Fire Escapes Seattle WA – Testing
Updated April 2012
Fire escapes may be used during emergencies by both building occupants and fire fighters. Many fire escapes were built in the early 1900’s.To assure the safety of their use from year to year the Seattle Fire Code requires them to be checked every five years.
1. A confidence test must be conducted on fire escapes and must be performed by, or conducted under the direct supervision of, a currently licensed Washington State Structural Engineer.The confidence test report must be stamped, dated and signed with the Professional Engineer’s stamp and submitted to the Seattle Fire Department’s Confidence Testing Unit.
There are professional testing agencies listed in various directories. Check for companies listed under fire escapes and fire protection.
Click here for complete Seattle fire escape code: 5973CAM FireEscapeTesting
Send us photos of your fire escape by email: info@FireEscapesSeattle.com
Seattle Fire and Building Codes
The Seattle Fire Code is enforced by the Seattle Fire Department. The current fire code is comprised of the 2015 International Fire Code, published by the International Code Council, with Seattle amendments by ordinance.
The 2015 Seattle Fire Code was adopted by City Council on September 26, 2016. Use of the new code became mandatory on January 1, 2017.
The Seattle Fire Code is developed in cooperation with the Fire Code Advisory Board (FCAB), a volunteer advisory board that represents the interests of the public, organized labor and local business, industry and technical trades.
We develop new editions of the Seattle Fire Code every three years. Work on the 2018 Seattle Fire Code will continue until adoption in 2020.
Section 104 – General Authority and Responsibilities
[A] 104.6.2 Inspections. The fire code official shall keep a record of ((each inspection made, including notices)) inspections, notices, violations, correction letters, and orders issued, showing the findings and disposition of each.
[A] 104.7.1 Material and equipment reuse. Materials, equipment and devices shall not be reused or reinstalled unless such elements have been reconditioned, tested and placed in good and proper working condition and approved.
[A] 104.7.2 Technical assistance. To determine the acceptability of technologies, processes, products, facilities, materials and uses attending the design, operation or use of a building or premises subject to inspection by the fire code official, the fire code official is authorized to require the owner or owner’s authorized agent to provide, without charge to the jurisdiction, a technical opinion and report. The opinion and report shall be prepared by a qualified engineer, specialist, laboratory or fire safety specialty organization acceptable to the fire code official and shall analyze the fire safety properties of the design, operation or use of the building or premises and the facilities and appurtenances situated thereon, to recommend necessary changes. The fire code official is authorized to require design submittals to be prepared by, and bear the stamp of, a registered design professional.
[A] 104.8 Modifications. Where there are practical difficulties involved in carrying out the provisions of this code, the fire code official shall have the authority to grant modifications for individual cases, provided the fire code official shall first find that special individual reason makes the strict letter of this code impractical and the modification is in compliance with the intent and purpose of this code and that such modification does not lessen health, life and fire safety requirements. The details of action granting modifications shall be recorded and entered in the files of the department of fire prevention.
[A] 104.9.2 Tests. Where there is insufficient evidence of compliance with the provisions of this code, or evidence that a material or method does not conform to the requirements of this code, or in order to substantiate claims for alternative materials or methods, the fire code official shall have the authority to require tests as evidence of compliance to be made at no expense to the jurisdiction. Test methods shall be as specified in this code or by other recognized test standards. In the absence of recognized and accepted test methods, the fire code official shall approve the testing procedures. Tests shall be performed by an approved agency. Reports of such tests shall be retained by the fire code official for the period required for retention of public records.
104.11.3 Systems and devices. Persons shall not render a system or device inoperative during an emergency unless by direction of the fire chief or fire department official in charge of the incident.
Section 106 Inspections
[A] 106.1 Inspection authority. The fire code official is authorized to enter and examine any building, structure, marine vessel, vehicle or premises in accordance with Section 104.3 for the purpose of enforcing this code.
[A] 106.2 Inspections. The fire code official is authorized to conduct such inspections as are deemed necessary to deter- mine the extent of compliance with the provisions of this code and to approve reports of inspection by approved agencies or individuals. Reports of such inspections shall be pre- pared and submitted in writing for review and approval. Inspection reports shall be certified by a responsible officer of such approved agency or by the responsible individual. The fire code official is authorized to engage such expert opinion as deemed necessary to report upon unusual, detailed or complex technical issues subject to the approval of the governing body.
[A] 106.4 Approvals. Approval as the result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid.
106.5 Special inspections. The fire code official is authorized to appoint qualified persons or agencies having special technical skills as special inspectors or plan reviewers and accept their inspection, plan review and evaluation of specialized fire protection equipment or systems.
106.5.1 Other inspections. The fire code official is authorized to accept inspections performed by other jurisdictions and agencies and honor permits and certificates issued by other jurisdictions for activities regulated by this code, upon presentation to the fire code official of satisfactory evidence that such inspections, permits and certificates are substantially in accord with the fire safety requirements of this code.
Section 107 – Maintenance
[A] 107.1 Maintenance of safeguards. Where any device, equipment, system, condition, arrangement, level of protection, or any other feature is required for compliance with the provisions of this code, or otherwise installed, such device, equipment, system, condition, arrangement, level of protection, or other feature shall thereafter be continuously maintained in accordance with this code and applicable referenced standards.
