State Fire Marshal offers tips for construction of designated smoking areas
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 - 1:13 am
Changes to the Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act take effect on June 1.While the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Office does not enforce statutory provisions of this Act, the office developed a list of construction and safety issues owners of public places should remember in complying with the act.
The act prohibits smoking indoors at places of employment and public places.
Those businesses seeking to create outdoor areas will need to comply with the following regulations before beginning any new construction.
*Drawings for any new construction or reconfiguration of existing space must be submitted to the State Fire Marshal's Office or delegated authority for approval. Plans can be submitted directly to the fire department in the cities of Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, Beatrice, Norfolk, Grand Island, North Platte and Scottsbluff.
*Approved exits must be maintained during construction or remodeling.
*Any new construction must include approved materials. Plywood or similar materials are typically not permitted.
*Approved lighting which includes emergency lights and exit signs is required.
*New doors in an exit path must not be locked. Panic hardware is required when the occupant load exceeds 100. Doors must swing in the direction
of exit travel when the occupant load exceeds 50.
*Portable gas-fired heating appliances are not permitted in covered buildings.
*Where a tent or a fabric enclosure is used, it must be flame resistant.
*All new wiring and electrical equipment must be approved prior to use.
*Window treatments, fabrics and films must be marked as flame resistant.
*If a fire alarm or fire sprinkler system is provided for the existing structure it must be extended to the new enclosed area.
The Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act defines an indoor area as: "an area enclosed
by a floor, a ceiling and walls on all sides that are continuous and solid
except for closeable entry and exit doors and windows and in which less than
twenty percent of the total wall area is permanently open to the outdoors. For walls in excess of eight feet in height, only the first eight feet shall be used
in determining such percentage."
Additional information is available at
www.smokefree.ne.gov.
