SubTitle29-140-1_29-140-16. Outdoor Amusements under Tents and Portable Shelters, Title29 Public Safety and State Police, Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies

Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (Last Updated: June 14,2023)

Title29 Public Safety and State Police

SubTitle29-140-1_29-140-16. Outdoor Amusements under Tents and Portable Shelters

Sec. 29-140-1—29-140-16. [Repealed]

Latest version.

Repealed December 23, 1997.

Sec. 29-140-1a—29-140-5a. [Repealed]

Latest version.

Repealed November 2, 1999.

Sec. 29-140-1b. The Connecticut tent and portable shelter code. Introduction

Latest version.

(a) Regulations of the Department of Public Safety, Sections 29-140-1b to 29-140-8b, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, together with the adopted standard, shall be known as the Connecticut Tent and Portable Shelter Code.

(b) Sections 29-140-1b to 29-140-8b, inclusive, shall apply to tents and portable shelters erected for less than 180 consecutive calendar days. Tents and portable shelters erected for a longer period of time shall comply with the requirements of the State Building Code and the State Fire Safety Code, Section 29-252-1c and Sections 29-292-1d to 29-292-9d, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, respectively.

(c) Sections 29-140-1b to 29-140-8b, inclusive, shall not apply to tents and portable shelters erected on the grounds of one- and two-family dwellings for private party purposes, provided that no admission fee is charged.

(Adopted effective November 2, 1999)

Sec. 29-140-2b. Definitions

Latest version.

As used in Sections 29-140-1b to 29-140-8b, inclusive:

(1) "Tent" means any structure with or without side panels having wood or metal supports and using any kind of a textile or similar material for coverage, and having a capacity sufficient to shelter 100 or more persons or covering a ground area of more than 1,200 square feet.

(2) "Portable shelter" means any temporary structure with or without side panels, the covering of which is made of pliable material, such as plastic or fabric, that achieves its shape by air support, air inflation, or tension and having a capacity sufficient to shelter 100 or more persons.

(3) "Temporary" means in place for fewer than 180 consecutive calendar days.

(Adopted effective November 2, 1999)

Sec. 29-140-3b. Authority having jurisdiction

Latest version.

(a) For the purpose of regulations adopted by reference under authority of Section 29-140 of the Connecticut General Statutes, "authority having jurisdiction" means the Commissioner of Public Safety. The Commissioner of Public Safety is the authority having jurisdiction regarding the proper administration, application, interpretation, and modification of the requirements contained within Sections 29-140-1b to 29-140-8b, inclusive.

(b) The local fire marshal or local building official shall make the initial determination concerning compliance with Sections 29-140-1b to 29-140-8b, inclusive, except as expressly provided in the wording of a section.

Exception to (b): The Commissioner of Public Safety shall make the determination concerning compliance with Sections 29-140-1b to 29-140-8b on State-owned property.

Sec. 29-140-4b. Relationship to the state building code

Latest version.

Specific requirements for character and arrangement of seating, means of egress, lighting and other safety measures for the prevention or abatement of fire, casualty and related hazards shall be as set forth in the State Building Code, Section 29-252-1c of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(Adopted effective November 2, 1999)

Sec. 29-140-5b. Police protection

Latest version.

(a) In municipalities in which there is a municipal police department having jurisdiction over the site on which the tent or portable shelter is located, the chief of police may determine the extent of police protection at the site.

(b) In municipalities in which the Department of Public Safety has jurisdiction over the site on which the tent or portable shelter is located, the commander of the state police troop for the geographic area in which the site is located shall determine the extent of police protection at the site.

(c) The Commissioner of Public Safety shall assign sworn members of the Department of Public Safety to any tent or portable shelter in which a circus is presented for the prevention or abatement of fire, casualty and related hazards.

(d) Police protection provided in accordance with this section shall be paid for by the person or persons operating, conducting or promoting such assembly of one hundred or more persons.

(Adopted effective November 2, 1999)

Sec. 29-140-6b. Fire protection

Latest version.

(a) In municipalities in which the local fire marshal has jurisdiction over the site on which the tent or portable shelter is located, the local fire marshal shall determine when fire protection is necessary and the amount of such protection and the chief of the fire department shall furnish such protection.

(b) On state-owned property, the Commissioner of Public Safety shall determine when fire protection is necessary and the amount of such protection, and the chief of the fire department shall furnish such protection.

(c) Fire protection provided in accordance with this section shall be paid for by the person or persons operating, conducting or promoting such assembly of one hundred or more persons.

(Adopted effective November 2, 1999)

Sec. 29-140-7b. Adopted standard

Latest version.

(a) The following standard adopted by the National Fire Protection Association, Inc. (NFPA) is hereby adopted as part of Section 29-140-1b to 29-140-8b, inclusive:

NFPA 102-1995, Grandstands, Folding and Telescopic Seating, Tents, and Membrane Structures, except as amended, altered or deleted as indicated in Section 29-140-8b.

