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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-20-1982 Regular Meeting• MINUTES - REGCJLAR MEETING OF THE LA PORTS FIRE CODE REVIEW CONIl~IITTEE MAY 20, 1982 I~ERS OF THE COT~IITTEE PRESENT: Robert Byers, Paul R. Hickenbottom, Delbert Walker, David Paulissen, Al Fields, Tom Handy, Joe Sease, Carlos Smith, Luther Maxey representing Jerry Hodge John Joerns representing Jack Owen MEMMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ABSENT: Greg Yakim, Ellis Ebarb, Morris Rose, Mark Williams, James Sitton OTHERS PRESENT: D. R. M;c Laughlin PRESIDING: John Joerns presiding in Jack Owen's absence. 1. CALL TO ORDER - John Joerns called the meeting to order at 1916 hrs. 2. READING OF THE MINUTES - Paul Hickenbottom read the minutes of the ast two meetings. Motion was made by David Paulissen to approve the minutes as read. Motion seconded: Delbert Walker Ayes: 9 Nays: 0 3. OLD BUSINESS - Consider variance to Trammel Craw Distribution for repositioning overhead doors. Request for variance of the Fire Code Article 33 - Division 2 - Sec. 33.16 was discussed and approved. Motion made by Delbert Walker Motion seconded: David Paulissen Ayes: 8 Nays: 0 Abstain: Carlos Smith - conflict of interest FIRE CODE REVISION Artic e - Division 1 - Sec. 17.1 presented and approved as follows; ARTICLE 17 FLANNIABLE FIlVISHES, APPLICATION OF DIVISION GIIQEERAL PROVISIONS SEC. 7. A licabili ina licabili of article rovisions. a This article shall apply to all locations or areas where the following activities are conducted, and how they will be conducted. (1) The application of flammable or combustible paint, varnish, lacquer, stain or other flammable or combustible liquid applied as spray by compressed air, "airless" or "hydraulic atomization", or by steam, or electrostatic methods or by any other means in continuous or intermittent processes; and (2) Dip tank operations in which articles or materials are passed through content of tanks, vats or containers of flammable or combustible liquids, including coating, finishing, treatment and similiar processes; and Page 2 (3) The application of combustible powder spray guns, fluidized beds or electrostatic fluid beds. (4) Outside flammable and/or combustible spray finishing operations are not allowed without writeen approval and/or permit by the Texas Air Control Board and the La Porte Fire Marshal's Office. Copies of which shall be kept on file in the Fire Marshal's office. (5) All flammable and/or combustible spray finishe operations shall be conducted as outlined in N.F.P.A. Pamphlets No. 33 & 34, except as stated in this article. (b) The provisions of this article shall not apply to the minor maintenance or decorative spray painting applied to occupants property from hand-held devices, at one and two family residences; not to arts and crafts work where no more than one such device is in use at one time and creates no undue public fire hazard. Motion made to approve as presented: Delbert Walker Motion seconded: David Paulissen Ayes: 9 Nays: 0 FIRE CODE REVISION Article 31 - Division 3 - Sec. 31.27 ARTICLE 31 SPECIAL OCCUPANCIES DIVISION 3 CHILD DAY CARE SEC. 31.27 App ication a This section establishes life safety requirements for child day care centers, in which more than twelve (12) children receive care, maintenance, and supervision for twenty-four (24) hours or less .per day. (b) In child day care centers, the number of children shall not exceed the following staff to child ratio. This ratio shall be maintained when the center is open, with the following exception: EXCEPTION: For 45 minutes after opening and 45 minutes before closing, the center may regroup children older than 18 months without reference to age. The staff-child ratio for regrouped children shall be one staff member to 22 children. (The staff to child ratio as stated in the Life Safety Code will be suspended). Staff-Child Ratio In day care centers, the number of children shall not exceed the following: INFANTS AND TODDLERS Age of Youngest Max;rrnm, Number Number of Staff. Child in Group of children 0-11 mrmths 5 1 0-11 