69A-67.006. Requirements for Class 2 Nonresidential Farm Buildings

The following requirements apply to a nonresidential farm building that is classified by the AHJ as a Class 2 nonresidential farm building:

(1) No agritourism activity has more than 300 persons occupying the building; however, the occupant load may be posted at less than calculated when agreed upon by the owner and the AHJ.

(2) Egress:

(a) Any door in a required means of egress from an area having an occupant load of 100 or more persons shall be permitted to have a latch or lock only if the latch or lock is panic hardware or other latching device.

(b) Large barn style doors may be used as an exit if left open during the agritourism activity.

(c) No turnstiles or other devices that restrict the movement of persons shall be installed in such a manner as to interfere with required means of egress.

(d) Each level of a building shall have access to the main entrance/exit and shall have at least one additional exit.

(e) Additional exits shall be located as far apart as practicable and as far from the main entrance/exit as practicable.

(f) In buildings where there is no well-defined main entrance/exit, exits shall be permitted to be distributed around the perimeter of the building, provided that the total exit width furnishes not less than 125 percent of the width required to accommodate the permitted occupant load.

(g) Each building shall have at least two separate means of egress.

(h) Balconies, lofts, or mezzanines having an occupant load not exceeding 50 may be served by a single means of egress, and such means of egress shall be permitted to lead to the floor below.

(i) Balconies, lofts, or mezzanines having an occupant load exceeding 50 shall have not less than two remote means of egress, but both such means of egress shall be permitted to lead to the floor below.

(j) Exits shall be arranged so that the total length of travel from any point to reach an exit shall not exceed 200 feet.

(k) A common path of travel shall be permitted for the first 20 feet from any point where the common path serves any number of occupants, and for the first 75 feet from any point where the common path serves not more than 50 occupants.

(l) The width of aisles serving seating at tables shall be not less than 44 inches when serving an occupant load exceeding 50, and 36 inches when serving an occupant load of 50 or fewer.

(m) Where non-fixed seating is located between a table and an aisle, the measurement of required clear width of the aisle shall be made to a line 19 inches, measured perpendicularly to the edge of the table, away from the edge of said table.

(n) Means of egress shall be illuminated in facilities used during non-daylight hours.

(o) Means of egress shall be marked with a sign.

(p) Guards and handrails shall be required.

(q) Rooms containing high-pressure boilers, refrigerating machinery other than the domestic refrigerator type, large transformers, or other service equipment subject to explosion shall:

1. Not be located directly under or abutting required exits; and,

2. Be separated from other parts of the building by fire barriers that have a minimum 1-hour fire resistance rating in accordance with Florida Fire Prevention Code 101: Section 8.3, as adopted in rule chapter 69A-60, F.A.C., or shall be protected by automatic extinguishing systems in accordance with Florida Fire Prevention Code 101: Section 8.7, as adopted in rule chapter 69A-60, F.A.C.

(r) Unsecured Seating. Seats not secured to the floor shall be permitted where fastening seats to the floor might be impracticable.

1. Unsecured seats shall be permitted, provided that, in the area used for seating, excluding such areas as dance floors and stages, there is no more than one seat for each 15 square feet of net floor area and aisles to reach exits are maintained at all times.

2. A seating diagram shall be submitted for approval by the AHJ to permit an increase in occupant load.

3. Festival Seating. A form of audience/spectator accommodation in which no seating, other than a floor or finished ground level, is provided for the audience/spectators gathered to observe a performance shall be prohibited within a building except when the assembly occupancy load is 250 or less.

(s) Means of Egress Inspection.  Prior to each opening of the building to the public, the building owner or agent shall inspect the means of egress to ensure it is free of obstructions and correct any deficiencies found.

(3) Storage. The following items shall be prohibited to be in the building or within 10 feet of the building during agritourism activities:

(a) Compressed flammable gases;

(b) Flammable or combustible liquids;

(c) Hazardous chemicals or materials; and,

(d) Blasting agents and explosives.

(4) Open Flame Devices and Pyrotechnics. No open flame devices or pyrotechnic devices shall be used, unless one of the following applies:

(a) Pyrotechnic special effect devices shall be permitted to be used on stages before proximate audiences for ceremonial or religious purposes, as part of a demonstration in exhibits, or as part of a performance, provided that both of the following criteria are met:

1. Precautions are taken to prevent ignition of any combustible material; and,

2. Use of the pyrotechnic device complies with Florida Fire Prevention Code 1: Section 65.3, as adopted in rule chapter 69A-60, F.A.C.

