Haunted
Houses and the
Fire
Marshall
by
Jim
Williams
As a fan of
Halloween
activities and
a visitor to
many a Haunted
House, the
entrepreneurs
and designers
of Haunted
Attractions
have my respect
and admiration.
The amount of
time and effort
that goes into
the design,
fabrication,
set-up and
operation of
these
attractions is
astounding.
However, as a
Fire Marshal,
my primary
concern is Life
Safety, and
when this is
overlooked, all
that time and
effort is
wasted on a
closed
attraction, or
worse, injuries
from an unsafe
one. The goal
for all of us
should be that
no one gets
hurt.
For starters, I
recommend that
you run through
various
worst-case
scenarios with
your staff. How
will your staff
react if there
is a fire or
medical
emergency?
Would they know
what to do?
Have you
trained them?
Have you
provided the
safety
equipment
needed? Is the
equipment
readily
available? Of
course we are
all hopeful
that nothing
will happen,
and we take a
big sigh of
relief at the
end of the
season when
everything went
as planned and
no one was
injured.
However, we
won't have to
hold our breath
until that sigh
of relief if we
know that you
are ready for
an emergency
and your
properly
trained staff
know what to
do.
As a Haunted
House operator,
you cannot have
the mindset
that "nothing
has ever
happened
before, so it's
fine." You must
ask yourself
what you can do
to prevent or
mitigate an
emergency or
unplanned
event.
Preparation,
pre-planning
and training
are the first
steps in
eliminating
deadly risks
that can and do
occur. They are
also the first
steps in having
a Haunted House
plan reviewed
by the Fire
Marshal.
Prior to
construction,
take your plans
to the
"Authority
Having
Jurisdiction"
(AHJ) of the
city or county
in which the
Haunted House
is to operate.
Ascertain if
permits or plan
reviews will be
required by the
jurisdiction;
if so, be sure
to maintain a
window of time
to get this
done. Permits
and plan
reviews are
normally a
scheduled
activity. You
will need to
learn the
application
process,
deadlines, and
whether any
fees are
required up
front. A
meeting with
the Building
Official, Fire
Marshal and
Electrical
Inspector
regarding
requirements
prior to the
plan submittal
could save you
a lot of time
and
frustration.
Many
jurisdictions
have special
requirements
for Haunted
Houses, so be
sure to ask for
a copy.
The Code
Knowing the
building and
fire codes is
also part of
preparation,
pre-planning
and training.
The code is
developed to
keep people
safe and
mitigate
emergencies;
using the code
as a guide
while
constructing
your Haunted
House can
remove many
risks.
There are
several
different codes
in existence;
Uniform Fire
Code (UFC),
Southern
Building Code
(SBC), Building
Officials and
Code
Administration
(BOCA),
International
Fire Code
(IFC), and
National Fire
Protection
Association
(NFPA) are just
a few, and many
jurisdictions
have even
written their
own codes
concerning
Haunted Houses.
However, the
mission and
focus of each
of these is the
same; to save
lives. The
majority of
codes were
written after
someone died
during an
incident, and
it was said
that something
should be done
to prevent
future
occurrences.
Most codes
include or
reference a
section of NFPA
101, which is
the Life Safety
Code. A Haunted
House is an
Assembly
Occupancy,
which falls
under the
definition of
"Building,
Special
Amusement".
NFPA 101
3.3.25.8
A building that
is temporary,
permanent, or
mobile that
contains a
device or
system that
conveys
passengers or
provides a
walkway along,
around or over
a course in any
direction as a
form of
amusement
arranged so
that the egress
path is not
readily
apparent due to
visual or audio
distractions or
an
intentionally
confounded
egress path, or
is not readily
available due
to mode of
conveyance
through the
building or
structure.
NFPA 101 A
3.3.25.8
(annex)
Such structures
include
amusements such
as haunted
house, a roller
coaster type
ride within a
building, a
multilevel play
structure
within a
building, a
submarine ride,
and similar
amusements
where the
occupants are
not in the open
air.
Requirements
for Haunted
Houses are
covered in
section
(13.1.1)
Assembly
Occupancies and
section
(13.4.7)
Special
Amusement
Buildings. The
minimum
requirements
for assembly
occupancies as
per NFPA
101:
* Use and
occupancy of 50
persons or more
at one time
defines
assembly
occupancy.
*
Customers in
waiting areas
or lobby shall
not interfere
with egress
paths of
occupants in
the Haunted
House. A
separate egress
area shall be
maintained.
*
Occupancy is
usually based
on 1 person for
each 15 square
foot of floor
space in a
concentrated
area. (Fire
Marshal can set
a maximum
occupancy). *
Occupancy in a
lobby area or
queue line is
usually based
on 1 person for
7 square feet.
*
An entrance or
waiting area is
usually based
on 1 person for
3 square feet.
*
No smoking or
open flames.
*
No open
flame/No
pyrotechnics/No
Propane/No
class II or
greater lasers.
