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To the Editor: Many business owners have begun decorating for the holidays. The following are some laws for you to keep in mind during your decorating efforts. R.I. State Law 23-28 et al., specifically NFPA 1, The Fire Prevention Code, section 3-13, regulates holiday decorations. Prohibited practices include: 1). Natural (live) trees, and garlands, are not allowed in the following occupancies: Place of Assembly (restaurants, churches, halls, etc.), Mercantile (Retail Stores), Hotel, Educational, Health Care, Dormitory.
An exception is made for live, balled trees that will be planted after the season is over; however, they must not be allowed to become dry. Although business occupancies, which are offices without retail sales, such as doctor, dentist, and accountant offices, are not expressly prohibited from having live decorations, the Fire District suggests that you do not. The potential for fire from a dried out tree or garland is immense. A Christmas tree will go up in flames in as little as 1-½ minutes creating an inferno of heat, gases, smoke and fire. 2). Open flames, from candles, lamps, etc. are prohibited from locations on or near combustible materials. 3). Electric lights are prohibited on metal artificial trees. Other decorations which are allowed include electric lights that have a UL label. All additional holiday decorations must be made from flame-resistant materials. You should look for a UL or FM tag, or words stating that the product has been treated with flame-retardants or is flame resistive. You must be prepared to show those tags or labels to a member of the fire department, or the public, if questioned. 4). Most important: When placing your decorations, remember you can not block, even partially, the exits, including emergency exits; exit signs or emergency lights, fire alarm horn/strobes, nor can you use sprinkler piping to hang them from. On behalf of the Officers and Firefighters of the East Greenwich Fire District, I would like to wish you all a joyous holiday season. Susan L. Hawksley, E.G. Fire Marshal Postscript: the East Greenwich Fire District’s web site, http://www.egfiredistrict.net/, has videos demonstrating a healthy, safe, well-watered Christmas tree, versus an unhealthy, unsafe, dry, flammable Christmas tree.) |
