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The Office of Educational Facilities



Jack A. Villagomez
Senior Project Architect
1054 Turlington Building
325 West Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400



Phone: (850) 245-9294
E-mail:


Serious Life Safety Hazards

“Serious Life Safety Hazards” referred to in statute 1013.12, require prompt corrective action by the board or withdrawal of facility from use until corrected. Those Serious Life Safety Hazards as defined by the State Fire Marshal include: Non-functional Fire Alarm, Non-functional Fire Sprinkler System, Padlocks or other unapproved locks at exits, Inadequate exits, Hazardous Electrical Conditions, Potential Structural Failure, Hazardous Storage, nonfunctioning or missing Incorrect heat or smoke detectors, Fire Extinguishers missing or not inspected, Fire doors w/ wedges or doorstops

Building managers must prevent these hazards from occurring or left unattended where they do exist. These are all hazardous conditions that district fire inspectors and local fire officials check for when performing required fire inspections.

Storage – Stairs:

Remember that exit stairs are a “Protected Means of Egress” and are to be treated as such. Occupants must be able to enter a stair and be protected from fire and smoke all the way out of the building. Regardless what other codes may allow as an exception, Department of Education does not allow storage in a stair including the area under the steps coming down from the floor above. This is serious enough to be repeated in SREF 5 (10)(a)34., 69A-58.0081(15)(c), and Florida Building Code 423.20.1 General storage. See Informative Links below - “What’s Wrong with this Picture”?

Casualty Safety: Display Cases

Did you know that trophy and display cases can present hazards if not placed carefully? Casework with glass doors and view panels must not block means of egress such as corridors or exit doors where they were not intended to be placed. In addition glass near the floor (18 inches or less) or under door height and near a walking surface (within 36 inches) must be tempered glass or safety plastic to not present the hazard of shattered glass. Be sure to take this into consideration when purchasing, constructing, or placing trophy and display cases. See SREF Chapter 5 (8).

Fire Safety: Residential Ranges

Residential scale ranges are not prohibited in home economics labs, classrooms, or lounges when complying with State Fire Marshal Rule 69A-58. Ranges do not have to meet the more stringent NFPA 96 requirements for commercial scale hoods so long as:

  1. Ranges have hoods vented to the outside.
  2. Fire extinguisher installed nearby
  3. Space is not an assembly. (50 people or more)
This is not to downplay the potential fire or casualty hazard presented to students and staff by frying equipment or other grease-laden vapor-producing equipment. See 69A-58-0083(6)

Training Schedule:

  • November 18, 19 - Ft. Lauderdale - 69A-58/SREF - 2 day course
  • December 10 - Palm Beach Gardens - 69A-58/SREF - 1 day course
  • December 11 - Boca Raton – 69A-58/SREF – 1 day course
  • December 16, 17 – Sarasota – 68A-58/SREF – 2 day course
  • January – dates unconfirmed – Panama City – 68A-58/SREF 2 day course

Informative Links:


Office Contact

Office of Educational Facilities
1054 Turlington Building
325 West Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
Telephone: (850) 245-0494
Fax: (850) 245-9236