[A] 107.2 Testing and operation. Equipment requiring peri- odic testing or operation to ensure maintenance shall be tested or operated as specified in this code.
[A] 107.2.1 Re-inspection and testing. Where any work or installation does not pass an initial test or inspection, the necessary corrections shall be made so as to achieve compliance with this code. The work or installation shall then be resubmitted to the fire code official for inspection and testing.
[A] 107.3 Record-keeping. A record of periodic inspections, tests, servicing and other operations and maintenance shall be maintained on the premises or other approved location for not less than 3 years, or a different period of time where specified in this code or referenced standards. In accordance with applicable law ((R)) records shall be made available for inspection by the fire code official, and a copy of the records shall be provided to the fire code official upon request.
The fire code official is authorized to prescribe the form and format of such record-keeping. The fire code official is authorized to require that certain required records be filed with the fire code official.
[A] 107.4 Supervision. Maintenance and testing shall be under the supervision of a responsible person who shall ensure that such maintenance and testing are conducted at specified intervals in accordance with this code.
[A] 107.5 Rendering equipment inoperable. Portable or fixed fire-extinguishing systems or devices and fire-warning systems shall not be rendered inoperative or inaccessible except as necessary during emergencies, maintenance, repairs, alterations, drills or prescribed testing.
Exception: When approved by the fire code official.
Section 108 – Appeals
[A] 109.2 Owner/occupant responsibility. Correction and abatement of violations of this code shall be the responsibility of the owner or owner’s authorized agent. If an occupant creates, or allows to be created, hazardous conditions in violation of this code, the occupant shall be held responsible for the abatement of such hazardous conditions.
Section 109 – Violations
[A] 109.1 Unlawful acts. It shall be unlawful for a person, firm or Corporation to erect, construct, alter, repair, remove, demolish or utilize a building, occupancy, premises or system regulated by this code, or cause same to be done, in conflict with or in violation of any of the provisions of this code. It is a violation of the Seattle Fire Code for any person to fail to comply with the Seattle Fire Code or with any order issued by the fire code official.
[A] 109.2 Owner/occupant responsibility. Correction and abatement of violations of this code shall be the responsibility of the owner or owner’s authorized agent. If an occupant creates, or allows to be created, hazardous conditions in violation of this code, the occupant shall be held responsible for the abatement of such hazardous conditions.
Section 110 – Unsafe Buildings
[A] 110.1.1 Unsafe conditions. Structures, premises, or existing equipment that are or hereafter become unsafe or deficient because of inadequate means of egress, ((or which)) that constitute a fire hazard, ((or are otherwise dangerous to human life or the public welfare, or which)) that involve illegal or improper occupancy or inadequate maintenance, or that are otherwise dangerous to human life or public welfare, shall be deemed an unsafe condition. A vacant structure which is not secured against unauthorized entry as required by Section 311 shall be deemed unsafe.
[A] 110.1.2 Structural hazards. When an apparent structural hazard is caused by the faulty installation, operation or malfunction of any of the items or devices governed by this code, the fire code official ((shall)) is authorized to immediately notify the building code official in accordance with Section 110.1.
[A] 110.3 Summary abatement. Where conditions exist that are deemed hazardous to life and property, the fire code official or fire department official in charge of the incident is authorized to abate summarily such hazardous conditions that are in violation of this code.
[A] 110.4 Abatement. The owner, the owner’s authorized agent, operator or occupant of a building or premises deemed unsafe by the fire code official shall abate or cause to be abated or corrected such unsafe conditions either by repair, rehabilitation, demolition or other approved corrective action.
SOURCE:
Seattle Fire Department – City of Seattle, WA
http://www.seattle.gov/fire/business-services/fire-code-and-fire-safety-documents
NATIONAL CODES:
IFC 2015 1104.16 Fire Escape PDF actual code
2012 IFC 1104.16.5.1Fire escape stairs must be examined every 5 years ,by design professional or others acceptable and inspection report must be submitted to the fire code official.
IBC 1001.3.3All fire escapes shall be examined and/or tested and certified every five years by a design professional or others acceptable who will then submit an affidavit city official.
NFPA LIFE SAFETY CODE 101 7.2.8.6.2The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) shall approve any fire escape by Load Test or other evidence of strength (Certification).
OSHA 1910.37Exit routes must be maintained during construction, repairs, alterations or provide alternative egress with equivalent level of safety. (permit issued if egress is certified or with egress scaffolding)
FIVE STEPS to Certify a Fire Escape:
- Schedule a pre load test evaluation by a design professional or others acceptable by City Official – AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)
- Said professional will confirm with City Official if there are any other requirements other than load testing or other evidence of strength and if City Official wants to witness initial evaluation
- Submit evaluation report to owner/agent and a copy to the City Official as per code
- Issue certification, if passed, done by load test or other evidence of strength to City Official or, if failed, owner/agent and city official to confirm next steps (ex. engineer oversight, permits or other conditions)
- Please contact your local City Official (AHJ) with any questions about the above steps
Fire Escapes Seattle Washington
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