FIRE PREVENTION STANDARDS

https://www.kansasstatefair.com/p/participate/commercial-vendors/commercial-vendor-info/fire-prevention-standards1

The following are BASIC RULES pertaining to all exhibits and Exhibitors at the Kansas State Fair. This brief outline does not, by any means, cover completely the rules and standards contained in the Kansas Fire Prevention Code. It does, however, provide the Exhibitor basic rules governing exhibits in all buildings open to the public.

Of primary concern with structures, large or small, is maintenance of exits and exit passageways. The Kansas State Fair building managers are responsible for a variety of concerns within particular buildings. They are responsible for maintaining the exit capacity. Exhibitors shall neither attempt nor permit expansion of an exhibit(s) and associated materials to obstruct, obscure, block, or complicate access to any exit location.

No display or exhibit shall be so installed or operated as to interfere in any way with access to any required exit or with visibility of any required exit or any required exit sign; nor shall any display block access to fire fighting equipment or electrical panels. Access to exits also requires the ability of the occupants to move safely away from the building to an area of refuge a reasonable distance from the building.

Other safety related requirements include the following:

• The Kansas Fire Marshal and the Kansas State Fair require all fume hoods be cleaned annually.
• Fabrics and films used for decorative purposes, draperies, curtains, and other similar loosely hanging furnishings and decorations shall be flame resistant as demonstrated by passing both the small and large scale tests of NFPA 701, STANDARD METHODS OF FIRE TESTS FOR FLAME RESISTANT TEXTILES AND FILMS.

• Any merchandise or material attached to drapes or table skirts must be noncombustible or possess a minimum flame spread rating. Display or use of straw or hay bales in a place of assembly occupancy is prohibited.
• Exhibitors may not attach any equipment, advertisement, or decoration to fire sprinkler piping or sprinkler heads. This includes string, cords, wire, ribbon, or any type of tape.
• All compressed gas cylinders, including but not limited to propane, CO2, helium, etc., shall be properly secured into a rack, as required for storage or use and shall be marked ‘full’ or ‘empty’.
• Prior to the opening day of the Fair, all Exhibitors/Food/Drink Concessionaires shall:

1. Secure all propane bottles and ensure proper regulators and coupling are installed, as required by LPG. The hose used to supply equipment must be marked for LPG usage and connections must be as required for propane usage. Propane bottles must not be “ganged”.
2. Flammable liquids, such as gasoline, must be stored in approved containers and amounts exceeding five (5) gallons will require the installation of a flammable liquids storage cabinet.
3. Cooking equipment placed under a vent hood extinguishing system must be realigned with the suppression equipment for proper extinguishment.
4. Any electrical work must be performed by a licensed electrician. Any electrical cords used in the operation of an Exhibitor’s booth space/concession must be properly sized, secured, and prepared for the use intended. Any extension cord used outdoors must be for heavy duty use and appropriate for wet/damp locations. All concessionaires must use GFCI-protected extension cords and shall comply with NFPA 70, National Electric Code.

• Automotive vehicles and equipment may be displayed inside an exhibit building, if:

1. All fuel tank openings shall be locked and sealed in an approved manner to prevent the escape of vapors.
2. There is no more than two (2) gallons of fuel in tank or the minimum required for positioning the vehicle.
3. Battery cables shall be disconnected and taped.
4. Fueling and de-fueling of vehicles shall be prohibited.
5. Vehicles shall not be moved during show hours.

• Combustible materials within exhibit booths shall be limited to a one-day supply. Storage of combustible materials behind the booth is prohibited.

• The use of LP Gas cylinders is prohibited inside all State Fair-owned buildings.

• Compressed flammable gases, flammable or combustible liquids, hazardous chemicals or materials, Class II or greater lasers, blasting agents and explosives shall be prohibited within exhibit buildings.

• SMOKING IS PROHIBITED within exhibit buildings.

• The use of open flames, burning, or smoke emitting materials as part of a display must be approved in advance.

• The use of welding and cutting equipment for demonstration purposes requires advance approval.

• The use of compressed gas cylinders must be approved and the cylinders must be firmly secured in an upright position.

• The use of ANY gas fired appliance must be approved and use of salamander (wood-burning) stoves is strictly prohibited.

• Electrical equipment must be installed, operated, and maintained in a manner which does not create a hazard to life or property.