(b) This standard is available from the National Fire Protection Association, Inc., Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02269; telephone number, 1-800-344-3555.

(Adopted effective November 2, 1999)

Sec. 29-140-8b. Connecticut amendments

Latest version.

NFPA 102-1995 is amended to meet the needs of the State of Connecticut as follows:

NOTE:

A section or subsection in the Connecticut Amendments preceded by "AMD" indicates the substitution of this provision in the adopted referenced standard, NFPA 102-1995, Grandstands, Folding and Telescopic Seating, Tents, and Membrane Structures.

A section or subsection in the Connecticut Amendments preceded by "DEL" indicates the deletion of this provision in the aforementioned adopted referenced standard.

A section or subsection in the Connecticut Amendments preceded by "ADD" indicates the addition of this provision in the adopted referenced standard.

A section or subsection in the Connecticut Amendments followed by an asterisk "*" indicates that explanatory material on the section or subsection can be found in Appendix A of the adopted referenced standard.

Chapter 1 General

(AMD)

1-5.2. The specific requirements of this standard shall be permitted to be modified by the Commissioner of Public Safety to allow alternative arrangements that will secure as nearly equivalent safety to life from fire as practicable, but in no case shall the modification afford less safety to life than, in the judgment of the Commissioner of Public Safety, that which would be provided by compliance with the corresponding provisions contained in this standard.

Chapter 3 Means of Egress

(AMD)

3-1.1. Means of egress from facilities included within the scope of this standard shall comply with the provisions of the State Fire Safety Code for the appropriate occupancy classification.

Chapter 6 Permanent Membrane Structures

(DEL)

6-1.8.2.

Chapter 8 Tents

(DEL)

8-4.3.

Chapter 9 Protection

(AMD)

9-2.4 Smoking shall not be allowed in any tent or portable structure.

(AMD)

9-3.2. In other than enclosed stadia, arenas, and similar structures, enclosed areas shall be protected by an approved sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13-1996, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems.

Exception No. 1: Press boxes less than 1,000 sq ft (93 sq m) in area.

Exception No. 2: Storage facilities less than 1,000 sq ft (93 sq m) in area if enclosed with minimum 1-hour fire resistance-rated construction.

Exception No. 3: Enclosed areas underneath grandstands or bleachers that comply with the exceptions to Section 4-8.

Exception No. 4: Temporary membrane structures and tents.

(DEL)

9-5.* Fire Detail.

Chapter 11 Referenced Publications

(AMD)	11-1.1. NFPA Publications.
	NFPA 10-1998, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers;
	NFPA 13-1996, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems;
	NFPA 30. See Connecticut Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, Sections 29-320-1a to 29-320-4a, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies;
	NFPA 31. See Connecticut Oil Burning Equipment Code, Sections 29-317-1a to 29-317-3a, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies;
	NFPA 54. See Connecticut Gas Equipment and Piping Code, Sections 29-329-1 to 29-329-4, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies;
	NFPA 58. See Connecticut Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas Code, Sections 29-331-1 to 29-331-5, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies;
	NFPA 70-1999, National Electrical Code;
	NFPA 90A-1996, Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems;
	NFPA 101. See State Fire Safety Code, Sections 29-292-1d to 29-292-9d, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies;
	NFPA 211-1996, Standard for Chimneys, Fire Places, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances;
	NFPA 220-1995, Standard on Types of Building Construction;
	NFPA 251-1995, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials;
	NFPA 256-1998, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Roof Coverings;
	NFPA 259-1998, Standard Test Method for Potential Heat of Building Materials; and
	NFPA 701-1996, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame-Resistant Textiles and Films.
(ADD)	11-1.5. Other Publications.
	CONNECTICUT FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS CODE, State of Connecticut, Department of Public Safety, Office of State Fire Marshal, P.O. Box 2794, Middletown, CT 06457-9294.
	CONNECTICUT GAS EQUIPMENT AND PIPING CODE, State of Connecticut, Department of Public Safety, Office of State Fire Marshal, P.O. Box 2794, Middletown, CT 06457-9294.
	CONNECTICUT LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS AND LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS CODE, State of Connecticut Department of Public Safety, Office of State Fire Marshal, P.O. Box 2794, Middletown, CT 06457-9294.
	CONNECTICUT OIL BURNING EQUIPMENT CODE, State of Connecticut, Department of Public Safety, Office of State Fire Marshal, P.O. Box 2794, Middletown, CT 06457-9294.
	STATE FIRE SAFETY CODE, State of Connecticut, Commission on Official Legal Publications, 111 Phoenix Avenue, Enfield, CT 06082-4440.

(Adopted effective November 2, 1999)