HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS - EMERGENCY PROCEDURE

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 13, ch. 13-78

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-78-010 Definitions.

13-78-010 Definitions. For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall be defined as follows: (a) "Emergency preparedness certificate" or "certificate" is a certificate issued by the fire department upon receipt of: (1) adequate proof that the applicant for the certificate is able and qualified to assume the duties required; and (2) proof of payment to the department of finance of a fee adequate to cover administrative costs. Such certificate shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance, and shall be renewable annually. (b) "Emergency" is the existence of a condition or the occurrence of an event within, upon or near a high- rise building, which poses a direct and immediate threat to occupant life and necessitates the deployment of fire department resources for purposes of its mitigation. "Emergency" does not include a medical emergency affecting a single individual. (c) "High-rise building" or "building" is any new or existing structure over eighty (80) feet above grade, which is also of occupancy Group A, B, F, M, or R, as determined in accordance with Chapter 14B-3. "Non-residential high-rise building" or "non-residential building" is a high-rise building of occupancy Group A, B, F, or M. "Residential high-rise building" or "residential building" is a high-rise building of occupancy Group R. (d) "Occupant" is any person present within a high-rise building. "Occupant" shall include building staff, tenants and visitors. "Regular occupant" is every occupant except for occasional visitors who are not present in the building on a regular basis and whose presence in the building cannot be predicted. (e) "Owner" includes the owner, manager, agent or other person in charge, possession or control of a high-rise building. Where an owner is in charge, possession or control of only a portion of a building, the requirements of this Chapter applicable to owners shall apply only to that portion. (f) "Plan" is a written emergency evacuation plan for occupant emergency evacuation and drill, prepared and maintained in compliance with this Chapter. (Added Coun. J. 10-31-01, p. 71184, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. I, § 10; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. VIII, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VII, § 11)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-78-020 Buildings categorized by height.

13-78-020 Buildings categorized by height. High-rise buildings subject to this chapter shall be categorized as follows, according to building height above grade: Category 1 – Over 780 feet Category 2 – Over 540 feet, up to and including 780 feet Category 3 – Over 275 feet, up to and including 540 feet Category 4 – 80 feet and over, up to and including 275 feet (Added Coun. J. 10-31-01, p. 71183, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-78-030 Mixed-occupancy high-rise buildings.

13-78-030 Mixed-occupancy high-rise buildings. With respect to a high-rise building that has both residential and non-residential occupancy, the residential portion(s) of such building shall be governed by those provisions of this chapter applicable to residential high-rise buildings, and the non-residential portion(s) of such building shall be governed by those provisions of this chapter applicable to non-residential high-rise buildings. (Added Coun. J. 10-31-01, p. 71184, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-78-040 Creation and filing of plan.

13-78-040 Creation and filing of plan. (a) Every high-rise building shall have a plan in place. The owner shall be responsible for creating, implementing, maintaining and updating a plan for that building. The owner shall review the plan annually and as a result of such annual review, shall amend or update the plan as necessary to ensure that it is accurate and complete. The plan shall be made available upon request to personnel of the department of buildings, the office of emergency management and communications, the fire department, and the department of police. Upon any change of ownership or management of a high-rise building, the previous owner shall provide all copies of the plan required by this chapter to the new owner. (b) The owner of each Category 1 and Category 2 building, and the owner of each Category 3 and Category 4 building which is predominantly of occupancy Group A, shall be responsible for filing a copy of that building's plan with the City's Office of Emergency Management and Communications. The owner of each Category 3 and Category 4 building which is predominantly of occupancy Group B, F, M, or R is encouraged, but not required, to file a copy of that building's plan with the City's Office of Emergency Management and Communications. Any plan filed with the City's Office of Emergency Management and Communications shall be in such form(s) and format(s) as that office requires. (c) For all high-rise buildings with a plan on file with the city's office of emergency management and communications, in the event the plan is amended or updated as a result of an annual review or more frequently on an owner's initiative, a copy of the amended or updated plan must be filed with the city's office of emergency management and communications. (d) Consistent with applicable law, the city shall treat all plans submitted as confidential, and shall provide the owner with a copy of any appeal, received by the office of emergency management and communications, of the office of emergency management and communications' notice of denial provided to a third party seeking inspection and copies of that owner's plan. (e) If a high-rise building has two or more owners, the owners may create, implement, maintain and amend and update a single plan for that building on a collective basis or through the delegation of one owner for such purposes, or such owners may create, implement, maintain and amend and update separate plans covering their respective portions of the building. (Added Coun. J. 10-31-01, p. 71184, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 8.10; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. VIII, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VII, § 12)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-78-045 Life safety data sheet - Required.

