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Definition of Special Event(s)
Any for profit, not for profit, charitable or other organized gathering, parade, road race, fair, rodeo, livestock show or sale, trade show or exhibition, craft show or sale, concert or other event which uses any street, park, right-of-way, building or other property belonging to the City of Covington, the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds, or if held on other public or private property would have attendance such as to require traffic control in order to maintain access for emergency vehicles into the immediate area of the event.
The Covington Community Center, Pavilion at Bogue Falaya Park, Livestock Show Bam and Arena at the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds and many other public and private sites are categorized as "assembly occupancies" and are therefore subject to many other provisions of the Fire Prevention Code of the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 1, as adopted by the City of Covington. The City of Covington Fire Department Prevention and Enforcement Division and the Fire Marshal’s Office of the State of Louisiana will strictly enforce this code.
General Requirements
Application for a Fire Code Permit and the submittal of required inspection and permit fees shall be made at least fourteen (14) days prior to the scheduled event date to the Prevention and Enforcement Division. The application shall include, a description of the proposed site/floor plans indicating the location of all buildings, tents, membrane structures, stages, restroom facilities (permanent and temporary), amusement rides, temporary structures, fences, barricades or other crowd control structures, first aid station sites (if required), and the appropriate fire lanes for emergency equipment access. Proposed entrances and exits should be clearly indicated on the plans. A description of parking facilities available or plans for parking on public streets shall be submitted. Submitted plans will be reviewed and either approved as submitted or an appointment will be scheduled to discuss necessary changes. An appointment for a final inspection before opening of the event to the public will be scheduled upon approval of the plans.
All required fire protection equipment (extinguishers, hose cabinets, fire alarm stations, etc.) shall be clearly visible at all times. Fire protection equipment shall be provided and posted as specified in NFPA 1 and NFPA 10. The location of fire protection equipment shall be indicated on the site/floor plan submitted with the special event application. In addition, at the discretion the Covington Fire Department, fire fighting apparatus and trained fire fighters from the Covington Fire Department may be required at the event. The Covington Fire Department does not provide fire extinguishers for use at events.
Required fire lanes (fire and emergency vehicle access roadways) shall be maintained in accordance with NFPA 1. Fire lanes shall be provided for all buildings, tents, or membrane structures. The fire lanes shall be not less than twenty (20) feet of unobstructed width and able to withstand the live loads of fire fighting apparatus.
"Fire Watchers" may be required at the discretion of the Covington Fire Department. The NFPA code defines "fire watchers" as "a person assigned to be in an area for the express purpose of notifying the fire department of an emergency, preventing a fire from occurring, extinguishing small fires, or protecting the public from fire or life safety dangers addressed in the Code." "Fire Watchers" must have specific training, equipment, and personal qualifications as per the Code. In addition, "fire watchers" must be members of the Covington Fire Department and approved for such duty.
Emergency medical service personnel may be required, at the discretion of the Covington Fire Department, to be present at the event during all hours of operation to provide reasonable emergency and first aid services. To ensure proper coverage of Emergency Medical Services all applicants are required to develop an EMS plan with the Covington Fire Department. Emergency Medical Services needs shall be determined by considering the expected attendance, age range of expected attendees, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, type of activity and/or entertainment provided, climactic conditions anticipated (heat/humidity), and other potential risk factors . All Emergency Medical Services personnel must be credentialed by a recognized agency (Louisiana EMS Board, American Red Cross, etc.) to provide the necessary services and approved by the Covington Fire Department.
The Code requires "Crowd Managers" In addition to the required fire watchers and emergency medical service providers in assembly occupancies with a capacity of 1000 or more. There shall be one crowd manager present for every 250 occupants. All crowd managers shall have received training in crowd management techniques approved by the Covington Fire Department or State Fire Marshal and shall provide proof of such training. Posted maximum occupancy levels for assembly occupancies shall be strictly enforced by the "crowd managers”.
