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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1469A By-law to Provide for the Licensing and Regulation of Public Halls. WHEREAS ~'he Public Ha11s Act, RSO 1960 Chapter 320 and amend- ments thereto, provides that no public hall shall be offered for use or used as a place oP public assembly unless the owner thereof holds a licence therefor Prom the city, town, village or township in which it is located, or where it is located in a city having a population of not less than 100,000, from the board of commissioners of police of the city; Ah'D WHEREAS The rdunieipal Act, RSO 1960 Chapter 249 and amend- ments thereto, provides that the council of a town, township or village and of a city having a population of less than 100,000 and the board of commissioners of police of a city having a population of not less than 100,000 may by by-law re ulate and license subject to the provisions of The Theatres Aet (RSO 190 Chapter 396 and amendments thereto) exhibi- tions held for hire or gain, theatres, music halls, bowling alleys, moving picture shows, public halls and alI places of amusement, and for prohibiting the location of them or a particular class of them, on land abutting on any highway or part of a highway to be named in the by-law and for revoking any licence granted; 'T'HEREFORE the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Clarke enacts as follows; 1. In this by-law, - (a) "owner" means person who has in respect of premises an estate for life or a greater estate, legal or equitable, or a leasehold estate; and (b~ "public hall" means a building, including a portable building or tent with a seating capacity for over one hundred persons, that is offered for use or used as a place of public assembly, but does not include a theatre within the meaning of The Theatres Aet, or a building, except a tent, used solely for religious purposes. (c~ "fire resistive construction" means non-combustible construction having a fire-resistance rating oP one hour or more. 2. (1) No owner shall operate a public hall or allow any building or part thereof to be used as a public hall unless he holds a public hall licence issued by the treasurer of this municipality for which the fees payable shall be as follows; Grade 1 - For a hall having a lioensed. capacity of over 1,000 persons... lOQ.00 Grade 2 - For a hall having ~ licensed capacity of between 999 and 600 persons ......................~_ 50.00 Grade 3 - For a hall having a licensed capacity of between 599 and 300 persons ...................... 25.00 Grade 4 - For a hall having a licensed capacity of under 300 persons.... `'10.00 provided that a Limited Public Hall T_.icenee permitting not more than one meetinaz of entertainment in any calendar month or rot more than ten meetings or entertainments in any calendar year may be issued for any hall usually used for other purposes upon payment of one-half the licence fees. ............. .' i a r ~ r (2) For the tranfer of a public. hall licence a fee shall be paid to the treasurer by the transferee similar to the charges quoted under Section 2 (1) of this by- lsw. 3. No lioenoe fee shall be payable under this bg-law by any reli- gious organization in respect of a hall used for entertainment. given or held by it, but every such hall shell in all other respeots`eomply with thi s by-law. 4. Every application for a publio hall lioenoe shall be acoompanie8 by,- (a) a statement on the form provided by the treasurer giving suoh particulars"as to the location, size and constru~- tion of the hell, as may be required; (b) a certificate signed by the fire chief or fire prevention officer, certifying that he has inspected the building in respect of which the applioation is made and has found that it is in accordance with this by-law as to' fire safety pre- cautions; (c) a oertifioate signed by the ohief of police certifying that the operation of a hall in the looation applied for is approved by him and that he is satisfied with the proposed use of the building or part thereof as a publio hall and with the proposed methods of operation; and (d) a oertifioate dated within three months of the applioation signed by the local inspector of The Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, certifying that the electric wiring has been inspected and found satisfactory. 5. (1) The owner of a publio hall shall not allow a greater number of persons to enter and be in the hall at any one time than is stated to be the maximum capacity of the hall on the lieeno®, which maximum capacity shall be determined as follows;- (a) where the publio hall is in a building of fire-resistive construction or on the first or ground floor of a building not of fire-resistive construction, the maximum capacity shall be determined on the basis of one person to each six square feet of total floor area where fixed seating is employed and eight square feet per person where movable seats are used; (b) where the publio hall is in the basement or on the second floor of a building not of fire-resistive construction the maximum eapaoity shall be determined on~the basis of one person to each ten square feet of total floor area; (o) where the public hall is on the third floor of a building not of fire-resistive oonstruotion, the meusimum eapaoity shall be determined on the basis of.one person to each fifteen square feet of floor area. (2) A lioenoe shall not be issued for a publio hall on any storey higher than the third floor in a building not of fire-resistive con- struction. (3) The owner of every public hall shall display in a prominent place in the entranceway to the publio hall and inside the hall ad~er- oent to the entranceway placards with the following wording in letters not less than two inches high: "OCCUPANCY OF 'THIS HALL HY' TdORE THAN............PERSONS I S DAI~~ER OUS AND UNLAWFUL. " with the blank filled in with the maximum oapaoity as stated on the .............. .