13-78-045 Life safety data sheet - Required. (a) Any owner of an existing building exceeding 80 feet in height above grade shall file with the Fire Department a life safety data sheet containing the following information about the building: (1) the name of the building owner of record, and, if applicable, the building manager; (2) the address of the building; (3) whether the building is residential or commercial or of mixed use; (4) if the building is residential or of mixed use, the number of dwelling units in the building; (5) the number of stories in the building; (6) whether the building is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system meeting any or all of the requirements of Chapter 14B-9 and identifying the areas so protected; and (7) whether the building is equipped with a standard inside standpipe system, a fire pump, or a smokeproof tower. (b) All information contained in the life safety data sheet shall be kept current. Any change in required information shall be reported by the building owner to the fire department within 14 days after the change. This subsection shall be enforceable against the building owner and against any subsequent owner. (c) Any person who violates this section shall be fined not less than $200.00 nor more than $500.00 for each offense. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. (Added* Coun. J. 12-15-04, p. 39962, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. VIII, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 7-24-19, p. 3646, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VII, § 13) * Editor’s note – Formerly § 13-196-203.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-78-050 Required designated personnel.

13-78-050 Required designated personnel. (a) Each plan for Category 1 buildings shall include the following required designated personnel: (1) Fire safety director ("F.S.D."). The plan must designate an F.S.D. The F.S.D. must be an employee of that building. The F.S.D. shall obtain and maintain an emergency preparedness certificate, and shall provide said certificate for inspection upon request to personnel of the department of buildings, the office of emergency management and communications, the fire department and the department of police. (2) Deputy(ies) F.S.D. The plan must designate one or more deputies F.S.D. to serve as required by Section 13-78-060 in the absence of the F.S.D. Each deputy F.S.D. must be an employee of that building. Each deputy F.S.D. shall obtain and maintain an emergency preparedness certificate, and shall provide said certificate for inspection upon request to personnel of the department of buildings, the office of emergency management and communications, the fire department and the department of police. (3) Building evacuation supervisor. The plan must designate a building evacuation supervisor. In a residential building, the building evacuation supervisor may be a resident of that building. In a non-residential building, the building evacuation supervisor must be an employee of that building. (4) Fire wardens. The plan must designate fire wardens in sufficient numbers to carry out their duties as required by this chapter. In a residential building, some or all fire wardens may be residents of that building. In a non-residential building, some or all fire wardens may be employees of that building; provided, however, that if the owner does not wish to supply one or more fire wardens, then such fire wardens shall be supplied by building tenants, in numbers proportionate to tenant size. (5) Emergency evacuation team. The plan must designate an emergency evacuation team. In a residential building, the emergency evacuation team may include or be composed of residents of that building. In a non-residential building, the emergency evacuation team may include or be composed of employees of that building; provided, however, that if the owner does not wish to supply one or more members of an emergency evacuation team, then such members shall be supplied by building tenants, in numbers proportionate to tenant size. (b) Each plan for Category 2 buildings, and for Category 3 and Category 4 buildings which are also predominantly of occupancy Group A, shall include the same designated personnel as required for Category 1 buildings, with the exception of fire wardens, who are encouraged but not mandatory. (c) Each plan for Category 3 buildings which are not predominantly of occupancy Group A shall include the following required designated personnel: (1) F.S.D. The plan must designate an F.S.D. In a residential building, the F.S.D. may be an employee or resident of that building, and in a non- residential building, the F.S.D. may be an employee or tenant of that building. The F.S.D. shall obtain and maintain an emergency preparedness certificate, and shall provide said certificate for inspection upon request to personnel of the department of buildings, the office of emergency management and communications, the fire department and the department of police. (2) Deputy(ies) F.S.D. The plan must designate as many deputies F.S.D. as necessary to serve as required by Section 13-78-060 in the absence of the F.S.D. In a residential building, one or more deputies F.S.D. may be residents of that building, and in a non- residential building, one or more deputies F.S.D. may be tenants of that building. Each deputy F.S.D. shall obtain and maintain an emergency preparedness certificate, and shall provide said certificate for inspection upon request to personnel of the department of buildings, the office of emergency management and communications, the fire department and the department of police. (d) Each plan for Category 4 buildings which are not predominantly of occupancy Group A shall include such designated personnel, in such capacities, as in the judgment of the owner are necessary to effectively carry out the purposes of the plan. A certified F.S.D. and one or more certified deputies F.S.D. are encouraged but not required. (e) Upon being certified, F.S.D.s may provide the necessary training to enable deputies F.S.D. and other designated personnel, except for other F.S.D.s, to become certified. (f) Whenever there is a change in personnel who are designated pursuant to this section, building management shall provide appropriate training to newly designated personnel to carry out their required duties. (g) The designated personnel required by this section may concurrently hold regular employment or be engaged in other capacities in addition to their duties required by this chapter. Provided, however, that an individual may serve in only one of the capacities designated by subsections (a) through (d) of this section at any given time. (h) For purposes of this section, the term "employee" shall include employees of an owner, property manager or contractor. (Added Coun. J. 10-31-01, p. 71184, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 8.10; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. VIII, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VII, § 14)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-78-060 Required designated personnel - On- site presence.