*
Employees shall
be trained and
drilled in
their
responsibilities
for fire, panic
or other
emergency to
effect orderly
exiting. *
Employees shall
be trained in
the
use/operation
of portable
fire
extinguishers
and other fire
suppression
equipment
available.
*
Emergency
lighting to
activate during
interruption of
normal
lighting, power
failure,
circuit breaker
tripped etc.
Light to
illuminate
egress path not
less than 1 ft
candle at any
point for up to
1.5 hours
*
Portable fire
extinguishers,
minimum size of
2A10BC, for
every 3000
gross square
foot and no
more than 75
feet of travel
distance
between
extinguishers. *
A licensed
electrician
should perform
all electrical
work with a
permit from the
jurisdiction.
*
No gasoline or
combustion
engines may be
stored or used
inside the
building.
*
And others that
may apply!
We find that
while reviewing
assembly
occupancies,
the previously
discussed
section on
Special
Amusement
Building also
applies. The
following are
mandated
requirements
for a Haunted
House dictated
by NFPA Life
Safety 101,
which has
jurisdiction in
most states:
*
Protected
throughout by
an automatic
sprinkler
system.
*
Reduced
lighting areas
require
protection of
an automatic
smoke detection
system in all
occupied areas,
common areas,
and workspaces.
Conflicting/confusing
sounds or
visuals to
cease/stop upon
activation of
the smoke
alarm.*
Exits shall be
marked by
illuminated
signage. Floor
Proximity Exit
Signs that are
internally
illuminated
shall be
installed
within 8 inches
of the floor
and shall
illuminate the
egress travel
path and shall
be continuous,
except for
doorways. The
system shall be
operating
continuously or
at any time the
fire alarm
system is
activated.*
Where mazes and
mirrors or
other designs
are in place to
confound the
egress path,
directional
exit markings
shall be
provided (Exit
signs with
arrows on
them).*
Interior
finishes shall
have a Class A
flame spread
throughout.*
No hay, straw
or other
combustible
decorations are
allowed within
the
structure.
The Permit
Process
In most cases,
a building
permit will be
required before
construction
can begin, and
a certificate
of occupancy
will be
required before
the attraction
can be opened
to the public.
Drawings of the
Haunted House
will be
required,
showing
entrances/exits,
electrical
switches,
circuit
breakers,
layout of the
visitor path,
location of
alarm systems
and manual pull
stations, and
the locations
of fire
extinguishers
and
telephones.
Alternatives
and Options
While I am in
agreement with
the
requirements of
Life Safety
Code 101 to
prevent the
loss of life
and property
and I encourage
all Haunted
House operators
to follow its
requirements in
the spirit of
Life Safety, I
do understand
that many
Haunted Houses
are constructed
and operated
for 20 days or
less during the
Halloween
season. As a
result, the
operators
renting or
borrowing a
building to
raise money for
a community
service
organization
would have a
difficult time
constructing a
fully compliant
facility for
temporary
use.
One option is
to work closely
with your
building and
fire officials
to develop a
proposal that
will create a
safe event
without the
full expense
required of a
permanent
installation.
Submit the
safety plan to
the authority
having
jurisdiction to
explain how
your
organization
plans on going
above and
beyond many of
the code
requirements
and request
that other
requirements be
waved. For
instance, if a
sprinkled
building is not
available, what
can be done to
still provide a
safe Haunted
House and limit
the risk? The
following are
some
recommendations
that I would
make in this
proposal. *
Limit the
number of
visitors to
escorted groups
of a fixed
amount, e.g.
every group has
15 visitors
with an escort,
regardless of
the age of the
group.
*
An escort or
guide, 18 yrs
or older, will
be provided for
each group.
*
Each escort is
carrying a
working
flashlight.
*
Escorts or
supervising
employees
throughout the
Haunted House
with
flashlights
monitoring for problems and
acting as fire
watch. *
Provide
extremely
detailed
emergency plans
that describe
in detail how
your staff will
react in all
kinds of
emergencies.
*
Limit the
number of
groups at one
time to be half
the allowed
occupancy
capacity of the
building/egress.
*
Utilize no
dead-end
corridors or
pathway options
in the layout.
*
Provide
laminated
copies of the
Haunted House
diagram for the
local Fire
Department. *
Describe how no
cardboard or
paper products,
plastic
sheeting, etc.
is used. Focus
on the use of
sheetrock,
Masonite, or
protected
plywood.
*
Paint shall be
water based or
flame
retardant.
*
Provide
employees with
two-way radios
for emergency
notifications.
*
Smoke alarms
will be
installed every
twenty feet.
*
One person can
operate all
sound and
lighting from a
single
location.
Describe that
during an
emergency this
person will
turn off any
sound devices
and turn on
lighting. *
Describe how extension cords
will be kept to
a minimum and
that only
commercial
grade UL
approved
grounded
extension cords
will be used
(minimum of 14
gauge &endash;
15 amp).
*
Provide exiting
so that patrons
are never more
than fifty feet
away from an
exit.
Explain each
point fully and
accurately!
Remember this
proposal will
be reviewed not
only by a
governing body,
but also by the
Fire Marshal.
