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 The Industry Benefits From Work of IAAM’s Safety and Security Task Force
Conventional In Name Only

By Julie Herrick

IAAM’s Safety and Security Task Force (SSTF) was created right after and as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. Then IAAM President Lionel Dubay formed the SSTF to review current industry crisis management methods in order to develop “best practices” recommendations for public assembly facilities.

Larry Perkins, co-chair of the SSTF and assistant general manager of the RBC Center.

Frank Poe, chair of the SSTF and executive director of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

Today, two years later, the IAAM task force can be proud of having developed an astonishing number of documents, planning guides, best practices and audioconferences. The SSTF is chaired by Frank Poe, executive director of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex and co-chaired by Larry Perkins, CPP, assistant general manager of the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC. As the Task Force begins its transition to being consolidated under the newly formed Life Safety Council, both Poe and Perkins look back over all the work that has been done, and is planned for the future.

Best Practices - Through a series of audio/internet conference calls the SSTF has presented to more than 2,000 individuals information related to Safety/Security Best Practices Planning Guide for Stadiums/Arenas/Amphitheaters; Safety/Security Best Practices Planning Guide for Convention Centers/Exhibit Halls; Safety/Security Best Practices Planning Guide for Theaters and Performings Arts Facilities; and Safety/Security Best Practices Planning Guide for Emergency Preparedness.

The IAAM SSTF developed the Center for Venue Management Studies as the principal vehicle for distribution of material not only related to safety/security, but also other significant venue management issues including research material and other informative documents. Located on the IAAM web site, members can access such information as pyrotechnic safety as well as how to safeguard building ventilation systems, in addition to the Best Practices documents.

The IAAM SSTF has developed strong relationships with a number of like-minded organizations which include MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL, NCAA, PCMA, IAEM and ASAE. These relationships have created an environment of cooperation and collaboration resulting in a number of project opportunities. One such project is the development of crowd safety training videos. IAAM is one of six participants—the others are NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB and Major League Soccer—in a joint project to develop training videos to increase staff awareness of the terrorism threat. In addition to an overview video, additional modules are being considered on specific topics such as bag searches, wanding, parking, and bomb threat procedures. Target completion for the first video is Fall 2003; Major League Baseball’s MLB Productions is managing the project.

“Larry really represented the avenue and the conduit and the key contact person that opened a significant number of doors in relationship to NHL, NBA and NFL…and with that major league baseball came along,” said Poe. “Larry fulfilled a significant role that doesn’t get the recognition that it rightfully deserves. Also, Patrick Leahy, vice president venue operations at Clear Channel Entertainment, brought along his expertise with the private sector facility management side with the amphitheaters and his relationship with Clear Channel and some of their international connections. He was a major contributor to the amphitheater portion and the performing arts sections of our Best Practices.”

The IAAM SSTF has also developed a cooperative relationship with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The IAAM SSTF Best Practices documents have been recognized by DHS as outstanding work and a model for other non-IAAM venue organizations. “They found it to be resourceful enough to recommend its use with National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO),” Poe said, “and they have referenced it to other organizations who are seeking out similar types of material.”

Gov't
Rating		 Risk
Level		 Venue
Threat		 Situational
Measures		 Action
Steps
Severe 5 Cancel Secured Lock down patrol of
perimeter restricting all access
High 4 Maximum Gov't Control National law officials/security
agencies screen public and control
Elevated 3 Extreme Restrictive May involve regional or local law officals with "pat down" measures
Guarded 2 Moderate Protective Limited access to venue with
screening precautions implemented.
Low 1 Minimum Routine No primary factors of concern exist outside normal routine measures.

Risk Levels. IAAM and the Safety and Security Task Force recommend a four-tiered system for establishing threat levels at public venues. This table illustrates the corresponding relationships between the U.S. Homeland Security’s Alert System and venue threat levels.

Larry Perkins echoed the sentiment. “DHS really embraced us and refer to us as leaders in this area. Secretary Tom Ridge has referred to Best Practices…though he didn’t use IAAM’s name.”

 

In another meeting with DHS, IAAM presented its idea on the development of a National Training Academy for Safety/Security (NTASS). This educational program would be specific to the needs of training the membership and venue staffs in a number of areas related to safety/crowd dynamics/security. “The DHS commended IAAM in seeking to develop a program of this type,” said Poe, “and have expressed interest in supporting IAAM through speakers should this program be advanced.” The Life Safety Council will further evaluate the need and design of the NTASS and will go back to DHS and see what kind of involvement they will have.