months 12 2 12-17 months 6 1 12-17 months 14 2 When there is a child younger than the age of 18 months in the group, the oldest child in the group shall not be more than 18 months older than the youngest child in the group. Children age 18 months and older may be grouped according to the followuig chart. Page 3 Age of Youngest Child in Group 18 months 18 months 2 years 2 years 3 years 3 years 4 years 4 years 5 years 5 years 6 years or older • PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN Nim~ber of Children of Youngest age Maxinaun N~nber of Children to be Supervised by One Staff Person If there are 4 or .more children under 2 years of age. If there are no more than 3 children under 2 years. If there are 5 or more two year olds. If there are no more than 4 two year olds. If there are 7 or more three year olds. If there are no more than 6 three year olds. If there are 11 or more four year olds. If there are no more than 10 four year olds. If there are 13 or more 5 year olds. If there are no more than 12 five year olds. 9 10 11 13 15 17 18 20 22 24 26 (c) All persons working with, children shall be free from other duties except those directly involving the care and supervision of children. These responsibilities shall include keeping the groups area clean. but shall not include meal preparation or janitorial duties. (1) Staff who work directly with children and who are counted in the staff-child ratio shall be 18 years or older, except as stated in (a) or (b) belaa, and be able to read and write. (a) Persons under 18 years old who have a high school diploma may be counted in the staff-child ratio. (b) Students. under 18 years old who are enrolled in child care- related career programs approved by the Texas Education Agency or other State or Federally approved programs, or who are on summer vacation from career programs, may be given responsibility for children and counted in the staff-child ratio. (d) Where centers are located in a building containing mixed occupancies, the separation requirements of the La Porte Building Code shall apply. Motion made to approve as presented: Delbert Walker Motion seconded: David Paulissen Ayes: 7 Nays: 2 Page 4 • • FIRE CODE REVISION Antic e - Division 3 - Sec. 31.28 was presented and approved as read. ARTICLE 31 SPECIAL OCCUPANCIES DIVISION 3 CHILD DAY CARE CENTERS SEC . 3 .2 Occupant Loa -~S The occupan~oad for which means of egress shall be provided for and floor, shall be the max;mim, number of persons intended to occupy that floor but not less than one person for each thirty-five (35) swuare feet of net floor area used by the children. (b) The occupancy certificate issued by the State of Texas Welfare Department and approved by the Fire Marshal shall be prominently posted on a wall which is easily accessible. Such certificate shall state the number of children permissible in the subject location. (c) Any continued violation of this article may result in forfeiture of permit to operate a child care facility within the city limits of La Porte. Motion made to approve as presented: David Paulissen Motion seconded: Al Fields Ayes: 9 Nays: 0 FIRE CODE REVISION Article 3 -Division 3 - Sec. 31.29 was presented and approved as read. ARTICLE 31 SPECIAL OCCUPANCIES DIVISION 3 CHII~D DAY CARE CIIVTERS SEC. Exit etai s A er (1) Each floor occupied by children shall have not less than two remote exits. All such exits shall discharge directly to the outside. (2) The story below the floor of exit discharge may be used in buildings of fire resistive construction, protected non-combustible construction, portected wood frame construction and protected ordinary construction, if the following conditions are met: (a) For up to 30 children there shall be two remote exits. One exit shall discharge firectly outside and the vertical travel to ground level shall not exceed 8 feet. There shall be no unprotected opening into-the enclosure of the second exit. (b) For over 30 children a minitrnan of two exits shall be provided directly outside with one of the two exiting at ground level. EXCEPTION: The exit directly to ground level is not required if