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Washington Administrative Code (Last Updated: November 23, 2016) |
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Title 246. Health, Department of |
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Chapter 246-359. Temporary worker housing construction standard. |
Section 246-359-650. Tents.
Latest version.
- (1) Each tent must be constructed to sleep no more than fifteen occupants.(2) Tents must provide protection from the elements, insects, and animals.(3) Structural stability and floors.(a) Tents and their supporting framework must be adequately braced and anchored to prevent weather related collapse. The operator shall provide documentation of the structural stability to the department of health, if requested.(b) Floors must be smooth, sloped from a raised center towards the lower outer edges. Floors must be without breaks or holes to provide a hard, stable walking surface. Nonridged flooring supported by grass, dirt, soil, gravel or other uneven surface is not acceptable. Floors that are constructed of wood or concrete must comply with the building code, chapter 19.27 RCW and this chapter.(c) Floor systems must be designed to prevent the entrance of snakes, rodents, and other nuisances.(4) Flame-retardant treatments.(a) The sidewalls, drops, and tops of tents shall be composed of flame-resistant material or treated with a flame retardant in an approved manner.(b) Floor coverings, which are integral to the tent, and the bunting shall be composed of flame-resistant material or treated with a flame retardant in an approved manner and in accordance with Uniform Building Code, Standard 31.1.(c) All tents must have a permanently affixed label bearing the following information:(i) Identification of tent size and fabric or material type;(ii) For flame-resistant materials, the necessary information to determine compliance with this section and National Fire Protection Association Standard 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame-resistant Textiles and Films;(iii) For flame-retardant materials, the date that the tent was last treated with an approved flame-retardant;(iv) The trade name and type of flame-retardant used in the flame-retardant treatment; and(v) The name of the person and firm that applied the flame-retardant.(5) Means of egress.(a) Tents must have a primary entrance door. At least one door must lead to the outside of the tent. The door must not be obstructed in any manner and must remain free of any material or matter where its presence would obstruct or render the exit hazardous.(b) If food-handling facilities are provided in tents, or the tent occupancy capacity is for ten or more occupants, a window allowing egress must be located opposite the door and must have a means to open the window or provide an easily openable space, for example, a zipper which opens downward to the floor, must be provided.(6) Floor area. The operator must:(a) If food-handling facilities are provided in the tent, provide an additional twenty square feet of floor space;(b) Provide at least fifty square feet of floor space for each occupant in rooms used for sleeping purposes.(7) Ceiling height.(a) A ceiling height of at least seven feet is required in fifty percent of the total floor area.(b) No portion of the tent measuring less than six feet from the flooring to the ceiling will be included in any computation of the floor area.(8) Windows and ventilation.(a) The operator shall provide a window area equal to one-tenth of the total floor area in each habitable room which opens at least halfway or more directly to the outside for cross-ventilation and has a minimum of sixteen-mesh screens on all exterior openings.(b) The windows must have weather-resistant flaps, which will cover the window area and a means of fastening the flaps to provide protection from the elements and allow privacy for the occupants.(9) Electrical and lighting. The operator shall ensure that:(a) Electricity is supplied to all tents used as habitable room.(b) All electrical wiring, fixtures, and electrical equipment must comply with the electrical standards of the department of labor and industries regulations, chapter 19.28 RCW, and local ordinances, and be maintained in a safe condition.(c) Each tent used as habitable room has at least one ceiling-type light fixture and at least one separate floor-type or wall-type convenience outlet.(d) If cooking is provided in the tent, appropriate wiring and electrical equipment is provided.