13-78-060 Required designated personnel - On- site presence. (a) As used in this section, the phrase "if required" shall mean "if that particular category of designated personnel is required by the plan pursuant to Section 13-78-050." (b) With regard to non-residential high-rise buildings which are of occupancy Group B, F, or M: 1. From 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and also at any other time when more than 50 percent of the high- rise building's regular occupants are present, the F.S.D. or a deputy F.S.D., if required, shall be present on-site at the high-rise building. At such times, an emergency evacuation team, if required, shall also be present upon each occupied floor. At such times, a fire warden, if required, shall also be present upon each occupied floor; provided, however, that where a single occupied floor contains more than 25,000 square feet, one fire warden shall be present for each 25,000 square feet. 2. At all other times, if the F.S.D. or a deputy is not present on-site, a building evacuation supervisor, if required, must be present on-site. (c) With regard to non-residential high-rise buildings which are of occupancy Group A: 1. At any time when more than 25 percent of the building's staff and other employees are present and the occupancy of the building is at less than 20 percent of capacity, the F.S.D., deputy F.S.D., or building evacuation supervisor shall be present on-site at the building. 2. At any time when the occupancy of the building is at 20 percent of capacity or greater, the F.S.D. or a deputy F.S.D. shall be present on-site at the building. At such times, an emergency evacuation team shall also be present upon each occupied floor. (d) With regard to residential high-rise buildings: 1. From 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., the F.S.D. or a deputy F.S.D., if required, shall be present on-site at the building. 2. At all other times, if the F.S.D. or a deputy F.S.D. is not present on-site, a building evacuation supervisor, if required, must be present on-site. (Added Coun. J. 10-31-01, p. 71184, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. VIII, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VII, § 15)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-78-070 Required designated personnel - Duties.

13-78-070 Required designated personnel - Duties. The designated personnel required by Section 13-78-050 shall have, at a minimum, the following duties: (a) The F.S.D. and deputies F.S.D. shall: 1. occupy the building's fire command station in an emergency, conduct operations in an emergency evacuation, direct evacuation and report conditions, including the designated refuge or rescue locations of occupants who have identified the need for assistance, to first-arriving fire companies; 2. conduct monthly building safety inspections to detect hazards and impediments to egress; 3. design procedures for emergency evacuations and drills; 4. direct emergency evacuations and drills; 5. assign fire wardens, if required by the plan pursuant to Section 13-78-050, for each occupied floor; 6. assign emergency evacuation team(s), if required by the plan pursuant to Section 13-78-050, for each occupied floor; and (b) The building evacuation supervisor shall: 1. occupy the building's fire command station in an emergency if the F.S.D. or a deputy F.S.D. is not present, conduct operations including placement of a call to 911, direct evacuation and report conditions to first-arriving fire companies. (c) Fire wardens shall: 1. know the locations of all exits leading from occupied areas and train as prescribed under the plan; and 2. direct emergency evacuations and drills from their assigned floor in accordance with the plan. (d) Emergency evacuation teams shall: 1. know the location of all exits leading from occupied areas and train as prescribed under the plan; and 2. lead emergency evacuations and drills from occupied areas in accordance with the plan and as directed by a fire warden. (Added Coun. J. 10-31-01, p. 71184, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-78-080 Minimum plan requirements.

