Group A Quarterly Employees
Group E Monthly a All occupants
Group I Quarterly on each shift Employees b
Group R-1 Quarterly on each shift Employees
Group R-4 Quarterly on each shift Employees b
a. The frequency shall be permitted 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.
405.6 Notification. Where required by the code official, In buildings having fire alarm monitoring services, prior notification of emergency evacuation drills shall be given to the jurisdiction immediately prior to the drill code official by calling the Houston Fire Department Office of Emergency Communications, Telephone: (713) 222-7643, and to the building’s fire alarm monitoring service. The Fire Department and the monitoring service shall be immediately notified at the conclusion of emergency evacuation drills, in accordance with Houston Fire Department LSB Standard No. 08, “Fire Drills.”
405.9 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.
406.1 General. Employees in the occupancies listed in Section 404.2 shall be trained in the fire emergency procedures described in their fire evacuation and fire safety plans. Training shall be based on these plans and as described in Section 404.3. When required by the code official, employees shall be assigned duties for emergencies and shall be trained in accordance with this section.
406.2 Reserved. Frequency. Employees shall receive training in the contents of fire safety and evacuation plans and their duties as part of new employee orientation and at least annually thereafter. Records shall be kept and made available to the code official upon request.
406.3.3 Fire safety training. Employees assigned firefighting duties shall be trained to know the locations and proper use of portable fire extinguishers or other manual fire-fighting equipment and the protective clothing or equipment required for its safe and proper use. In high-rise buildings, Building Emergency Response Personnel (BERP) shall be trained in accordance with regulations established by the code official.
408.1 General. In addition to the other requirements of this chapter, the provisions of this section are applicable to specific occupancies listed herein. Where a provision of this section may conflict with specific requirements established by the code official, the code official's requirements shall control.
Note: Group I-4 occupancies shall conform to Sections 401 through 406 and Houston Fire Department LSB Standard No. 08, “Fire Drills.”
408.2.1 Seating plans and permits. The fire safety and evacuation plans for assembly occupancies, including carnivals, festivals, fair grounds, and trade show exhibitions, shall be submitted when required by the code official. Plans shall include the information required by Section 404.3 and a detailed seating plan, occupant load, and occupant load limit. Deviations from the approved plans shall be allowed when approved by the code official, provided the occupant load limit for the occupancy is not exceeded and the aisles and exit accessways remain unobstructed.
Permits and plans are required to operate a place of assembly, or a carnival, festival or fair, to use liquid- or gas-fueled vehicles or equipment for competition or display inside an assembly occupancy, to use an assembly area for trade show exhibition purposes, or to use candles or other open-flame devices in assembly areas.
408.2.3 Communication. When required by the code official, places of assembly shall be provided with a method for notifying the fire department in the event of an emergency. The method may consist of a telephone, an alarm system connected to an approved agency, or other approved means. Methods of notifying the fire department shall be readily available to the public.
408.3 Group E occupancies. Group E occupancies shall comply with the requirements of Sections 408.3.1 through 408.3.4 and Sections 401 through 406 Houston Fire Department LSB Standard No. 08, “Fire Drills.”
408.3.1 First emergency evacuation drill. The first emergency evacuation drill of each school year shall is recommended but not required to be conducted within 10 days of the beginning of classes to familiarize the students and staff with the fire drill procedures.
408.3.2 Emergency evacuation drill deferral. In severe climates, the code official shall have the authority to modify the emergency evacuation drill frequency specified in Section 405.2 Drills are not required during periods of inclement weather or when state mandated educational assessment testing is being conducted.
408.5 Group I-1 occupancies. Group I-1 occupancies shall comply with the requirements of Sections 408.5.1 through 408.5.5, and Sections 401 through 406, and Houston Fire Department LSB Standard No. 08, “Fire Drills.”
408.5.4 Drill frequency. Emergency evacuation drills shall be conducted in accordance with Houston Fire Department LSB Standard No. 08, “Fire Drills.” 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 405.4.
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 and Houston Fire Department LSB Standard No. 08, “Fire Drills.” Drills are not required to comply with the time requirements of Section 405.4.
408.8 Group R-1 occupancies. Group R-1 occupancies shall comply with the requirements of Sections 408.8.1 through 408.8.3, and Sections 401 through 406 and Houston Fire Department LSB Standard No. 08, “Fire Drills.” High-rise R-1 occupancies shall also be in accordance with Houston Fire Department LSB Standard No. 07, “High-Rise Fire Safety Plans.”
408.9 Group R-2 occupancies. Group R-2 occupancies shall comply with the requirements of Sections 408.9.1 through 408.9.3 and Sections 401 through 406.
408.9.1 Emergency guide. A fire emergency guide shall be provided which describes the location, function and use of fire protection equipment and appliances accessible to residents, including fire alarm systems, smoke alarms, and portable fire extinguishers. The guide shall also include an emergency evacuation plan for each dwelling unit.
408.9.2 Maintenance. Emergency guides shall be reviewed and approved in accordance with Section 401.2.
408.9.3 Distribution. A copy of the emergency guide shall be given to each tenant prior to initial occupancy.
408.10 Group R-4 occupancies. Group R-4 occupancies shall comply with the requirements of Sections 408.10.1 through 408.10.5, and Sections 401 through 406, and Houston Fire Department LSB Standard No. 08, “Fire Drills.”
408.10.4 Drill frequency. Emergency evacuation drills shall be conducted in accordances with Houston Fire Department LSB Standard No. 08, “Fire Drills.” 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 405.4.
408.11.1.1 Approval. The lease plan shall be submitted to the code official for approval, and shall be maintained on site for immediate reference by responding fire service personnel and be available upon request by the code official.
408.11.1.2 Revisions. The lease plans shall be revised annually or as often as necessary to keep them current. Modifications or changes in tenants or occupancies shall not be made without prior approval of the code official and building official.
408.11.2 Tenant identification. Each occupied tenant space provided with a secondary exit to the exterior or exit corridor shall be provided with tenant identification by business name and/or address. Letters and numbers of durable materials, at least 2 inches (50 mm) in height, shall be posted and maintained on the corridor side of the door, be plainly legible and shall contrast with their background.
Exception: Tenant identification is not required for anchor stores.
408.11.3 Maintenance. Unoccupied tenant spaces shall be: 1. Kept free from the storage of any materials.
2. Separated from the remainder of the building by partitions of at least 0.5-inch-thick (12.7 mm) gypsum board or an approved equivalent to the underside of the ceiling of the adjoining tenant spaces.
3. Without doors or other access openings other than one door that shall be kept key locked in the closed position except during that time when opened for inspection. 4. Kept free from combustible waste and be broom-swept clean.