One or more methods of fire alarm and emergency communications shall be provided to the satisfaction of the Covington Fire Department. NFPA 101 requires a method of notifying all attendees of an emergency situation and the need to leave the area. The code further requires a method of notifying emergency agencies of an emergency situation such as a fire or medical emergency.
All exits shall be clearly marked and maintained in an adequate and accessible condition at all times in accordance with NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code).
All decorative items shall be made of materials that are not flammable or shall be treated and maintained in a flame-retardant condition by use of a solution or process approved by the State Fire Marshal. Evidence of such treatment must be provided prior to use of the material. NFPA 101. Decorative items include, but are not limited to, drapes, table covers, hangings, Christmas trees and other plant materials, other decorations made of paper or cardboard. Plastic sheeting or foam products are highly flammable and may not be used in decorations or wall coverings.
No hay, straw, wood shavings, sawdust, or similar combustible material shall be used or stored inside a building (assembly), tent, or other structure unless they have been treated with a flame-retardant solution or other process approved by the State fire Marshal.
All tents or tent materials shall meet the flame-retardant requirements of CPAI-84. A label indicating the tent or tent material has been manufactured using materials that are "Certified" to meet the flame-retardant requirements of CPAT-84 must be permanently affixed to each item of tentage used in the State of Louisiana. If the tent does not bear the "Certification" label indicating it has been treated with flame-retardant it cannot be used.
There shall be no parking within ten (10) feet of any tent.
All combustible rubbish shall be removed from the event site on a daily basis. There will be no storage of combustible rubbish behind or under any booth or display or in any building or structure.
Combustible materials within exhibit booths shall be limited to a one-day supply. Storage of combustible materials behind booths or under displays, tables, or counters shall be prohibited. No combustible material shall be stored or accumulated in booths or areas where cooking fires are permitted whether or not the cooking fire is burning.
Use of an "open flame device" or pyrotechnic device shall not be permitted in any assembly occupancy. Propane or other gas burning barbeque pits, cookers, stoves or ovens are "open flame devices".
The use of LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) cylinders shall not be permitted in any assembly occupancy. All LPG cylinders, hoses, valves, regulators, piping, fittings, and related devices shall meet the requirements of all applicable NFPA codes. These devices will be inspected for code compliance prior to issuance of the Compressed and liquefied gases permit. A permit is required for any storage or use of these devices at any event.
All cooking devices shall meet the requirements of all applicable NFPA codes. These devices will be inspected for code compliance prior to use. Any cooking device containing grease, cooking oil, or other flammable or combustible liquid must have a Flammable and combustible liquids permit issued before use at any event.
The Louisiana Fire Marshall must approve all fireworks or pyrotechnic displays by any person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity. Applications for permits should be addressed to the Office of State Fire Marshall, 5150 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70806. The original permit and letter stating safety requirements must be available before the display may begin. All requirements listed in the permit and letter must be met before the display may begin.
The Louisiana Fire Marshall must inspect all amusement rides before they are allowed to operate at any event. The Fire Marshall's inspection report and permit must be provided for inspection before any amusement ride shall commence operation.
Seating and aisles in all assembly occupancies shall be in accordance with NFPA codes. No temporary seating may be placed in aisles or hallways.
Any vehicle, boat, or other motorized device on display shall comply with the following:
1. All fuel tank openings shall be locked or sealed in an approved manner to prevent the escape of vapors or the introduction of any material into the tank. 2. Fuel tanks shall not be more than one half full or contain more than 10 gallons of fuel, whichever is less.
3. At least one battery cable shall be removed from the batteries used to start the engine. The disconnected battery cable shall then be taped.
4. Batteries may be used to power auxiliary equipment.
5. Fueling or defueling of vehicles is prohibited.
6. Vehicles shall not be moved during event hours.
7. Operating of internal combustion engines indoors is prohibited.
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