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HomeMy WebLinkAbout402.016 - Fire Department Required Signage FIRE PREVENTION MANUAL CODE REQUIREMENTS 402.016 FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUIRED SIGNAGE EFFECTIVE: DECEMBER 2016 Current Revision Date: 08/09/21 Next Revision Date: 08/09/24 Author’s Name/Rank: Darla Scott, Supervising Fire Prevention Inspector Review Level: 1 Administrative Support: Noemi E. Rodriguez, Management Analyst II ADA PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to provide direction for building owners, developers, and all disciplines and trades involved in the construction process. APPLICATION This policy clarifies the Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) requirements for fire related signage installations where signs have been required. This requirement is only applicable where a specified sign type (including color, height, stroke, etc.) is not already identified in the California Building Code (CBC) or California Fire Code (CFC). OPERATIONAL POLICY This section intentionally left blank. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE Based upon the need for uniformity in application across the Department’s diverse service delivery area, and after careful deliberation, the Department has determined the following: 1. When fire related signage is required based on a CFC or CBC requirement (or as required by the Fire Marshal or designee), and the code does not specify the criteria of the signage, the signage will be installed at each of the following locations: A. Directly adjacent to the main entrance door of the room or space, or directly adjacent to the feature(s), equipment or condition(s) noted. B. Any other location as required by the Fire Marshal, or designee. 2. Where installed, the signage will be: Section 402.016 Page 1 of 3 A. Made of a permanent and durable material. B. Be of an approved, contrasting color (including the letters or numbers on the signage from the sign background and the sign itself from the background it is affixed to). C. Have letters or numbers of not less than 1 inch in height, by ¼ inch stroke. In every case, the Fire Marshal, or designee, has the authority to increase the number of signs installed, require signage installations at additional locations, or increase the sign dimensions. Additional signage requirements may be required and the determination will be made at the sole discretion of the Fire Marshal, or designee. PROCESS This section intentionally left blank. INFORMATION As noted in the CFC, Chapter 1, the fire code official has the authority to formulate policies they deem necessary based upon local conditions including uniformity in marking building features, equipment, or conditions that exist in (or on) buildings, facilities or occupancies. The intent of this policy is to ensure the safety of the public and emergency responders by making them aware of the presence of features, equipment or other conditions that may be present in a building or occupancy where the features, equipment or conditions exist and affect fire or life safety. As noted in other signage related National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, uniform signage requirements are intended to provide a "simple, recognizable and easily understood system of [signage] that provides a general idea of the [features, equipment or other conditions] as they relate to emergency response". In some individual cases, the requirements may appear to be onerous and the Department recognizes that there will be outliers (either when or where signage is required). The Department also recognizes that this will occur regardless of the criteria used for making a determination on when or where required signage is to be installed. The operational guidelines noted above provide an appropriate balance between alerting the public and emergency responders of the life safety features, equipment or conditions present in any given location, while preventing the public and emergency responders from becoming desensitized to fire related signs and the information they represent. Section 402.016 Page 2 of 3 DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. CROSS REFERENCES California Fire Code, Chapter 1 Fresno Municipal Code California Building Code National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards Section 402.016 Page 3 of 3