Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Housing and Community Development
 
Board
Board of Housing and Community Development
 
chapter
Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code [13 VAC 5 ‑ 51]
Action Update the Statewide Fire Prevention Code
Stage Final
Comment Period Ended on 6/29/2018
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Next Comment     Back to List of Comments
5/15/18  11:00 am
Commenter: J. E. Boisseau Colonial Heights Fire and EMS

Emergency Prepareness Covered Malls
 

The below sections of the fire code are slated to be deleted.  I believe these sections need to be retained.  The addresses on the front and rear of the tenant spaces are very important to all emergency services, including mall security.  In addition, the mall having an emergency plan and reviewed by the local government is very important for preparedness and inter relationship before an incident.  When Southpark Mall has had a fire prior to these plans, there are confusion and delay locating and controlling the fire.  After these plans were developed, our response improved.  The last incident involved a shooting, which allowed security and emergency services to react quickly.  These plans should and would work.  If not, there would be chaos

403.10.1. Covered and open mall buildings. Covered and open mall buildings shall comply with the requirements of Sections 403.10.1.1 through 403.10.1.6.

403.10.1.1. Malls and mall buildings exceeding 50,000 square feet. An approved fire safety and evacuation plan in accordance with Section 404 shall be prepared and maintained for covered malls exceeding 50,000 square feet (4645 m2) in aggregate floor area and for open mall buildings exceeding 50,000 square feet (4645 m2) in aggregate area within perimeter line.

403.10.1.2. Lease plan. In addition to the requirements of Section 404.2.2, a lease plan that includes the following information shall be prepared for each covered and open mall building:

1. Each occupancy, including identification of tenant.

2. Exits from each tenant space.

3. Fire protection features, including the following:

3.1. Fire department connections.

3.2. Fire command center.

3.3. Smoke management system controls.

3.4. Elevators, elevator machine rooms and controls.

3.5. Hose valve outlets.

3.6. Sprinkler and standpipe control valves.

3.7. Automatic fire-extinguishing system areas.

3.8. Automatic fire detector zones.

3.9. Fire barriers.

403.10.1.3. Lease plan approval. The lease plan shall be submitted to the fire code official for approval, and shall be maintained on site for immediate reference by responding fire service personnel.

403.10.1.4. Lease plan 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 fire code official and building official.

403.10.1.5. Tenant identification. Tenant identification shall be provided for secondary exits from occupied tenant spaces that lead to an exit corridor or directly to the exterior of the building. Tenant identification shall be posted on the exterior side of the exit or exit access door and shall identify the business name or address, or both, using plainly legible letters and numbers that contrast with their background.

Exception: Tenant identification is not required for anchor stores.

403.10.1.6. Unoccupied tenant spaces. The fire safety and evacuation plan shall provide for compliance with the requirements for unoccupied tenant spaces in Section 311.

CommentID: 65309