VANCOUVER FIRE DEPARMENT – FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE
Special Event Master Permit Guidelines
REQUIREMENTS AND INSPECTION
The following must be approved prior to opening your event
ACCESS & FIRE HYDRANTS
Fire lanes shall be maintained to a minimum unobstructed width of 20 feet. Posts, fences, vehicles, trash,
vendor booths/displays, storage and other materials shall not be placed or kept near fire hydrants and fire
department connections. A minimum of 3 feet of clearance shall be maintained around the circumference
of all hydrants. Fire hydrants along streets shall not be fenced into the event unless specifically approved.
Fencing shall not interfere with required exits from other structures.
Yes No Corrected Are access provisions approved?
EMERGENCY LIGHTING
Where events take place after dusk, and adequate emergency lighting for safe exiting is not present,
emergency light at a minimum of 1 foot candle at the floor/ground shall be provided.
Yes No Corrected Is emergency lighting present or not applicable?
EXIT SIGNS
Where emergency lighting is required, exit signs shall be self-luminous or be illuminated with back-up
power.
Yes No Corrected Are exit signs compliant or not applicable?
OCCUPANT LOAD
Where the occupant load can be greater than 49 persons, the occupant load sign shall be posted
conspicuously at an approved location or locations.
Yes No Corrected Are occupant load signs posted or not applicable?
NO SMOKING
Where approved on the site plan, smoking shall be in designated areas only. NO SMOKING signs shall be
prominently posted around the perimeter of the events and at the entry points.
Yes No Corrected Are NO SMOKING signs posted?
EXITS
Exits must be maintained at all times. Fuel lines, fuel tanks, or other hazardous storage shall be kept clear
of all exits.
Exits shall be marked with signage “EXIT” or “EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY” with letters contrasting the
background and shall be approved by the Deputy Fire Marshal inspector.
Paths of egress shall be continuous to the exit discharge and shall be unobstructed.
A minimum of one path of egress shall be ADA accessible.
Yes No Corrected Are EXITS visible and signed correctly?
Yes No Corrected Are the paths to and through exits acceptable?
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Portable fire extinguisher having a minimum rating of 2A:10B:C and shall bear a current inspection tag
from a qualified fire extinguisher service company dated within the last 12 months.
Portable fire extinguishers shall be mounted within 75 feet of travel from any permanent or temporary
structure within the venue and shall readily visible and accessible at all times.
Yes No Corrected Are portable fire extinguishers within minimum spacing distances, mounted and
accessible?
Yes No Corrected Are portable fire extinguishers the correct size and either new or have a current
inspection tag?
FOOD COOKING
All Cooking with deep fat fryers shall have a “Class K” portable fire extinguisher mounted within 30 feet of
the fryers.
All other cooking and food warming locations shall have access to a portable fire extinguisher rated at not
less than 2A10BC within 75’ of travel.
Propane gas cylinders shall be secured to prevent falling, valves shall be protected and over-pressure
vents shall be pointed away from people and any potential ignition source.
Yes No Corrected Class K extinguishers in place or not applicable?
Yes No Corrected Propane cylinders secured and placed correctly?
FOOD PREPARATION & VENDING FROM VEHICLES
The contents of trailers on wheels or a motorized vehicles used to vend food will generally not be
inspected by the fire code official unless a specific complaint of a hazard that places the public at risk is
received. The placement of vehicles shall be as approved on the event site plan.
Yes No Corrected Are vehicles per the approved plan or an approved alternate location?
COMPRESSED & LIQUIFIED GASES
All gas/fuel supplies, connections and connected equipment shall be approved for that use. Gas/fuel lines
shall be attached in a secure and approved manner and shall be protected against physical damage.
All compressed & liquefied gas cylinders, including propane and CO2 cylinders used for beverage service
shall be secured against falling and protected from physical damage. Cylinders containing flammable gas
shall be placed outside of the stand and are not allowed in a temporary structure. Safety release valves
must be pointed away from the temporary structure.
Yes No Corrected Gas supply and connections secured as required?
FLAMMABLE & COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS
Flammable and combustible liquids shall be stored in approved containers only. All containers and spare
fuel shall be placed outside of the stand, shall be secured against falling and protected from physical
damage in an approved manner.
Yes No Corrected Are liquids stored in an approved manor?
ELECTRICITY
All electrical equipment, wiring, connections, and devices shall be installed and operated in conformance
with the electrical code and recognized good practice.
Extension cords shall be rated to handle the electrical current demand of the appliances they serve.
Electrical wiring shall be protected against damage from foot and vehicle traffic in an approved manner.
Protection methods shall prevent physical damage and shall allow electrical wiring to dissipate heat. The
placement of rugs, tape and other similar items over electric cords are not approved for this use.
Yes No Corrected Are electrical requirements met?
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Special Event Master Permit
HEATERS
Space Heaters must meet the following criteria:
 Electric heaters are allowed. A permit is not required.
 Propane tanks cannot be used inside a tent.
 Protect combustibles from accidental ignition by at least 36 inches.
 Provide protection to guard against accidental burns.
 Heaters, that off-gas carbon monoxide are prohibited from use in an enclosed setting.
Yes No Corrected Are heaters compliant or not applicable?
EMERGENCY PLANS
Emergency plans are the responsibility of the event coordinator. Plans shall be distributed to all vendors
and staff and provided to the inspector on request.
Yes No Corrected Is an emergency plan in place and distributed?
SEPARATE PERMITS

A separate permit is required for tents greater than 400 square feet in floor area. A separate
permit is required for canopies greater than 700 square feet in aggregate floor area. (If there is
less than 12 feet between tent/canopy structures, they are considered part of the aggregate
floor area.) Single “easy-up” canopy structures to not have to be fire resistance rated unless they
are used in conjunction with cooking or other potential sources of ignition or are part of an
aggregate floor area greater than 700 square feet.
 A separate permit is required for special amusement buildings such as haunted houses.
 A separate permit is required for candles, pyrotechnic displays, open flame fire performance or
other special hazards. Where required, these permits shall be held by the individual operators.
Yes No Corrected Are separate permits in compliance or not applicable?
VIOLATION
Event coordinators who refuse or neglect to comply with these requirements or knowingly allow these
requirements to be violated may be subject to a substantial fine and may be required to terminate their
event until code compliance is achieved.
Yes
No
Corrected
Was the event free of any noted violations by the completion of the inspection
process?
Applicant, do not write in this box
INSPECTION RESULTS
Inspector Name__________________ Date/time _______________________Pass/Fail (circle)
Initial_______
Inspector Name__________________ Date/time _______________________Pass/Fail (circle)
Initial_______
Inspector Name__________________ Date/time _______________________Pass/Fail (circle)
Initial_______
Inspector Name__________________ Date/time _______________________Pass/Fail (circle)
Initial_______
□
Excessive inspection fees at an hourly rate applied at ______ hours. If checked an invoice will be sent.
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Special Event Master Permit