} ~~ -3- licence, and placards stating the location of the nearest telephone, the telephone number of the fire department and the location of the nearest fire alarm boa or fire hall. (4) For the purposes of this section;- (a) the floor area of a public hall shall not include the floor areas of any platform, stage, washroom, kitchen, cloak room, hallway, entranceway, stairway, stairwell or any other ante room adjacent to or used in connection with suoh publio hall; (b) no person employed or serving on or in any of the Ploor areas mentioned in clause (a) shall be counted in deter- mining the number of persons permitted in a publio hall. 6. (1) In every publio hall having rows of fixed seats there shall, in addition to the space at the front and rear of the hall, be aisle space of not less than fourty-four inches in width for every 200 persons or fraction thereof for whioh the hall is licensed. (2) In every publio hall having rows of movable seats there shall, in addition to the space at the front and rear of the hall, be aisle space of not less than fourty-four inohes in width for every 150 per- sons or fraction thereof for whioh the hall is lioensed and no centre seating section shall contain more than fourteen seats in a row and no seating section running to a side wall shall contain more than seven seats in a row. (3) In every public hall having rows of movable seats they shall be fastened together so that there are units of not less than four or more than twelve seats. (4) In every public hall having chairs and tables there shall, in addition to the space at the front and rear of the hall, and in addition to airy space usad~~ PoP danetn~ or_~any'eh'~er'Gain~ent, Be clear aisle space of not less than twenty-two inohes in width between rows of tables and chairs for not more than two persons, thirty-six inohes between rows of tables and chairs for not more than four persons and fourty-four inches in width between rows of tables and chairs for more than four persons at an individual table. f5) P~fiovable seats shall not be permitted in balconies or galleries on which the floor is arranged as steps. (6) Where an exit is located at the side of the hell having movable or fixed seats or chairs and tables there shall be a cross aisle giving access to each suoh exit. (`]) Standing in the aisles, additional seats or additional eh airs or tables whioh would reduce the aisle spade below the minimum required shall not be permitted. ~. (l) Every publio hall shall have at least two independent exits, each at least three Peet in width, located as Par apart as is struc- turally feasible, but in no case less than the width of the publio hall or approximately fifty peroentum of the length of the publio hall. (2) The distance of travel to any exit from the hall shall not exceed 100 feet, measured along the path of exit travel from any seat. Vahere because of the size of the hall this is not practical, exits may be spaced not more than 100 Peet apart along the perimeter of the hall. .............. .; .~ . . - 4 - (3) ~Phere there are only two exits from a public hall licensed for more than 300 persons, each exit shall be not less than fourty- four inches in horizontal width. (4) '~Fhere the licensed maximum eapaoity of the hall is greater than 400 persons in a building of fire-resistive construction or the hall is on the first or ground floor of a building not of fire-resis- tive construction, additional exits shall be required on the basis of not less than twenty-two inches of exit width for every 90 persons or fraction thereof above 400 persons. f5) V9here the licensed maximum capacity of the hall is greater than 300 persons in the basement or on the seoond or third floor of a building not of Pire-resistive construotion additional exits shall be reauired on the basis of not less than twenty-two inches of exit Aidth for every 60 persons or Fraction thereof above 300 persons. (6) .~rery balcony or gallery in a public hall shall have at least two independent means of exit, either to the outside or to the main floor of the hall. (']) Rugs, carpets or other floor coverings shall be scoured and maintained so that they will not ruck, or so that they will not in any way impede egress. (8) Vats located at the entrance of the public hall shall be flush with floors or have chamfered or bevelled edges. (9) Articles which may create any obstruction shall not be located in or adjacent to the path of exit travel. 8. (1) All exit doors including the main entrance door shall be equipped with panic-type hardware that enables a door to be opened easily upon the application of pressure from the inside. Panic hard- ware shall not be required on free-swinging doors which are not equipped with any looking or latchina~ devices. (2) No revolving type of door or turnstile shall be used as an exit from a public hall except that a revolving type door or turn- stile may be used Prom the first or ground floor provided that there is an exit door or doors of thesv~ing type adjacent to and within at least fifteen feet of the revolving door or turnstile. (3) Hooks, padlocks, chains and draw bolts, other than the panio hardware type, shall not b® permitted on doors. (4) ?~henever a public hall is to be used the owner shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the doors open freely. 