the exits are protected in accordance with the Life Safety Code, except that there shall be no openings into the exit other than for ingress and egress. Smoke detectors shall be provided in that story and the story of discharge. EXCEPTION: The exit directly to ground level is not required if one exit complies with Exception 1 and sprinklers are used in that story and the story of exit discharge. Motion made to approve as presented: Paul Hickenbottam Motion seconded: David Paulissen Ayes: 9 Nays: 0 FIRE CODE REVISION Article 31 - Division 3 - Sec. 31.30 was approved as presented ARTICLE 31 SPECIAL OCCUPANCIES DIVISION CHILD DAY CARE CENTERS SEC. .30 Access to Exits Page 5 'Navel distance (a) between any room door intended as exit access and an exit shall not exceed 100 feet; (b) between any point in a room and an exit shall not exceed 150 feet; (c) between any point in a sleeping roan or suite and an exit access door of that roan or suite shall not exceed 50 feet. The travel distance in (a) and(b) above may be increased by 50 feet in buildings completely equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system. Travel distance shall be measured in accordance with the Life Safety Code. EXCEPTION: The travel distance to exits in open plan centers for children 3 years of age and older shall be in accordance with the Life Safety Code for open plan schools. Motion to approve as presented: David Paulissen Motion seconded: Robert Byers Ayes: 9 Nays: 0 FIRE CODE REVISION Article 3 -Division 3 - Sec. 31.31 was presented and approved as read. ARTICLE 31 SPECIAL OCCUPANCIES DIVISION CHILD DAY CARE CEN'T'ERS SEC. Doors ~-Doors in means of egress shall swing in the direction of exit travel and shall meet the requirements of the Life Safety Code. EXCEPTION: Doors fran an existing center to an exit access in apartment buildigns. (b) Every closet door latch shall be such that children can open the door from inside the closet. (c) Every bathroom door clok shall be designed to permit opening of the locked door from the outside in an emergency, and the opening device shall be readily accessible to the staff. Motion to approve as presented: David Paulissen Motion seconded: Paul Hickenbottan Ayes: 9 Nays: 0 FIRE CODE REVISION Article 31 - Division 3 - Sec. 31.32 was discussed and approved as read. ARTICLE 31 SPECIAL OCCUPANCIES DIVISION 3~ CHILD DAY CARE CENTERS SEC. .3 Stairs a Exit stairs shall be enclosed in accordance with teh Life Safety Code. (b) There shall be no enclosed usable space under stairs in an exit exclosure nor shall the open space under such stairs be used for any purpose. Motion to approve as presented: David Paulissen Motion seconded: Paul Hic'~cenbottan Ayes: 9 Nays: 0 FIRE CODE REVISION :sticle 31 - Division 3 - Sec. 31.34. ARTICLE 31 SPECIAL (x~(;UYANC:~S rgenc~ ig tulg Means of egress in eac ay care center shall be provided with emergency lighting, in accordance with the Life Safety Code. Page 6 • • FIRE CODE REVISION Article 3 -Division 3 - Sec. 31.35 was discussed and approved to read as follows. ARTICLE 31 SPECIAL OCCUPANCIES DIVISION 3 CHILD DAY CARE CENTERS SEC. 5 Protection a S ivision into ccRnpartments (1) When sleeping areas in centers housing children tinder 3 years of age are divided into rooms, roam dividers shall have a minim-an of 1-hour fire resistance, and glass in wall areas shall not exceed 25 percent of the wall area and shall be glazed with fixed wise glass in steel frames. (2) When interior room doors are provided between adjacent rooms they shall be not less than 3 feet (91.44cm) wide. Doors and frames shall have a 20-minute fire protection rating and shall have self- closing devices, latches, and automatic hold-open devices as specified in the Life Safety Code. (b) Centers in Apartment Buildings ' (1) If the two (2) exit accesses from the center enter the same corridor, as in apartment buildings, the exit accesses shall be separated in the corridor by a smoke partition having not less than 1-hour fire resistance rating. The smoke partition shall be so located that there is an exit on each side of it. (2) The door in the smoke partition shall