Title HS, Health and Safety Code

Sec. 791.005. LOCATION OF FIRE ESCAPES. Consistent with accessibility, each fire escape subject to this chapter must be located as far as possible from stairways, elevator hatchways, and other openings in the floors of the building served by the fire escape. If possible, each fir…

Sec. 791.006. INSPECTION; APPROVAL. (a) A fire escape subject to this chapter and each extension or addition to that fire escape shall be inspected before being approved for use. (b) The inspection may be conducted by: (1) the state fire marshal; (2) an inspector of the State Boa…

Sec. 791.007. TESTS; AFFIDAVIT. (a) The person who erects a fire escape shall test the fire escape, on its completion and before final approval of the fire escape, by the application of a live load of 160 pounds per square foot of area of balcony floor and stair treads, or a dead…

Sec. 791.011. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS. (a) A fire escape shall be constructed and arranged in a manner that: (1) permits exit on the fire escape from each floor of the building above the first floor; and (2) provides an uninterrupted exit from the building to the grade. (b) The mate…

Sec. 791.012. MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS FOR EXTERIOR STAIRWAY FIRE ESCAPES. (a) An exterior stairway fire escape is a structure that: (1) is located on the exterior of a building; (2) is constructed of iron, steel, or reinforced concrete; and (3) consists of balconies and stairways.…

Sec. 791.013. MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS FOR EXTERIOR CHUTE FIRE ESCAPES. (a) An exterior chute fire escape is a structure that is located on the exterior of a building and constructed of iron or steel and that consists of balconies and a straight or spiral gravity chute. (b) An exte…

Sec. 791.014. MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS FOR INTERIOR FIRE ESCAPES. (a) An interior fire escape may be: (1) a stairway composed of iron, steel, or concrete; or (2) a straight or spiral chute composed of iron or steel. (b) The fire escape must be enclosed with a noncombustible materia…

Sec. 791.015. EXIT LIGHTS; GUIDE SIGNS. (a) At least one red light must be installed and maintained in good condition at each exit to a fire escape in a building subject to Section 791.002. An exit light must be painted with the words "fire escape exit." (b) One guide sign must b…

Sec. 791.016. PAINTING AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. (a) A fire escape constructed of iron or steel must be painted with at least two coats of good metallic paint when erected. The fire escape must be repainted at least every two years or more frequently if necessary to preserve …

Sec. 791.021. ADDITIONAL FIRE ESCAPES FOR CERTAIN FACILITIES. (a) This section applies to: (1) a hospital; (2) a seminary; (3) a college; (4) an academy; (5) a school; (6) a dormitory; (7) a hotel or other facility for the accommodation of transient guests; (8) a lodging house, a…

Sec. 791.022. ADDITIONAL FIRE ESCAPES FOR CERTAIN OFFICE BUILDINGS, STORES, OR INDUSTRIAL PLANTS. (a) This section applies to: (1) an office building; (2) a wholesale or retail mercantile establishment or store; (3) a workshop or manufacturing establishment; or (4) an industrial …

Sec. 791.023. ADDITIONAL FIRE ESCAPES FOR CERTAIN WAREHOUSES AND MILLS. (a) This section applies to a warehouse, storehouse, or mill building. (b) Each facility subject to this section and Section 791.002 that has a lot area greater than 8,000 square feet shall provide, in additi…

Sec. 791.024. ADDITIONAL FIRE ESCAPES FOR NONSCHOOL PUBLIC BUILDINGS. (a) This section applies to a building, other than a school building, that is owned by this state or by a municipality or county of this state and in which public assemblies or sleeping apartments are permitted…

Sec. 791.031. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this subchapter, "story" means the space between two successive floor levels of a building, and a basement is a story if the floor level immediately above the basement is at least 10 feet above the grade line on at least one side of the building.…

Sec. 791.032. APPLICATION. This subchapter applies to a building in which a school of any kind is conducted and that is: (1) at least two stories high; and (2) owned by a school district. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 791.033. COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS. Each person who has charge or supervision of a school building subject to this subchapter, or who has charge or supervision of the letting of contracts for the construction of the building, shall comply with this chapter. Acts 1989, 71st Leg…

Sec. 791.034. ADMINISTRATION; ENFORCEMENT. (a) The state fire marshal shall administer and supervise the enforcement of this subchapter and Section 791.024. (b) The state fire marshal, an inspector of the State Board of Insurance, the chief of any fire department, and any municip…

Sec. 791.035. FIRE ESCAPE REQUIREMENT. (a) A school building of at least three stories and of fireproof construction, semifireproof construction, or ordinary construction shall have one fire escape for each group of 250 pupils, or each major fraction of that number, who are house…

Sec. 791.036. REQUIRED TYPES OF FIRE ESCAPES; SPECIFICATIONS. (a) A fire escape for a school building constructed before March 17, 1950, may be either an interior fire escape or an exterior fire escape. (b) A school building constructed on or after March 17, 1950, that consists o…

Sec. 791.037. EXTERIOR FIRE ESCAPE EXITS. (a) An exit door leading to an exterior fire escape must open on a landing that is at least the width of the doors. The door must swing outward and be: (1) at least three feet by six feet six inches; (2) glazed with wire glass; and (3) le…

Sec. 791.038. WINDOWS. A window located beneath or within 10 feet of a fire escape must be glazed with wire glass. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. SUBCHAPTER E. ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTY PROVISIONS

Sec. 791.051. ENFORCEMENT. (a) The attorney general, the county attorney of a county in which a building is maintained in violation of this chapter, or the district attorney of a district in which such a building is located may bring an action in the name of the state for an inju…

Sec. 791.052. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person commits an offense if the person obstructs a fire escape or a hallway or entrance leading to a fire escape in a manner that prevents free access to or use of the fire escape. A door equipped with a lock requiring a key to operate is an…