9. (1) Above every exit, or aecesa to exit, there shall be an illumi- nated sign having letters of not less than six inches in height and the principal strokes three-quarters of an ir_ch in width, with the word "EXIT" lighted with electric current on a circuit separate from that furnishing any other electric service in the building, or on a circuit from a point on the supply side of the servioe switch and provided with its own service box. (2) Every exit sign shall be clearly visible from the most distant part of the hall from which there is a clear line of sight. (3) The inspector may require a stand-by or auxiliary electric service of a capacity sufficient to supply all exit lights or to flood- light the hall from a storage battery kept permanently charged with a trickle charger. (4) Lvery door which does not lead to an exit shall be plainly __ _ _ - ,~ '` . . - 5 - marked with letters not less than six inches in height, designating the part of the premises to whioh it leads unless an exit leading to grade is available through such a roots and in such case the door shall be marked as an exit. 10. (1) The width of every exit stairway shall not be less than the exit door from whioh it leads and shall have treads not less than ten inches in width exclusive of nosing and risers not more than eight inches in height, provided that where structural difficulties exist the building inspector may issue a uermit in writing for a stairway having a slope of not greater than forty-five degrees from the horizontal. (2) The treads of such stairs shall be maintained with a non- slip surface. (3) When the diff erenee in floor levels or the height of any exit door from the ground level is not greater than ten Peet, an inclined ramp may be permitted in lieu of a stairway, provided such ramp shall have a slope not greater than one foot rise in a ten foot run. (4) Any exit stairway, connecting two or more Floors, shall be enclosed at all floor levels with aonstruotion having a fire resistance of not less than one hour. Doors providing access to this enclosure shall have afire resistance of not less than three-quarters of an hour, and shall be equipped with self closers. All stairway doors shall open in the direction of exit travel. (5) All exit stairway enclosures s-hall provide a protected means of egress to grade such that it would not be necessary to leave the stairway enclosure to reach an exterior door. A lobby or foyer may constitute part of the stair enclosure provided that it is enclosed in aeaordance with subsection 4 and provided that the distance of travel through the lobby to an exit does not exceed fifty feet. (6) Exit stairs from the first balcony or gallery above the main floor need not be enclosed provided that these stairs serve only the first balcony or gallery. (~) Every passageway or platform leading to or from an exit stair- way shall be kept clear of all obstructions. (8) Cupboards shall not be constructed underneath any stairway nor the space under any stairway used for storage purposes. (g) A11 combustible exit stairs and landings shall have their undersides protected by a one hour fire resistive ceiling. 11. (1) Every outside fire escape shall extend down to the ground or fire escape is situate on a street may, with the approval in writing counter-balanced type. In no oase exceed forty-five degrees with the shall be of the stair type only and street level, provided that where a or travelled lane the last, section ~f the building inspector, be the shall the slope of the stairway horizontal. (2) the stairs, platforms, supporting members and anchorage of every outside Pire escape shell be designed to support, in addition to their own weight, a live weight of not less than one hundred pounds per square foot of tread and platform. (3) Every window beneath, within fifteen feet horizontally, and every window above, within ten Peat vertically of any portion of an outside fire escape, shall be provided with wired glass in fixed sash and every door underneath or providing access to an outside fire escape shall be metal-clad and equipped with self closers. ...................... 1 •• '\ . e s i - C~ - (4) The maximum vertical distance between grade level and the second storey landing of an outside fire escape shall not exceed fourteen feet and the maximum vertical distanoe between $lI other landings above the second storey shall not exceed twelve feet. (y) Every stairway of an outside fire escape shall be thirty- six inches or more in width measured between the stringers and alI landings shall have an area of at least twelve square feet and each stairway and landing shall be equipped with hand rails. 12. Before the publio hall is used on any occasion the owner shall clear every outside fire esoape of snow and ice or other obstruction. 13. Every .stairway, passageway and whenever the public hall is in use, eight feet of the floor Level shall prevent breakage or removal. fire escape shall be well lighted and all electric light bulbs within be protested with metal guards to 14. False doors, windows, mirrors or other type of decoration which give the appearance of a door or exit ®here no door or exit exists shall not be permitted. 15. (1) Decorations, curtains and stage properties of cloth, paper or other flammable material shall not be permitted in a publics hall unless treated with a flame-retardant and re-treated at least once in every year. (2) Flammable decorations, notwithstanding they are flame-retar- dant treated, shall not be planed on an electric fixture or within three feet of an electric bulb, stove or heating appliance or the pipes in connection therewith. 