NASHVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM
FIRE & SAFETY POLICY
To:
From:
Re:
All Exhibitors and Show Managers
The Metro Fire Prevention Bureau
Policy & Procedures
All Exhibitors and Show Managers shall comply with the following:
Location: Presentations must be confined to areas designed for and maintained as
assembly occupancies.
Platforms: Any platforms intended to be occupied shall be six (6) feet or less in height.
The platforms shall be non-combustible or fire retardant treated wood and the space
below the platform shall be substantially open.
Floor Plan: The approved floor plan shall not be altered. No displays, exhibits, booths,
chairs, etc. shall be installed or operated in any way to interfere with access to any
required exit, or with visibility of the exit or exit signs, or block any opening in moveable
walls or any fire fighting equipment.
Display Booths: All booths shall be of either non-combustible material, fire retardant
treated wood or any other materials fire treated in an approved manner.
Decorative Materials: All decorative materials such as loose fibers, bark, curtains,
hangings, table covers, etc., must be fire retardant treated in an approved manner.
Signs: The use of paper for signs shall be limited to card index paper or poster board
paper, equal or less than eight square feet in size. Fabric signs are not limited in size, but
shall be treated as decorative materials.
Open Flames: The use of any open flame, unless approved by this office, is prohibited.
Flammable Liquids or Gases: The use of flammable liquids or gases within the
Nashville Municipal Auditorium is prohibited. The storage of flammable liquids or gases
will be confined to closed approved containers and limited to quantities needed for
display. Display of any motor vehicle, aircraft, or any apparatus in which a fuel tank is
attached will be safeguarded by disconnecting the battery and securing the fuel tank fill
pipe with a locking device or other approved method. Liquid fuel tanks will contain no
more than five (5) gallons or 25% fuel capacity, whichever is less.
Electrical: Electrical wiring must be properly sized to handle demand, and all extension
cords must be UL listed, labeled, and appropriately sized.
Storage: The storage of packing materials and surplus literature must be confined to
areas away from the display areas. This is to lessen the fire loading in a given area.
However, what is considered to be a day’s supply is permitted.
Any requests for variances of, or questions concerning the above requirements must be
submitted in writing to the Nashville Municipal Auditorium Building Operations
Manager.
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All must comply with the following Fire and Safety Codes:
1. All exits and access and visibility to them must be kept clear and unobstructed.
2. Fire extinguishers, fire hoses, sprinkler closets alarms, and emergency phones must
be visible and accessible at all times.
3. During set-up and move-out, “FREIGHT FREE AISLES’ must be maintained and
kept clear at all times. Exhibit crates, boxes and cartons cannot be placed in these
aisles. The purpose is for emergency access as quickly as possible to fire alarms, fire
hoses, fire extinguishers, and fire support equipment.
4. All curtains, drapery, and decorations must be of fire retardant materials.
5. Combustible materials are not permitted on the show floor.
6. No packing containers, wrapping materials or display materials may be stored under
tables or behind booths. These items must be placed in storage.
7. All internal combustion engine driven vehicles or equipment on display must have
fuel filler caps locked or taped and batteries disconnected. Fuel tanks shall not be
more than one-fourth (1/4) full or contain more than five (5) gallons of fuel,
whichever is less.
8. Use of liquefied petroleum gas within the building is prohibited.
9. Compressed gas cylinders are prohibited unless approved by the Fire Marshal.
Cylinders must be secured in an upright position.
10. Combustibles or flammable liquids may not be used or bought into the building
without Fire Marshal prior approval.
11. Use of two wire extension cords is prohibited unless approved by the Fire Marshal.
12. Cube tap adapters are prohibited (Uniform Fire Code 85.107). Multi-plug adapters
must be UL approved and have built-in overload protection.
13. All temporary electric wiring must be accessible and free from debris and storage
materials. Hard backed booths must be at least nine (9) inches away from the rear
booth line and there must be 18 inches between back-to-back hard walls.
14. All empty cartons or crates must be labeled and removed from storage or they will be
removed as trash.
15. Flammable and Toxic Material: All material used in display construction or
decorating shall be made of fire retardant materials and be certified as flame
retardant. Samples should also be available for testing. Materials that cannot be
treated to meet the requirements may not be used. A flameproofing certificate should
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treated to meet the requirements may not be used. A flameproofing certificate should
be available for inspection. Exhibitors must dispose of any waste products they
generate during the exhibitions in accordance with guidelines established by the
Environmental Protection Agency and the facility.
16. Helium filled balloons are not permitted.
17. Areas enclosed by solid walls or with overhead solid surfaces or canvas canopies up
to 400 square feet must be provided with an approved smoke detector with exterior
alarm and a 2A10BC fire extinguisher.
18. Covered exhibits, two story exhibits, or canopies over 400 square feet:
a. These are allowed by permit if the Exhibitor files with the Fire Department
plans of the structure along with a copy of certification of the flameproofing of the
material. Temporary sprinkler systems may be required with the installation and
equipment expense to be paid by the exhibitor.
b. A smoke detector with audible alarm and a visible 2A10BC fire extinguisher
are required for every unit up to 400 sq. ft. of covered floor space or fraction thereof.
Operation of smoke detectors must be verified after installation.
c. The data specification label must be permanently attached to the fabric with a
NFP-701 certification.
d. A multi-story exhibit is a booth where the display fixtures exceed 12 feet,
including double-decker and triple-decker booths. Multi-storied exhibits require prior
approval by the facility and/or relevant local government agency because they are
deemed to be “structures” for building purposes. They city building department
generally needs to issue a building permit based on an application and drawing
prepared and submitted by a licensed architect or engineer. Exhibitors should obtain
local building regulations early on to ensure that all time constraints are met. Floor
plans may be submitted one (1) month prior to the first move-in day to the Nashville
Municipal Auditorium Building Operations Manager.
e. All drapes and materials that are used for booth separation are required to be
flame retardant. Canvas tents, canopies, awnings, curtains, straw, hay, and similar
materials are also required to be flame retardant.
19. Approval and/or permits are required in the Nashville Municipal Auditorium for
the operation or use of products on display which might be considered hazardous to
the public or affecting life-safety requirements. Some areas of concern in operation
or use requiring approval and/or permits consist of powder-actuated tools, welding
or heat producing products, decorating (votive) lit candles, small tanks of heavierthan-air compressed gas, etc.
20. Questions about the above regulations, all documentation, and all requests for
approvals and/or permits must be directed to the Building Operations Manager.
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