Museum News

Always a Hot Issue:
Fire and Electrical Codes for McCormick Place, Chicago

The National Fire Protection Association, founded in 1896, is in its second century as a safety standards-making organization. I'm sure the great Chicago fire in 1871 contributed to its creation, but it wasn't until the fire in McCormick Place years later that most likely cemented the need for codes and standards in exhibition halls throughout the country. These codes, rules and regulations are "created by people in the industry, they reflect the latest technology and advances" says, George D Miller, President, National Fire Protection Association.

We have taken the liberty of highlighting important passages from the fire codes from McCormick Place Exhibitor Guide rev. 2/26/96 for your edification. Every city in the US has its own fire codes. Few, however, are as strict as Chicago. If you use these codes as guidelines when designing exhibits, you can be assured your client's exhibits will always meet the convention hall fire codes of any city.

There is always a fire marshal on the premises ready to inspect displays making sure all of the safety requirements are met. If they are not, adjustments must be made to the display and they can be costly. If the fire marshal feels the booth poses a significant fire hazard, the exhibit may be prohibited from entering the exhibition hall.

The exhibit's construction and decorative materials must be fire retardant and it is suggested a certificate of retardancy be on hand to eliminate on-site testing. Fabrics must pass the NFPA-701 code, and all other construction and decoration materials must pass the NFPA-703, chapter 2 code.

Backdrops, dust and table covers, drapes and similar fabrics must be made fire retardant. Often your local dry cleaners can fire retard them.

Corrugated cardboard and display boxes usually are fire retardant at the factory but check before you order them. Wood and wood byproducts must be treated by a certified fire retardancy applicator using pressure impregnation or similar impregnation method.

Polyurethane foam, plastic and similar products must pass the NFPA-703 and UL-1975 tests. Several new plastic/polyurethane products on the market today are sufficiently fire retardant or can be treated by a certified applicator of retardancy.

Hazardous demonstration/display devices such as lasers, candles, compressed gas or compressed liquid cylinders, radioactive materials, gasoline, kerosene and every other flammable, toxic liquid, solid or gas, smoke-producing devices, heating appliances, welding, brazing or cutting equipment must be approved by the convention center prior to building the exhibit. The approval request should state how the demonstrations will avoid hazards to humans and nearby objects. Always have a fire extinguisher as part of the exhibit survival kit. Plexiglas or similar protection is needed whenever sparks may occur.

The following fire-hazardous items are prohibited in McCormick Place and probably most convention halls as well:

Aerosol cans/similar products containing flammable or combustible ingredients L.P. gases (e.g., propane and butane) or any substance or material deemed hazardous by O.S.H.A. must be accompanied with appropriate Material Safety Data Sheets (M.S.D.S.)

• Untreated Christmas Trees, cut evergreens, and similar trees
• Pyrotechnics
• Fireplace logs and similar materials
• Charcoal
• Untreated mulch and Spanish moss

If your client plans to use a cooking or heating appliance, the appliance must be UL approved and powered through an electrical or natural gas hookup and must be adequately ventilated. A UL-approved 2 ¸ lb ABC-type fire extinguisher is required in such exhibits. Nothing combustible may be placed near any heat-producing appliance.

Storage of empty cartons in a booth is forbidden. The show contractor will remove the empty crates, cartons, containers and packing materials if they are labeled with stickers marked "empty" and they will be returned to you during move-out time.

Any vehicle or other apparatus which has a fuel tank and is part of a display is required to be equipped with a locking gas cap and must contain no more than 1/8 tank of fuel. Once the vehicle is positioned in the exhibit on the show floor, the battery cables must be disconnected and cannot be operated during the show hours. Refueling must be done outside the building only.

Chairs, tables and other display equipment must be kept clear of all aisles, corridors, stairways and other exhibit areas. Fire hose cabinets, pull stations and aisles must be visible and accessible at all times.

Helium-filled balloons and radio-operated air devices must be secured. Helium filled balloons or any other helium-filled objects may not be distributed. Radio operated blimps and similar devices are permitted on the show floor with pre-approval in writing from show management and with a certificate of accident insurance.

Smoking is strictly prohibited in exhibit halls, rest rooms, elevators, service lines, and designated restaurant areas. Want a cigarette? Go outside!

"Double decker" booths and booths with ceilings (including tents) were formerly required to be equipped with fire safety devices, however, in Chicago, McCormick' Fire and Safety Department, the Chicago Fire Department and major show contractors explored and found acceptable alternatives to the "special automatic sprinkler coverage" for these covered booths.

These requirements apply to all exhibits which have a ceiling or second story. If the following scenario describes your booth, show management should be made aware of it upon reserving the booth space so necessary provisions may be made.