13-78-080 Minimum plan requirements. The provisions of this section reflect minimum requirements which are not intended to restrict owners from implementing such additional measures as warranted. (a) Each plan shall contain a description of the actions all occupants should take in an emergency evacuation or drill during the regular business hours of the building and during nonregular business hours of the building. Each plan shall set out a procedure for an evacuation of five floors below and two floors above any emergency resulting from a fire on a certain floor, and shall also set out a procedure for a full evacuation of the building. (b) Each plan shall specify in detail the evacuation role and duties of the designated personnel required by Section 13-78-050, and shall state the names and in-house and wireless telephone and pager numbers for the F.S.D., deputies F.S.D., and building evacuation supervisor. (c) Each plan shall require the creation and posting, in all elevator lobbies, of the high-rise building's core floor plan, showing floor-by-floor corridors, stairways, evacuation routes, areas of rescue assistance and elevator lobbies. With respect to residential high-rise buildings, the core floor plan also shall be made available to each residential unit for posting inside the residential unit. (d) Each plan shall establish a fire command station in the building lobby or entrance level for operations management in an emergency by the F.S.D., deputy F.S.D., or, for Category 4 buildings that have not designated an F.S.D. or deputy F.S.D., other appropriate person. (e) Each plan shall list the name and normal floor location of each regular occupant who has voluntarily self-identified that they need assistance and the type of assistance required to swiftly exit the high rise building in case of an emergency. Each plan shall designate and describe the location of one or more places of refuge or rescue, if any, for all such occupants in an emergency. As to each such occupant, the plan shall provide for an individual who is one of the personnel designated pursuant to Section 13-78-050 to assist such occupant during an evacuation or safety drill. (f) Each plan shall be filed: (1) in the office of the high-rise building; (2) at the security desk; and (3) in the vicinity of the fireman's elevator recall key or life safety panel or, as to residential buildings, in an identifiable location in the fire pump room. The plan shall be made readily available to building staff and to the designated personnel required by Section 13-78-050 at all times. (Added Coun. J. 10-31-01, p. 71184, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-78-090 Safety drills.

13-78-090 Safety drills. (a) As to Category 1 high-rise buildings and all high-rise buildings which are predominantly of occupancy Group A, each plan shall require safety drills to be carried out under the direction of the F.S.D., not less frequently than twice a year. With regard to non-residential buildings, all employees, tenants and other occupants shall participate in such safety drills. With regard to residential buildings, all employees shall participate, and all residents shall be encouraged to participate. Drills may occur on a floor-by-floor basis, and a drill may conclude when all participating occupants have fully entered and have begun using designated stairwells. On an annual basis, the owner shall file with the Fire Commissioner an affidavit certifying that at least two safety drills have taken place on all occupied floors during the past year. (b) As to Category 2 high-rise buildings which are not predominantly of occupancy Group A, the requirements of subsection (a) shall apply, except that safety drills shall be carried out no less frequently than once a year. (c) As to Category 3 and Category 4 high-rise buildings which are not predominantly of occupancy Group A, safety drills, occurring with such frequency as will fully educate building occupants as to proper emergency evacuation procedure, are encouraged but not required. (Added Coun. J. 10-31-01, p. 71184, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. VIII, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VII, § 16)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-78-100 Distribution of information.

13-78-100 Distribution of information. (a) Non-residential high-rise buildings. The plan shall be distributed to all tenants of the building, who shall be responsible for distributing it or making it available to their employees, including, upon request, in alternative formats (e.g., Braille, large print and audio tape). Each plan shall require creation of a clear written description of the actions that building occupants should take in an emergency. A copy of this description shall be provided to every new tenant when that tenant moves into the high-rise building, and shall be further provided annually to every tenant. The tenant shall be responsible for distributing this description to all that tenant's employees. (b) Residential high-rise buildings. Each plan shall require creation of a clear written description of the actions that building occupants should take in an emergency. A copy of this description shall be provided to every new resident when that resident moves into the high-rise building, and shall be further provided annually to every residential unit. This description shall be available in alternative formats upon request (e.g., Braille, large print and audio tape). (Added Coun. J. 10-31-01, p. 71184, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-78-110 Enforcement, rules and regulations, and penalties.

13-78-110 Enforcement, rules and regulations, and penalties. (a) This chapter shall be enforceable by the department of buildings, the office of emergency management and communications and the fire department. (b) The department of buildings, the office of emergency management and communications, the fire department and the mayor's office for people with disabilities are authorized to jointly promulgate rules and regulations to further effectuate the purposes of this chapter. (c) Any violation of any provision of this chapter shall subject the owner, tenant, or other responsible party to a penalty of not less than $500.00 and not greater than $10,000.00, for each separate and distinct offense. Each day that such violation continues shall be considered a separate and distinct offense. (Added Coun. J. 10-31-01, p. 71184, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-1-02, p. 84027, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 8.10)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2659062Fetched: 10/24/2026