If a review
board approves
your event
based on
conditions, be
sure to live up
to those
conditions.
Your proposal
has asked them
to provide a
variance to
certain
provisions of
the Life Safety
Code based upon
actions you
said would be
provided.
The Fire
Marshal can
shut your
Haunted House
event down if
there is a Life
Safety
Violation.
Failing to
comply can be
costly, and in
some
communities a
criminal arrest
may follow,
resulting in
fines, costs,
and possibly
jail. In
addition, your
credibility for
next year has
just
diminished.
The
Location
You should keep
the applicable
codes in mind
while
determining the
location for
your Haunted
House. Factors
such as how
many customers
can/will be in
the Haunted
House at a time
should be
considered in
relation to the
square footage
of the space.
If you already
have a site,
will it comply
with the
requirements?
Here are some
questions to
ask yourself
when you are
evaluating
potential
locations:
* Will there be
adequate
parking with
accessible fire
lanes at all
times?
*
Will the
building have
sufficient
vehicle access
and egress
routes?
*
Does the
building have a
fire protection
system?
*
Does the
building have a
smoke detection
system?
*
Does the
building have
an
audible/visual
alarm system?
*
Does the
building have
fire
extinguishers? *
Does the
building have
maintained and
operating
emergency
lighting?
*
Does the
building meet
your needs,
with what you
want to do?
*
Does the
building have
proper egress
routes?
*
Does the
building meet
Americans with
Disabilities
Act (ADA)
requirements?
SAFETY
FIRST
While you would
like to
entertain
others by
building and
hosting a
Haunted House,
you must not
forget that
Life Safety is
always first.
Fatal fires
have occurred
in Haunting
Houses due to
the lack of
knowledge and
failure to
comply with
proper codes.
It is our goal
to make sure
that the two
following
tragedies will
never be
repeated.
On October 27,
1973 at the
Washington Reid
Elementary
School located
in Prince
William County,
Virginia, the
PTA had created
a Haunted House
in one of the
elementary
school
classrooms for
a Halloween
Carnival. They
used eight-foot
high panels of
flannel cloth
secured by
three-inch wood
strips to
create the
Haunt, and the
flannel panels
were sprayed
with black
lacquer-based
paint. Brown
construction
paper was taped
over the
windows and
flannel panels
that were in
front of the
windows to
reduce
light.
Black lights
were installed
throughout the
Haunted House
using temporary
wiring. Thirty
minutes prior
to opening the
maze, power was
supplied to
test the black
lights, at
which time one
of the panels
burst into
flames. Two
parents began
to tear down
the paper while
three others
went for fire
extinguishers.
A manual pull
station was
pulled by a
parent; however
the alarm
sounded only at
the school.
Another parent
broke into the
Principal's
office to gain
access to call
the fire
department. One
parent was
killed and two
others were
injured just
minutes before
200 elementary
children were
scheduled to
enter the
maze.
Eight persons
perished May
11, 1984 in the
Haunted Castle
located at the
Six Flags Great
Adventure Park
in New Jersey
due to the
inability to
immediately
exit the
structure. The
structure was
comprised of 17
joined
commercial
trailers
attached by
plywood. The
interior
consisted of
plywood
partitions that
resulted in a
450 ft. long
path without
exit. The fire
was caused when
a patron using
a cigarette
lighter to see
his way in the
dark bumped
into a sharp
wall corner
padded with
polyurethane
foam.
Additional
flammable
materials in
the structure
were synthetic
foam, various
fabrics,
plastics and
tarpaper, which
combined to
allow the fire
to develop
quickly and
move
aggressively.
Both of these
fires could
have been
avoided. The
use of
combustible
furnishings,
the lack of
fire
protection, the
lack of early
detection and
the lack of
readily
available
egress routes
were directly
responsible for
the loss of
life.
Information
provided thanks
to the National
Fire Protection
Association
(NFPA)
CONCLUSION
Contrary to
popular belief,
the Fire
Marshal is not
trying to keep
you from
holding a
Haunted House.
His primary
concern is for
the Life Safety
of your
patrons, your
staff and you!
It is important
to work with
the building
and fire
officials who
have
jurisdiction
over your
location to
ensure that
your attraction
complies to a
satisfactory
level of
safety. If
variances to
the codes are
needed, be
prepared with a
plan that will
satisfy the
desire of all
involved to
create a safe
attraction.
The Fire
Marshal will
look closely at
your
operational
plans and
training; you
and your
employees must
display proper
preparation and
the capacity to
mitigate
emergencies.
Knowing the
building and
fire codes,
pre-planning
for all
eventualities
and training
your staff on
how to react to
emergencies
will remove
many risks
associated with
Haunted
Attractions.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
NFPA 101, 2000
edition
NFPA resource
library
Jim
Williams is a
Certified Fire
Inspector by
the State of
Michigan and
the National
Fire Protection
Association and
is currently
the Fire
Marshal for the
Texas Charter
Township Fire
Department in
Kalamazoo,
Michigan.