6301 Vacant and Unsafe Buildings and Processes (Prevention and Preparedness)

Question 1

Who shall be responsible for

maintaining this document.

Answer 1

Deputy Chief of Prevention and Preparedness

Question 2

The Assistant Chief of Prevention and Preparedness and/or the Deputy Fire
Marshal and/or the Fire Protection Engineer shall be responsible for

Answer 2

providing a second opinion on all evacuation or stop work orders prior to their issuance.

Question 3

Define

Abatement.

Answer 3

An enforcement process that puts an end to fire code violations and/or fire hazards.

Question 4

Define

BLUS.

Answer 4

Building and Land Use; a division of the Public Works Department.

Question 5

Define

CARES.

Answer 5

Clean up and Revitalization Efforts; a city-sponsored BLUS program engaged in neighborhood-based clean up and revitalization projects, code enforcement and community education.

Question 6

Define

Fire Load

Answer 6

A measure of the maximum heat that would be released if all the combustibles (e.g. interior finish, floor finish, structural elements, combustible contents) in a given area burned.

Question 7

Define

Imminent Danger

Answer 7

A condition where fire hazards exist that cannot immediately be remedied and the combination of those hazards is such that:
• Occupants could not reasonably escape the structure if a fire occurred (based on the same reasonable concept for minimum standards on which the fire and building code was constructed).
• Fire load and/or compartmentalization is such that a fire would spread unchecked at a speed that would cause the entire, or a majority of, the building to burn when the building was designed to contain the fire through compartmentalization or automatic fire extinguishing systems.

Question 8

Define

Unsafe Building

Answer 8

Building in which fire hazards exist such that there is imminent risk of fire and/or threat to human life; civilians and/or firefighters.

Question 9

Define

Unsafe Process

Answer 9

A process that requires significant safeguards (e.g., flammable spray painting, woodworking operations, application of flammable finishing) as identified in the code.

Question 10

Chapter 1, Section 110 of the International Fire Code shall be enforced for

Answer 10

buildings in which the structure or processes within the structure are
unsafe.

Question 11

Chapter 3, Section 311 of the International Fire Code shall be enforced for

Answer 11

vacant buildings.

Question 12

What policy number is

Vacant and Unsafe Buildings and Processes

Answer 12

6301

Question 13

Buildings identified as unsafe by Prevention Division personnel shall be
referred to BLUS for

Answer 13

a. Repairs
b. Alteration
c. Remodeling
d. Classification by BLUS staff as a derelict or dangerous building

Question 14

A fire watch can temporarily substitute for fire code violation correction
when

Answer 14

a. There is not a combination of hazards needing abatement AND
b. Correction can take place in a timely fashion.

Question 15

TFD personnel shall report to the Fire Prevention Bureau all vacant buildings open to entry or with unsecured entry by

Answer 15

sending an e-mail to

“Vacant Building Notification” as soon as possible.

Question 16

When installation of a fire protection system is not required as noted above,
but exists due to a past occupancy requirement, the fire protection system
need?

Answer 16

not be operational while the building is vacant.

Question 17

Prevention Division personnel shall use the “Assignment Narrative” section of BITS to document

Answer 17

a. All unsecured vacant buildings
b. All unsafe buildings
c. All locations where stop work orders have been issued