Plain Township

There seems to have been some questions about several safety issues in the schools. Hopefully, this list [Ohio Fire Code–OFC] will help everyone keep safety a priority.

1. OFC 803.3.2 – Artwork. Artwork and teaching materials shall be limited on the walls of corridors to not more than 20 percent of the wall area. [The hallways provide a safe means of egress from the building in the event of a fire; however if the path of egress is lined with highly combustible materials the hall no longer provides safe egress from the building.] 

2. OFC 803.3.1 – Storage in corridors and lobbies. Clothing and personal effects shall not be stored in corridors and lobbies. [The size of a hallways/corridors is calculated to accommodate a specific amount of people, therefore by obstructing the corridors in any way, the means of egress no longer provides enough room for everyone to exit the building safely.]

3. OFC 315.2.3 (c) – Equipment room. Combustible materials shall not be stored in boiler rooms, mechanical rooms or electrical equipment rooms.

4. OFC 315.2 (2) – Storage in buildings. Storage shall be orderly. Storage shall be separated from heaters or heating devices by distance or shielding so that ignition cannot occur.

5. OFC 315.2.2 – Means of egress. Combustible materials shall not be stored in exits or exit enclosures.

6. OFC (a) 315.2.1 – Ceiling clearance. Storage shall be maintained 2 feet or more below the ceiling and 18 inches below sprinkler head deflectors in sprinkled areas of buildings.

7. OFC 604.2.3 (c) – Exit signs. Emergency power shall be provided for exit signs.

8. OFC 604.2.4 (d) – Means of egress illumination. Emergency power shall be provided for means of egress illumination.

9. OFC 605.1 (1) – Abatement of electrical hazards. Electrical wiring, devices, appliances and other equipment that is modified or damaged and constitutes an electrical shock or fire hazard shall not be used.

10. OFC 605.4 (4) – Multiplug adapters. Multiplug adapters, such as cube adapters, unfused plug strips or any other device shall be prohibited.

11. OFC 605.4.2 [Power strips] Power supply. Relocatable power taps (strips) shall be directly connected to a permanently installed receptacle.

12. OFC 605.5 (5) – Extension cords. Extension cords and flexible cords shall not be a substitute for permanent wiring.

13. OFC 605.5.1 – Power supply. Extension cords shall be plugged directly into an approved receptacle.

14. OFC 405.2 – Evacuation drills Frequency and Participation. Required emergency evacuation drills shall be held at monthly (while school is in operation) intervals or more frequently where necessary to familiarize all occupants with the drill procedure.