Preventing Electrical Hazards

There are various ways of protecting from the hazards caused by electricity, including insulation, guarding, grounding, and electrical protective devices. People can significantly reduce electrical hazards by following some basic precautions:

• Use safe work practices every time electrical equipment is used.
• Inspect wiring of equipment before each use. Portable cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) shall be visually inspected before use for external defects (such as loose parts, deformed and missing pins, or damage to outer jacket or insulation) and for evidence or possible internal damage (such as pinched or crushed outer jacket).
• Replace damaged or frayed electrical cords IMMEDIATELY.
• All electrical cords should have sufficient insulation to prevent direct contact with wires.
• Damaged cords should be taken out of service immediately, especially in wet environments.
• Flexible cords must be grounded;

• All extension cords must be 3-wire grounded. No 2-wire household cords will be permitted.
• Do not alter cords; do not remove ground pin.
• Adapters which interrupt the continuity of grounding may not be used.3-2 Adapters are PROHIBITED.

• Flexible cords and cables shall be protected from accidental damage. Sharp corners and projections shall be avoided.

• Connecting attachment plugs: Your hands may not be wet. Wear insulating protective equipment if cord is wet.

• LIMIT USE OF EXTENSION CORDS. Use only for temporary operations.
• REPORT ALL GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) issues to Maintenance IMMEDIATELY. The purpose of the outlet is to trip in fault conditions. If the outlet tripped, it is safe to assume it tripped due to a fault in the equipment plugged into the outlet.

• Portable power taps (power strips) are only approved for use with computer, television and/or video peripherals.
• Portable electric equipment. Cord and plug connected equipment – including extension cords:

• Handling – portable equipment shall be handled in a manner which will not cause damage.
• Equipment may not be used to raise/lower equipment
• Equipment may not be fastened with staples or otherwise, hung. This could damage the outer jacket or insulation.
• Extension cords used outdoors must be for heavy duty use and appropriate for wet/damp locations.

• DO NOT BLOCK ELECTRICAL BREAKER BOXES OR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. Sufficient access and working space shall be maintained about electrical equipment and fire extinguishers (36” clearance).
• DO NOT OPEN ELECTRICAL BREAKER BOXES OR PANELS.CONTACT MAINTENANCE IF ACCESS IS NECESSARY. All electrical panels (breaker boxes and any other type of electrical panels) shall be closed at all times.
• Minimize the potential for water or chemical spills on or near electrical equipment.
• Live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more (i.e. electrical outlets) must be guarded against accidental contact.
• An electrical box with pre-punctured knockouts shall not be used on a flexible cord for temporary wiring.
• Only equipment with three-prong plugs should be used. The third prong provides a path to ground that helps prevent the buildup of voltages that may result in an electrical shock or spark. This does not guarantee that no one will receive a shock, be injured, or be killed. It will however, substantially reduce the possibility of such accidents, especially when used in combination with other safety measures.
• Circuit protection devices are designed to automatically limit or shut off the flow of electricity in the event of a ground-fault, overload, or short circuit in the wiring system. Fuses, circuit breakers, and ground-fault circuit interrupters are three well-known examples of such devices. Fuses and circuit breakers prevent over-heating of wires and components that might otherwise create hazards for operators. They disconnect the circuit when it becomes overloaded. The ground-fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is designed to shutoff electric power if a ground fault is detected. The GFCI is particularly useful near sinks and wet locations.
• Leave all required clearances for ADA access, including the blocking of operating system buttons for entry and exit points.
• Maintain all fire exits and fire lanes.

These are BASIC RULES with which every Exhibitor must comply before the scheduled opening of the Fair. For assistance, please contact the Commercial Exhibits Department.

If the Kansas State Fire Marshal notifies the Exhibitor and/or the Fair of unsafe materials or conditions in an Exhibitor's booth, then the same must be removed or corrected by the Exhibitor.

The Kansas State Fire Marshal Department Inspectors will have proper identification which shall be presented at the time of inspection. Inspectors will be in the buildings and on the grounds throughout the Fair to encourage and enforce the provisions of these rules and any other standard as set forth in the Kansas Fire Prevention Code. Routine inspections will be conducted on all facilities and exhibits during set-up operations as well as throughout the duration of the Fair. If necessary, follow-up inspections will be conducted and timely corrective action will be required.

NOTE: Any issue or condition which is deemed “distinctly hazardous” will result in immediate corrective action or removal from the fairgrounds.

If you have questions regarding these standards or other fire prevention regulations, please call the local Fire Marshal at or contact the Kansas State Fire Marshal by phone at (785)296-3401, or by mail at 800 SW Jackson, #104, Topeka, KS66612-1216.