be not less than 36 inches wide. EXCEPTION: Existing doors not less than 32 inches wide may be accepted. (3) The door assembly shall have afire protection rating of at least 20 minutes and shall be equipped with a self-closing device, a latch and an automatic hold-open device as specified in the Life Safety Code. (c) MiniTrnnn Constriction Standards Centers shall not be located above. the heights indicated for the types of construction given in the following table. NiJ~~ER OF STORIES (Stories are counted starting at floor of exit discharge) Type of ('n„crY„rr; rm Aac? CYrnm 1 2 3 4 Or older I (443) 0-3 X X X X I (332) 3 thru 5 X X X X II (222) 6& older X X X X II (111) III 0- X see not note 1 permitted V (111) 3 thru 5 X X see note 6 & older X X see note 1 IV 0-3 X note 1+ y 3 thru 5 X note 1 6 & older X note 1 II 000 0-3 X note 3 thru 5 X note 1 6 & older X note 1 III 00 0-3 per~~ted (000) 3 thru 5 note 2 6 & older note 2 Page 7 • • NOTE 1: Permitted if .entire building is protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system. NOTE 2: May be permitted for children 3 years of age and older if the children are limited to the first floor and the number of children is limited to 50 and there are two (2) remote exits; or if they are limited to the first floor and the number of children is limited to 100 and each room has an exit directly to the outside. (d) Protection of Vertical Openings Any vertical opening in centers shall be enclosed and protected in accordance with the Life Safety Code. (e) Interior Finish (1) In centers, interior finish for all walls and ceilings shall be Class A or Class B. Interior finish in means of egress shall be Class A and floors in means of egress shall be Class I or Class II EXCEPTION: Tong~.ie and groove wood flooring over ~-inch thick may be permitted. (2) Decorations and furnishings shall be in accordance with the Life Safety Code. Motion to approve as presented: David Paulissen Notion seconded: Paul Hickenbottom Ayes: 9 Nays: 0 FIRE CODE REVISION Article 3 - Division 3 - Sec. 31.40 was discussed and approved as read. ARTICLE 31 SPECIAL OCCUPANCIES DIVISION 3 CHILD DAY CARE CENTERS SEC. Center Service E ui ent a A heaters, stoves an other gas fire appliances shall conform to the City of La porte Building .Code with regard to installation and venting. (b) No portable heaters shall be .allowed without metallic supply tubing or pipe in an approved manner. (c) All open face radiant heaters shall be protected by approved screens or guards which shall be safe from contact by clothing or the human hand. Provide approved hold dawn devices to prevent tipping. (d) Gas fired stoves and ranges shall have a readily accessible gas shut- off at the point where the supply line leaves the wall or floor. (e) Cooking ranges shall be equipped with an approved grease anal vapor hood vented through the roof. (f) An annual pressure test for all gas pipes shall be performed in compliance to Article 3 - Division 6 of this code. (g) Electrical wiring in new construction shall be installed in accordance with La Porte Building Code. In existing buildings, the electrical wiring shall be sized to provide for the load. Receptacles and outlets serviced by extension cord type wiring are prohibited. Electrical appliances shall be grounded in accordance with the La Porte Building Code. (h) Special protective receptacle covers shall be installed in all areas occupied by children in centers for children under 5 years of age. (i) Each child day care center shall have at least one operable telephone, accessible to all staff members. The required telephone .shall not be of a coin operated type. The following emergency numbers shall be posted near the telephone. (1) La Porte Ambulance Service (2) La Porte Police Department (3) La Porte Fire Department Page 8 • • Motion to approve as presented made by Delbert Walker Notion seconded: David Paulissen Ayes: 9 Nays: 0 4. NEW BUSINESS - None ADJOiJF;NMENT - Motion was made by David Paulissen and seconded by Delbert Wa. r to adjoin at 9:00 p.m. au R. Hi ottom, Secretary Pissed and approved this the 1 ~,th. day of June 1982.