WAC 296-305-06503   General requirements.  (1) Stations and administrative offices shall comply with the requirements of the general occupational health standards, WAC 296-800-210, Lighting in the workplace.

     (2) Every new fire station built after the effective date of this chapter, whether manned or unmanned, shall be equipped with an approved emergency lighting system that will light dormitories, hallways, and apparatus bay areas in case of electrical power failure.

     (3) No new fire station or new addition to an existing fire station, shall incorporate sliding poles or slides in their design or construction.

     (4) The requirements of chapter 296-24 WAC, Part B-2, Window washing, shall be followed when employees are engaged in window washing operations.

     (5) All new fire stations and other new fire department facilities which contain sleeping quarters shall be fully protected with automatic sprinkler systems.

     (6) All existing fire stations and existing fire department facilities with sleeping quarters, that undergo a major renovation that consists of more than sixty percent of the assessed evaluation of the existing structure shall be fully protected with automatic sprinkler systems.

     (7) Eye protection shall be worn when charging, changing or adding fluid to storage batteries. Personnel that will be charging storage batteries shall be qualified to perform this function by the employer. See WAC 296-24-23015.

     (8) Stairway tread shall be of a nonskid design. Examples of nonskid: Grip strut grating, serrated edge grating, metal grating, aluminum safety tread, abrasive metal stair tread, or pressure sensitive nonskid type.

     (9) In existing facilities where sliding poles or slides are used, the pole or slide hole shall be guarded in such a manner as to prevent anyone from walking directly into the pole or slide hole opening.

     (10) To absorb the shock to sliding employees, the bottom of all slide poles or slides shall have a three-foot diameter cushioned rubber mat, or its equivalent.

     (11) Nothing shall be stored or placed at the bottom of a pole or slide hole for a radius of three feet from the pole. Doors shall not protrude within three feet of the pole or slide.

     (12) Stair and landing protection: Stairways, guardrails, landings, and handrails shall be constructed to the requirements of chapter 19.27 RCW the State Building Code Act, and chapter 296-24 WAC, Part J-1.

     (13) A standard guard railing for a landing platform shall include a toeboard, which is a vertical barrier, at floor level erected along exposed edges of a floor opening, wall opening, platform, runway or ramp to prevent falls of material.

     (14) Any new facility, or addition, alteration, or repair to an existing facility shall be in compliance with chapter 19.27 RCW, the State Building Code Act.

     (15) New stations containing a kitchen, and station kitchens remodeled after the date of this chapter, shall have an alarm activated service disconnect of fixed cooking appliances.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and[49.17].050 . 01-11-038, § 296-305-06503, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].050 and[49.17].060 . 96-11-067, § 296-305-06503, filed 5/10/96, effective 1/1/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 83-24-013 (Order 83-34), § 296-305-06503, filed 11/30/83; Order 77-20, § 296-305-06503, filed 10/18/77 and Emergency Order 77-24, filed 11/17/77, effective 12/17/77.]