Fire marshals are the individuals who approve your venue according to their rules and regulations on safety. Nowadays, fire marshals are much stricter than ever before, and you must meet their standards if you don’t want your event to be shut down. Fire marshals will not hesitate to cancel your event if you don’t comply with their requests. #EventProfs Click To Tweet The Fire Marshal will not sacrifice safety, no matter whose event it is or how close it is to show-time. Here are the steps you should take when working with a fire marshal to ensure that everything goes smoothly:
- The first thing you have to do is provide a CAD (computer-aided drawing). This will show the placement of all of the equipment and tables, the width of the aisles, and the location of exit doors, among other things.
- Once your CAD is completed, you will need to identify all of the items on the drawing. Make sure that any coverings being used around the room or walls do not obscure exit signs, fire hoses, or strobes. You also need to show that there is no cabling going across the egress doors, that nothing will interfere with fire hoses or fire sprinklers in the ceiling, and that all of the items being placed in the event space are fire-retardant or fireproof.
- The fire marshal will want to see your flame-retardant or fireproofing certificates for all fabrics, structures, and décor items in the room. You can obtain these certificates from the supplier providing those goods for you.
NOTE: Sometimes, the fire marshal will go into the room and actually light something on fire to check. Be ready.
- Check your egress. This is essentially how people will get out of the room in case of an emergency. Make sure that the exit doors are not blocked, they have proper lighting to illuminate those doors, and there are no trip hazards.
- If the fire marshal gives you permission to cover an exit door, make sure that the emergency exit sign for the door remains covered. If you fail to cover the sign and the power goes off, people will run toward that exit only to find it blocked.
- Lastly, fire marshals have very strict guidelines regarding parking for trucks and employees. You must ensure that all fire, police, and emergency medical vehicles have easy access in and out of the space. Also, make sure that the fire hydrants are not blocked.
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