16. Flammable liquids or explosives or other substances dangerous to human life shall not b® kept or stored in a public hall or in the building in which the publio hall is located except where written approval is obtained from the building inspector or the fire chief. 11. (1) The fire chief may permit smoking in a public hall or any part thereof ®nd "NO SMOKING" signs shall be posted in the hall or portion thereof where smoking is prohibited. (2j In the hall or portion thereof where smoking is permitted substantial ash trays or stands of non-combustible materials shall be pleQed so as to be of convenient access in such number as may be required by the fire chief. (3) Smoking, matches, open flames, fire-crackers or any device producing an exposed spark or flame shall not be used on any platform or stage in any publio hall without the written permission of the fire chief. 18. (1) Every publio hall shall be kept Olean and clear of rubbish. (2) Metal containers with self-closing covers shall be provided and conveniently pleQed for the deposit of used paper towels and rubbish and the contents of every such container shall be emptied and disposed of immediately following the use of the hall. 19. (1) Every year before using the heating equipment every publio hall owner shall cause the furnace or stove, the pipes therefrom and the chimney to be examined, cleaned and put in a proper state of repair. (2) Every heating appliance pleQed in the auditorium of any publio hall shall be protected with sufficient guards and insulation, and shall be so located as to not interfere with the flow of to exit traffic and be not closer than twenty Peet to any exit door. .............. . ~ . ^• ~.~ . - ' - ~ - (3) Every furnace room in any building containing a public hall shall be separated from the remainder of the building by construction having afire resistance of not less than one and a half hours. Any ducts passing through this enclosure shall be equipped with self- closing fire dampers. (4) Every fuel-fired heating appliance that is installed in a public hall shall be oo ntained in an enclosure in accordance with subsec- tion 3 except in a public hall located in a building not more than two storeys in height including basement oraellar and having an occupancy of less than two hundred persons, with the written permission of the fire chief or building inspector. (a) two fuel-fired heating appliances of a type listed by a recognized testing laboratory, or (b) sic sealed combustion system appliances of a type listed by a recogniz®d testing laboratory may be installed without being enclosed. Z0. (1) Every publio hall shall be equipped with sufficient stand- pipes and hose to protect every part of the hall and intercommunica- ting rooms without using more than 15 Peet of hose on any standpipe connection or with five gallon water pump tank or equivalent water type fire extinguishers on the basis oP one such appliance for every 1,500 square feet of floor area or fraction thereof, except where the hall is equipped with chairs and tables in which case one suoh fire fighting appliance shall be required for each 1,000 square Peet of floor area or fraction thereof, provided that the minimum shall be two such fire fighting appliances, and shall be equipped with fire extin- guishers of suoh type and number as the fire chief may require for use in the cloak rooms, washrooms, kitchens and other service rooms. (2) The fire chief may require the installation of an automatic fire detection system or automatic sprinkler system in any publio hall or part or parts thereof or in any stairway or passageway used as an exit Prom a public hall. (3) Every fire extinguisher and other fire fighting appliance shall be maintained in good operating condition and regularly inspected. (4) No fire extinguisher shall be installed in a public hall unless it bears the approval label of the Underwriters Laboratories oP Canada, Ltd., the Underwriters Laboratories Inc., the Factory Mutual Laboratories, or the Fire Offioes~ Committee of the United Kingdom. 21. (1) It shall be the duty of the fire ohief, ohief of police and building inspector to enforce this by-law and xa inspect every public hall in the municipality from time to time as required to ensure that the requirements of this by-law are being fully met. (2) For suoh purpose, the fire ohief, ohief of polioe and the building inspector or any of their assistants may enter any publio hall at any time, and to test the adequacy oP the exit Pa~cilities, and may with the instructions of the council require a practice fire drill by all persona in the publio hall at suoh time. 22. Subject to the provisions of The Public Hal]s Act, every person who contravenes any of the provisions of this by-law shall upon convic- tion therefore be liable to a fine of not less than X10.00 and not exceeding 50.00, exclusive of costs, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twenty-one days, or to both suoh fine and imprisonment. 23. ~9here a publio hall licensee is convicted of an offence under this by-law the licence shall be suspended forthwith by the treasurer and shall not be reinstated until the fire ohief and the polioe chief certify in writing that the conditions resulting in the charge and conviction have been remedied and that the hall and its proposed opera- tion comply with this by-law. ...... ............... - 8 - 24. This by-law shall take effect upon the day of the final passing thereof. READ a first and second time this ~. day of 1965. T • • ~ • • • ~ . ~."• . I • • • • • • • • • . Re e Clerk READ a third time and finally passed this ~, day of~•~~~ 1965. 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