day nursery manager shall, in cooperation with the enforcing agency, pre- pare procedures to be followed in case of fire or other emergency. They should include the following:

(A) Posting of the telephone number of the fire department in the office and/or at the main switch- board.

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(B) Assignment of a responsible person to call the fire department upon notification of any fire or acti- vation of the alarm system for any reason other than fire drills.

(C) Posting in a conspicuous place in each class- room or assembly area a plan showing paths of travel to evacuate the room in case of emergency and including an alternate route.

(D) Posting in each classroom instructions to be fol- lowed by the teacher. These should include:

1. Maintaining of order during evacuation.

2. Removal of roll call book and calling of roll when designated evacuation area is reached.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.13(b)] Fire Drills. (College and University)

(b) College and University Pre-Fire Planning. The Chancellor, President, or his designated representa- tive, shall, in cooperation with the enforcing agency, propose procedures to be followed in case of fire or other emergency in accordance with the provisions of California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Section 3.13 (a)(2).

404.2.3 Lockdown plans. Lockdown plans shall only be permitted where such plans are approved by the fire code official and are in compliance with Sections 404.2.3.1 and 404.2.3.2.

404.2.3.1 Lockdown plan contents. Lockdown plans shall include the following:

Identification of individuals authorized to issue a lockdown order.
Security measures used during normal operations, when the building is occupied, that could adversely affect egress or fire department operations.
A description of identified emergency and security threats addressed by the plan, including specific lockdown procedures to be implemented for each threat condition.
Means and methods of initiating a lockdown plan for each threat, including:

4.1. The means of notifying occupants of a lockdown event, which shall be distinct from the fire alarm signal.

4.2. Identification of each door or other access point that will be secured.

4.3. A description of the means or methods used to secure doors and other access points.

4.4. A description of how locking means and methods are in compliance with the requirements of this code for egress and accessibility.

Procedures for reporting to the fire department any lockdown condition affecting egress or fire department operations.

EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS

Procedures for determining and reporting the presence or absence of occupants to emergency response agencies during a lockdown.
Means for providing two-way communication between a central location and each area subject to being secured during a lockdown.
Identification of the prearranged signal for terminating the lockdown.
Identification of individuals authorized to issue a lockdown termination order.
Procedures for unlocking doors and verifying that the means of egress has been returned to normal operations upon termination of the lockdown.
Training procedures and frequency of lockdown plan drills.

404.2.3.2 Drills. Lockdown plan drills shall be conducted in accordance with the approved plan. Such drills shall not be substituted for fire and evacuation drills required by Section 405.2.

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404.3 Maintenance. Fire safety and evacuation plans shall be¶

reviewed or updated annually or as necessitated by changes in staff assignments, occupancy or the physical arrangement of the building.

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404.4 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 on request.

404.4.1 Distribution. The fire safety and evacuation plans shall be distributed to the tenants and building service employees by the owner or owner’s agent. Tenants shall distribute to their employees applicable parts of the fire safety plan affecting the employees’ actions in the event of a fire or other emergency.

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404.5 College and university pre-fire planning. The Chan-¶

cellor, President, or his designated representative, shall, in cooperation with the enforcing agency, propose procedures to be followed in case of fire or other emergency in accor- dance with the provisions of Section 403.10.2.1.1.

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404.6 Office buildings. All office buildings two or more sto-¶

ries in height, except high-rise buildings as defined by Health and Safety Code Section 13210, shall comply with this sec- tion.

404.6.1 Owner(s) or operator(s) shall employ either one of the following methods of providing emergency procedures and information to the building occupants:

1. Emergency procedures information published in the form of a leaflet, brochure, or pamphlet shall be available to all persons entering the building. Emer- gency procedures information shall be located immediately inside all entrances to the building, as determined by the authority having jurisdiction. Locations shall be clearly marked.

2. A floor plan providing emergency procedures infor- mation shall be posted at every stairway landing, at every elevator landing, and immediately inside all public entrances to the building. The information

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EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS

shall be posted so that it describes the represented floor level and can be easily seen immediately upon entering the floor level of the building. Emergency procedures information shall be printed with a mini- mum of ³ /16-inch high nondecorative lettering pro- viding a sharp contrast to the background.

404.6.1.2 Emergency procedures information shall provide all ambulatory, nonambulatory, and the physi- cally disabled instructions to be followed in the event of an emergency. Emergency procedures information shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Location of exits.

2. Location of fire alarm initiating stations, if required.

3. What the fire alarm, if required, sounds and looks like (audible and visual warning devices).

4. Fire department emergency telephone number 911.

5. The prohibition of elevator use during emergen- cies, if any.

404.6.2 Hotels, motels and lodging houses. Every gues- troom available for rental in a hotel, motel, or lodging house shall have clearly visible emergency procedures information printed on a floor plan representative of the floor level and posted on the interior of each entrance door or immediately adjacent to such door. The owner/ operator of a hotel, motel, or lodging house may, in lieu of posting emergency procedures information in each gues- troom, provide such information through the use of leaf- lets, brochures, pamphlets, videotapes, or any other method as approved by the authority having jurisdiction. Oral communication in itself does not fulfill the intent of this section. However, oral communication can be incor- porated as a part of the transfer of emergency procedures information. When emergency procedures information signage is posted on the interior of the guestroom entrance door, the bottom of the information shall not be located more than 4-feet above the floor level. Visually impaired persons shall receive instructions of a type they will understand, for example: taping of instructions, instructions in Braille, or other appropriate methods.

