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ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR SAFETY TO LIFE IN TENTS WHEN USED FOR
ASSEMBLY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSASs
SECTION 19 No tent exceeding 120 square feet in area shall be
.greeted, maintained, operated or used except under a license from
wtj1e Chief of the Fire Department. Such license shall not be issued
period exceeding 30 days and shall be revokable f or oaus'oo
Application shall be made on proper form and, when deemed necessary
by the Chief of the Fire Department, shall include plans drawn to
scale, showing exits, aisles and seating arrangements and details of
structural support of tent, seats, platforms, etc. No license shall
be issued until the provisions of this ordinance have been complied
with, and approval has been obtained from the City Engineer, the
Police Department and the City Collector, and, when tents are to be
used for 200 or more persons, from each and every department having
jurisdiction over places of assembly.
SECTION 2+ Tents exceeding 120 square feet in area shall not be,
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erected I
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am& within 20 feet of other buildings. All tents shall be constructed
and erected to withstand a wind pressure of 10 pounds per square foot.
All canvas, curtains, cloth, rope netting and decorative material shall
be rendered flameproof, a test being made of the tent by the fire
department prior to each erection and on the decorative and other
materials before they are attached to or placed therein. In lieu of
such tests, the fire department may accept a certificate from the
manufacturer that the material has been tested by Underwriters' La g,�q�
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toriss, Inc., or some other recognised laboratory, and found tQ ,be
permanently flameprobfed, provided the material has proper identifica-
tion markings and is not more than three years old or has not been
waterproofed subsequently by a process which increases its flammability..
Where tents are used as places of assembly with a capacity of 200
or more persons, the seats, chairs, jacks and other appurtenances, if
of wood, must be suitably treated to reduce the fire hazard by a suit -
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able application bf a surface treatment or by impregnation.
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No tier of seats shall rise to a height exceeding 12 feete
All lighting shall be by electricity, with lamps properly guarded
to prevent ignition by radiation. In places of assembly emergency
lighting facilities must be as provided in the building and electrical
codes for theatres.
All wiring conductors shall be of a type approved for the class
of service and be protected against overourrent. Loads for feeders
and branch lines shall be limited in accordance with the carrying
capacities as specified in the National Electrical Code. When deemed
necessary by the Electrical inspector, conductors shall be trenched
and covered.
Tents in which persons sleep, and 4iess tents, shall not be used
for any exhibition purpose.
SECTION 3e A minimum of two exits shall be provided where a tent
is used as a place of assembly with a capacity of 100 or more persons,
in any tent where 10 or more persons sleep and in any tent involving
conditions hazardous to life. When tents are used as a place of
assembly with a capacity in excess of 600 people, each exit shall be
not less than 9 feet wide, and the number of exits shall be based upon
the ratio of one exit to each 500 persons or major fraction thereof
which the tent is designed to seat or hold. Such exits shall be
placed not over 75 f.eet apart and exitways serving such exits shall be
not less than 9 feet in clear width*
Aisles not less than 44 inches in width shall be provided so that
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there are not more than 10 seats between any seat and an aisle. Where
individual seats are not provided, a distance of 18 inches along any
- bench or platform shall constitute one seat in computing "required
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aisles and exits. Every aisle shall lead directly to an exitway, or
to a cross aisle running parallel with the seat rows and leading to an
exitway. Such aisles shall not be less in width than the combined
width of aisles that they conneot. In tents having a capacity of 1,000
or over facilities must be provided for admitting patrons on opposite
sides or ends convenient to their seating locations. (The purpose of
this requirement is to prevent congestion during the seating period and
familiarize patrons with exits closest to their seats*)
Aisles and exitways shall be used only for passage to and from seats
and for vendors carrying their wares. No poles or ropes shall be per-
mitted in aisles and exitways and all exitways and exits shall be kept
unobstructed at all times and so maintained as to not present a hazard
from fire. The area for a distance of 20 feet beyond any exit shall be
kept free and clear and be made readily passable.
Where two or more tents adjoin, with an opening between, an exit to
the outside shall be provided at the point of juncture.
SECTION 4. All required exits, other than those normally used for
entrance, shall be plainly marked during hours of darkness, as to be
readily distinguished. Required exitways shall also be kept adequately
lighted at such times, including the immediate area outside the exits,.
SECTION 5. Signs prohibiting smoking shall be prominently dis-
played at all entrances and at other locations within any tent used as
a place of assembly, so that they may be clearly visible to all occupants.
Frequent announcement regarding such prohibition shall be made, prefer-_
ably over a public address system if available. Suitable non - oombustible
containers shall be provided at all entrances for the proper disposition
of cigar or cigarette butts and pipe dottle, and a uniformed attendant
shall be stationed at such locations to advise patrons of the no- smoking
regulations.
SECTION 69 No motion picture film of the nitro - cellulose type shall
be used, stored or exhibited within a tent. Such exhibitions, when held
within a tent, shall be restricted to the use of safety film only.
SECTION 7. A *.iomobiles, trucks, tractors, lighting equipment and
other equipment usi�_gasoline and all such appliances shall be filled
with approved safety cans or by hose from fixed pumps, from wheeled tanks
with pumps�_.or pump from a tank wagon located not closer than 25 feet to
any tent. r
SECTION 8. The chief of the Fire Department shall, survey, or
cause to be surveyed, each tent for which a permit has be,*'h granted,�-
after it is erected and, if it is to be used as a`'place of assembly,
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before it is occupied. He shall require the installation of such
fire appliances as are deemed necessary, and designate their loca-
tion. Such fire appliances may consist of water tanks, pumps, hose,
water buckets, extinguishers and fireproof blankets.
All fire appliances shall be kept in working condition and all
pumps and hose, when used in connection with tank wagons, shall be
inspected and tested, if deemed hecaessary, prior to the oee�tA.+
the to
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nt. Portable extinguishers and similar appliances shall be
properly distributed and readily accessible. It shall be the duty of
the owner or manager of each exhibition to properly train sufficient
responsible employees in the use of fire equipment so that it can be
quickly put in operation; the Chief of the Fire Department may require
these employees to prove their fitness.
SECTION 9. Uniformed firemen shall be detailed to all circuses,
carnivals, or other exhibitions where large crowds assemble. They
shall familiarize themselves with all fire protection facilities and
fire prevention features and with the condition of exits, and shall
patrol the entire area of the tent during the time it is occupied.
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Special polioemen,,or firemen should see that overcrowding is not per-
mitted, that aisles and exitways are kept open and that no smoking rules
are observed.
PASSED: April 9., 1945-
APPROVED
ATTEST:
j ity Clerk