Format 1: Exhibits with two stories under 225 sq. ft.
Format 2: Exhibits with two stories at or over 225 sq. ft.
Format 3: Exhibits with ceilings under 225 sq. ft.
Format 4: Exhibits with ceilings at or over 225 sq. ft.
Format 5: Multi-storied exhibits, requiring automatic sprinklers, or any of the above exhibits with installed automatic sprinklers. Separate fire code items will be needed

To forgo the sprinkler requirement, the exhibit must be less than or equal to: 2 stories high (maximum 30' elevation) 5000 sq. ft. of enclosed area All other exhibits exceeding these limits must be equipped with automatic sprinklers. Second stories must remain open and uncovered. No ceilings are allowed on the upper level. If the top deck is designed to hold over 10 people, or if the top deck exceeds 1200 sq. ft. in area, a second staircase is required for emergency evacuations and must be removed from the main staircase. Both stairways must:

• be a minimum of 3' in width
• be equipped with a handrail on at least one side
• have hand rails a maximum of 1 ¸" in circumference and turned into the walls not be spiral or winding.

All areas under the second story or ceiling, including closets, need to be equipped with a UL approved battery-operated smoke detector. All UL-approved 2¸ lb ABC-type fire extinguishes must be posted in a clearly visible and readily accessible area for each 500 sq. ft. enclosure.

Special fire watch coverage is required whenever the exhibit or show is closed for business. If the security is also certified fire guards, they can double as both security and fire watch personnel.

A fire retardancy certificate of your booth construction materials must be posted in a conspicuous place within the exhibit. After the exhibit has been designed, the blueprints must be approved and stamped by a licensed professional structural engineer. These blueprints should include dimensions and an isometric rendering.

In Chicago, it is required that a fire marshal review your exhibit blueprints at least 60 days before the show to allow sufficient time for any needed corrections. Bear in mind, all exhibits must comply with the American with Disabilities Act.

ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS

These electrical requirements are based on codes developed by local and national organizations and exhibitors are required to adhere to the provisions which govern the temporary wiring for exhibits. Relevant parts of the "Temporary Wiring of Exhibits" section are:

Section 14-48-220 (88-750) The provisions of this article shall apply to all temporary use of electrical current for the purpose of illuminating, animating, activating or displaying in connection with temporary expositions, exhibits, shows, conventions, meetings or assemblies. Temporary shall be deemed to indicate a use not to exceed 7 calendar days. The use of this type of wiring is limited to locations which are classified by the building department as suitable for the intended occupancy and use, and are equipped with the required type of emergency lighting system.

Flexible cords or cables shall be approved for extra hard usage. No individual conductors shall be permitted to be installed unless installed in an approved raceway. Splices either in cords, cables or single conductors shall be made in an approved raceway. Lamps, tools and most display items must have 3-prong grounded electrical plugs with few exceptions. These exceptions are to be determined by the local electrical inspectors. The use of open pin sockets, latex or lamp cord wire in displays, duplex or triplex 2-wire cord, clamp-on lights or attachment plugs is prohibited by order of the Chicago Board of Fire Underwriters, Chicago Bureau of Electrical Inspection and the Chicago Fire Prevention Bureau.

All electrical equipment or appliances connected to the building electrical system or extensions must be: Listed and labeled by a nationally recognized testing laboratory Specifically approved by the City of Chicago Electrical Inspection Department and subject to a field inspection, like: foreign lighting or prototype equipment

The Chicago Electrical Code restricts circuits to 80% capcity, e.g., 100 amp service can only provide 80 amps of power. All 24-hour 480 volt service requires a stand-by electrician during non-show hours. Motors of 3/4 H.P. or over must be supplied with a safety switch. Terminations of extensions to the building electrical system shall be enclosed in assemblies specifically approved for the purpose by the City of Chicago Electrical Inspection Department. Cords used above floor level must be rated for hard usage. Do not secure any electrical wiring or equipment to booth dividers or curtains.

All electrical equipment shall be securely fastened in place using recognized methods, hook and loop fasteners, glue and tape are not allowed.

Permanently installed wiring on all booths or displays shall be encased in electrical metallic tubing or flexible metallic conduit. Where flexibility is necessary, such as between booth sections and at connection points to the building electrical system or supply points, properly rated cord, not to exceed 6' and equipped with an approved attachment plugs, may be utilized.

There shall be no exposed live current carrying parts. All exposed, non-current carrying metal parts of the electrical installation shall be effectively grounded by one of the methods listed in 14-16 of the Chicago Electrical Code.

No electrical equipment or appliances which, under normal operating conditions attains a surface temperature in excess of 194C or 90C, shall be mounted on or supported from any combustible material, unless separated by a substantial non combustible material.

Unlisted, custom made fixtures and displays need separate approval of the City of Chicago Bureau of Electrical Inspection. Any exhibitor utilizing their own step-up or step-down transformer must provide a readily accessible means of disconnect for both the primary and secondary sides of the transformer with proper overload protection.

Push button control circuits shall not exceed 150 volts to ground. Exhibitors may furnish their own electrical distribution systems. Such systems must conform to the City of Chicago Electrical Code. All on-site wiring of such systems shall be performed by the show contracted electrician's