404.6.2.1 Each method of providing information shall include, but not be limited to that described in Section 404.6.1.2.

404.6.2.2 Hotels, motels, and lodging houses shall maintain at the registration desk a list noting the gues- trooms assigned to guests with disabilities when such guests have indicated that they have special emergency evacuation requirements. The innkeeper shall, at the innkeeper's option, do one of the following:

1. Provide a place on the registration form for phys- ically disabled guests who have such require- ments to so identify themselves.

2. Provide a notice on the room key jacket advising guests with disabilities who have special emer-

gency evacuation requirements to so notify the front desk.

3. Utilize such other means for allowing such guests with disabilities to so identify themselves as may be approved by the authority having jurisdiction.

404.6.3 Stairways. Hotels, motels, lodging houses, high- rise office buildings, and Group I, Division 1 and 2 occu- pancies as defined in the California Building Code (except honor farms and conservation camps) shall comply with this section.

404.6.3.1 Emergency procedures information printed on a floor plan shall be posted at every stairway land- ing, at every elevator landing, and immediately inside all public entrances to the building. The information shall be representative of the floor level and be posted so that the bottom edge of such information is not located more than 4-feet above the floor, where it can be easily identified. Emergency procedures information shall be printed with a minimum of ³ /16-inch nondeco- rative lettering providing a sharp contrast to the back- ground.

404.6.3.1.1 Emergency procedures information shall include, but not be limited to, that described in Section 404.6.1.2.

404.6.4 Emergency Director. Owner(s) and operator(s) of hotels, motels, lodging houses, high-rise office buildings, and Group I, Division 1 and 2 occupancies as defined in the California Building Code (except honor farms and conservation camps) shall appoint a Fire Safety Director, who shall:

1. Report to owner(s) or operator(s).

2. Coordinate fire safety activities of the facility with the authority having jurisdiction.

3. Conduct, or cause to be conducted, all training as described in Sections 404.6.5 through 404.6.5.3 for all building employees and maintain records of dates, subjects, and attendance of each training ses- sion.

4. Develop and maintain a written facility emergency plan acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction. Upon request, the facility emergency plan shall be made physically available at the respective facility to the authority having jurisdiction. Facility emer- gency plans shall include, but not be limited to the following:

4.1. Fire department emergency telephone number 911.

4.2. Other emergency response telephone numbers.

4.3. Evacuation or relocation plan for the building occupants.

4.4. Duties of the Fire Safety Director and other designated emergency personnel.

4.5. Building employee responsibilities in case of emergency, including individual assignment and reporting responsibilities.

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4.6. Procedures to identify and assist the non- ambulatory and physically disabled.

5. Assure that the requirements of Section 404.6.4, item 4, subsection 4.6, procedures to identify and assist the nonambulatory and physically disabled are accomplished as follows:

5.1. Hotels, motels, and lodging houses shall comply with subsection (b)(3);

5.2. Owner(s) or operator(s) of high-rise office buildings shall maintain a list of all permanent building tenants who have disabilities. Building owner(s) or operator(s) shall be notified in writing by those who have disabilities. Information provided in the list shall include any special emergency evacuation needs and permanent work location of such physically disabled persons. The list shall be located in the building manager’s office;

5.3 Group I, Division 1 and 2 occupancies as defined in the California Building Code (except honor farms and conservation camps) shall comply with normal hospital policies of assisting patients and guests during an emergency evacuation.

404.6.5 Training. Hotels, motels, lodging houses, and high-rise office buildings shall conduct annually, emer- gency procedures training for all building employees. Group I, Division 1 and 2 occupancies as defined in the California Building Code (except honor farms and conser- vation camps) shall conduct quarterly fire emergency training for all building employees.

404.6.5.1 Fire Safety Directors and their designated emergency personnel shall receive training in the iden- tification and use of facility fire safety equipment, com- munication procedures, people movement procedures, fire prevention practices, and their duties outlined in their respective emergency plan. The training curricu- lum shall be approved by, and made available to the authority having jurisdiction.

404.6.5.2 All building employees shall receive training covering the identification and use of facility fire safety equipment, fire prevention practices, and appropriate procedures to follow in the event of a fire.

404.6.5.3 Actual evacuation or relocation of building occupants pursuant to procedures contained in the emergency plan shall be conducted at least annually for all building employees. Appropriate records, including dates, floors or building involved, and per- sons conducting evacuation or relocation procedures shall be maintained and made immediately available to the authority having jurisdiction upon their request. The authority having jurisdiction shall be notified not less than 48 hours in advance of such planned evacua- tion or relocation.

Exception: In hotels, motels, lodging houses, and Group I, Division 1 and 2 occupancies as defined

EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS

in the California Building Code, guests and patients are not required to participate in evacua- tion or relocation of the building. In hotels, motels, lodging houses, Group I, Division 1 and 2 occu- pancies as defined in the California Building Code, and high-rise office buildings, on-duty personnel who have security or maintenance related respon- sibilities, and designated management personnel approved by the fire authority having jurisdiction shall not be required to participate in any drill but, they shall provide an alternate method approved by the authority having jurisdiction to measure their knowledge of their respective duties pursuant to the emergency plan.

404.6.6 Emergency procedures signage posted prior to the effective date of these regulations may be continued in use until one year after such effective date of these regula- tions.

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