(b) Flame effects before an audience shall be permitted in accordance with Florida Fire Prevention Code 1: Section 65.4, as adopted in rule chapter 69A-60, F.A.C.

(c) Open flame devices shall be permitted to be used in the following situations, provided that precautions are taken to prevent ignition of any combustible material or injury to occupants:

1. Securely supported altar candles that are well separated from any combustible materials;

2. As part of a performance and used on stage or platform; and,

3. Candles on tables that are securely supported on substantial noncombustible bases with candle flame protected.

(5) Interior finish, contents, and furnishings.  Interior wall and ceiling finish shall have a flame spread index meeting the provisions of Chapter 10 of NFPA 101 of the Florida Fire Prevention Code, as adopted in rule chapter 69A-60, F.A.C.

(a) The required flame spread index or smoke developed index shall be permitted to be secured by applying approved fire-retardant coatings to surfaces having higher flame spread index values. Such treatments shall be tested or shall be listed and labeled for application to the material to the coating is applied, and shall comply with the requirements of NFPA 703, Standard for Fire Retardant – Treated Wood and Fire-Retardant Coatings for Building Materials, as adopted in rule 69A-60.005, F.A.C.

(b) Fire-retardant coatings must be applied to surfaces properly prepared for the material and application needs to be consistent with the product listing.

(c) Combustible vegetation or scenery, including cloth and film:

1. Combustible vegetation or scenery shall not obstruct corridors, exit ways, or other means of egress;

2. Only electrical lights and wiring listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory shall be used on natural or artificial combustible vegetation, scenery, or other similar decorations;

3. Open flames, such as from candles, lanterns, kerosene heaters, and gas-fired heaters shall not be located on or near combustible vegetation or scenery;

4. Combustible vegetation or scenery shall not be located near heating vents or other fixed or portable heating devices that could cause it to dry out prematurely or to be ignited;

5. Flame-Retardant Requirements:

a. Combustible scenery of cloth, film, vegetation (dry), and similar materials may be treated with a fire retardant and shall comply with one of the following:

(I) The scenery shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria contained in NFPA 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films, as adopted in rule 69A-60.005, F.A.C., or

(II) The scenery shall exhibit a heat release rate not exceeding 100 kW when tested in accordance with NFPA 289, Standard Method of Fire Test for Individual Fuel Packages, as adopted in rule 69A-60.005, F.A.C., using the 20 kW ignition source.

6. Foamed plastics (as defined in Florida Fire Prevention Code 101) shall be permitted for use if plastics exhibit a heat release rate not exceeding 100 kW when tested in accordance with NFPA 289, Standard Method of Fire Test for Individual Fuel Packages, as adopted in rule 69A-60.005, F.A.C., using the 20 kW ignition source.

7. Such fire retardants shall be demonstrated by each individual decorative vegetation item, including any decorative lighting, in an approved manner.

(6) Special Provisions for Food Service Operations. All devices used in connection with the preparation of food shall be installed and operated in a manner that avoids hazard to the safety of occupants.

(a) All devices in connection with the preparation of food shall be of an approved type and shall be installed in an approved manner.

(b) Cooking equipment shall be protected in accordance with the Florida Fire Prevention Code 101: 9.2.3, as adopted in Rule chapter 69A-60, F.A.C., unless the cooking equipment is one of the following types:

1. Outdoor equipment used outdoors;

2. Portable equipment not flue-connected, or

3. Equipment used only for food warming.

(c) Portable cooking equipment that is not flue-connected shall be permitted only as follows:

1. Equipment fueled by small heat sources that can be readily extinguished by water, such as candles or alcohol-burning equipment, including solid alcohol, shall be permitted to be used, provided that precautions are taken to prevent ignition of any combustible materials.

2. Listed and approved LP-Gas commercial food service appliances shall be permitted to be used where in accordance with the Florida Fire Prevention Code 1: Chapter 69.

(d) Portable butane-fueled appliances where fueled by not more than two 10 ounces LP-Gas capacity, non-refillable butane containers that have a water capacity not exceeding 1.08 pounds per container may be used. The containers are required to be directly connected to the appliance, and manifolding of containers is not permitted.

(7) The use of the building for lodging purposes is not permitted.

Rulemaking Authority 633.104, 633.202 FS. Law Implemented 633.202 FS. History–New 4-25-17.