Governing Lodging Establishments
Life Safety
Requirements for Operating a Lodging Establishment: Life Safety
The lodging establishment shall be constructed, operated and maintained with strict regard to health and safety.
- Operation and maintenance requirements are as follows:
- Combustibles, whether solid, liquid or gaseous, shall be properly used and stored so that they do not present a hazard to health or life safety;
- Toxic, corrosive, oxidizing or other hazardous materials shall be properly used, stored, and disposed of in such a manner that they do not present a hazard to health or life safety;
- All guards placed on the sides of open face stairs shall be attached to the stair in a sturdy manner and maintained in good repair. All railings for balconies shall be attached to the balcony in a sturdy manner and maintained in good repair;
- There shall be no storage on stairs or landings;
- Stairways, walks, ramps and porches shall be kept free of ice and snow;
- If the administrative authority suspects that defects are present with regard to the integrity of the structure or electrical system of the lodging establishment, that authority may require the owner to retain the services of a professional engineer to certify the lodging establishment for building safety;
- Buildings must be adequately maintained to assure safe and sanitary conditions;
- All repairs, additions and maintenance must be conducted in a manner that produces safe and sanitary conditions; and
- Facilities using fuel-fired equipment or appliances that pose a potential carbon monoxide risk, including facilities with attached parking garages or wood burning fireplaces, shall install a carbon monoxide detector(s). Carbon monoxide detectors shall be installed according to manufacturer’s specifications and should not be placed within five feet (5') of gas-fueled appliances or near cooking or bathing areas. Exception: carbon monoxide detectors installed prior to the effective date of this rule.
- Carbon monoxide detectors shall not be required to be installed in the attached parking garage area.
- Carbon monoxide detectors shall be required in rooms adjoining or sharing a common ventilation system with the attached parking garage.
- Carbon monoxide detectors shall be in good working condition. If the battery-operated detector is routinely not operational, the owner shall install a detector that is hardwired with battery backup.
- By September 2010, all carbon monoxide detectors shall be hardwired with battery backup. All additional carbon monoxide detectors shall be maintained and in good working condition.
- Carbon monoxide detectors shall be tested at least monthly or as needed to ensure they are operating properly and batteries shall be changed as needed.
- Electrical. Installation and maintenance of electrical components shall be in compliance with local codes when applicable. In the absence of local codes, the following requirements shall be met:
- New lodging establishments having electrical outlets installed within five feet (5') of wet locations or outdoors are required to be fitted with ground-fault circuit interrupters. Existing lodging establishments undergoing a major renovation or rewiring shall be required to install ground-fault circuit interrupters in electrical outlets located within five feet (5') of wet locations or outdoors;
- Electrical switches, outlets and junction boxes must be covered and properly protected from physical damage at all times;
- All appliances must be grounded to design specifications;
- Wire splices shall be located in covered junction boxes at all times;
- Bare or frayed wiring is prohibited;
- Three (3)-prong receptacles must be properly grounded at all times. Nongrounded three (3)-prong receptacles in existing lodging establishments shall be replaced with two (2)-prong receptacles or properly grounded;
- Public hallways, stairways, landings, and foyers shall be sufficiently illuminated at all times to prevent tripping or other injuries to persons;
- Exit signs shall be provided when guest room doors open to an interior corridor and where guest room doors open to the outside but not directly at grade level;
- Exit signs shall be maintained in a clean and legible condition and shall be illuminated at all times that the building is occupied. For new construction, supplemental directions signs, when necessary, shall be installed indicating the direction and way of egress;
- All emergency lighting shall be maintained in good working condition.
- Emergency lighting shall be provided when guest room doors open to an interior corridor and where guest room doors open to the outside but not directly at grade level;
- Temporary wiring and flexible cords shall not be used in place of fixed wiring.
- Use of extension cords longer than six feet (6') shall be prohibited unless provided with over-current protection or rated with properly sized wire. No more than two (2) extension cords per room may be used;
- Wattage of light bulbs shall not exceed the wattage rating of corresponding light fixtures;
- Empty light sockets are prohibited;
- Circuit boxes shall be protected from physical damage and maintained in good condition. Storage of items that obstruct the vision of or access to circuit boxes is prohibited; and
- Access to electrical panels shall be unobstructed; fuses and circuits must be labeled for identification.