Another significant area that IAAM and SSTF have made great strides is working in concert with staff, legislative council and the External Affairs Committee in taking a number of proactive lobbying steps at the federal/state and local level on safety/security issues of importance to the membership. Some of the issues addressed include bans on flyovers for stadiums, post 9/11 legislative action in support of the airline industry/hospitality industry, model bill for banning hand guns in places of public assembly, and the “Crack House” bill in which IAAM was cited as a key organization lending its support to the legislation after the sponsoring Senator addressed IAAM concerns with the legislation, and numerous other legislative matters.

Through the IAAM SSTF membership, IAAM has been a benefactor through the receipt of information from our international venue managers regarding safety/security procedures reflective of such concerns as SARS; biological/chemical preventive and response procedures; preventive tactics associated with venues adjacent to major waterways and similar issues.

The IAAM SSTF working in conjunction with IAAM staff has developed a communication tool to provide the membership with timely safety/security alerts including changes in our national security alert system.

The IAAM SSTF has represented the interest of IAAM by providing media information for a variety of publications and news articles.

As Perkins transitions into his new duties as chair of the Board of Regents, he reflected on his two years with the SSTF. “It’s been a great pleasure working with Frank and the committee,” said Perkins. “It’s been personally rewarding and fulfilling and its been an opportunity for me to give back to this industry which I love dearly. This is my small way of giving back to the membership.” Perkins also serves as IAAM’s liaison on the NFPA.
Frank Poe will remain as chair on the SSTF through this year of transition and will be a part of the Life Safety Council.

NFPA Codes Are More Stringent In Wake Of Nightclub Disasters

The Standards Council of the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) in late July issued amendments to two of its key safety codes. Precipitated by the nightclub tragedies in both Rhode Island and Chicago, the amendments institute requirements that are believed at this time to be among the nation’s most stringent.

The new requirements, which became effective on August 14 and also known as Tentative Interim Amendments, will strengthen NFPA safety codes: NFPA 101, Life Safety Code®, and NFPA 5000™ Building Construction and Safety Code™. The requirements call for fire sprinklers in all new nightclub-type facilities, and for existing nightclubs with occupancies exceeding 100. Also issued were restrictions to festival seating when occupancies exceed 250 (unless a life-safety evaluation is performed), a requirement for crowd managers for all places of assembly, and requirements for regular egress inspection and record-keeping for existing nightclubs.

“History will show the importance of these code changes,” said James M. Shannon, NFPA president and CEO. “Once again, we see the NFPA codes and standards system being responsive to these kinds of terrible tragedies.”

Appointed by NFPA’s board of directors, the Standards Council is a 13-member body charged with overseeing the Association’s codes and standards development activities and regulations.

Before the Standards Council made its decision, however, recommendations for changes to the codes from various parties, including members of the public, had earlier this year been submitted to NFPA’s Technical Committee on Assembly Occupancies, the technical experts responsible for this subject. After exhaustively studying all recommendations over the last several months, the technical committee reached agreement on the above amendments and recommended to the Standards Council on July 25 that the amendments be issued to the 2003 editions of both codes.

The genesis of these amendments is traced back to discussions that originated at a public forum and special meeting of the technical committee, held on March 13 in Boston. This meeting was held in response to the E2 nightclub crowd crush incident in Chicago and The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI, both of which occurred in February and collectively resulted in 121 fatalities.

For a complete list of the new amendments, go to NPFA’s web site at www.nfpa.org/codes.

Facility Safety Checklist

  1. Have there been any alterations to the building without permits or inspections?

  2. Do ALL wall finishes and coverings meet code requirements? (In other words are they properly fire resistant?)

  3. Is the occupant load known and is the occupant load properly posted?

  4. Are any exits obstructed?

  5. Are egress paths clear of ALL obstructions?

  6. Do exit doors swing (open) in the correct direction?

  7. Do all exit doors open properly and without binding?

  8. Do the internal exit doors close and lock properly?

  9. Are all exits properly marked?

  10. Are all exit signs properly illuminated and visible? Is the emergency lighting system working properly?

  11. Are there cables or wires running through exit doors which prevent them from closing properly?

  12. Are any exit doors blocked open?

  13. Are exit doors locked or chained closed?

  14. Are exit enclosures (stairways) free of storage?

  15. Is all drapery properly flame retardant and do you have the records and/or certificates?

  16. Have any holes been cut in walls to run cables through?

  17. Do you have a written evacuation plan?

  18. Are the people that must implement the evacuation plan trained?

  

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© 2003 International Association of Assembly Managers
635 Fritz Dr.  Coppell, TX 75019 USA Phone: 972/906-7441 Fax: 972/906-7418

  

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