Although there is a relatively low number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our city (7 confirmed), we have begun our 7th week in the house. Last night I ventured out to the local supermarket for the first time in several weeks. My husband has taken over almost all of the shopping to minimize exposure, and we often shop at the neighborhood stores instead of the big retailers.
I noticed many changes since my last trip to the supermarket. As I approached the entrance, an employee sprayed a cart with disinfectant and wiped down the handle and front basket. The automatic sliding doors were half-closed, and I had to wait my turn to enter. An employee dispensed some sanitizer on my hands and I was in – only one family member can enter but luckily I was alone (a rare occasion these days!). Things were pretty normal inside with the exception of shoppers wearing masks and most employees wearing masks, gloves, and face shields. There were signs to tell people about social distancing, and dots on the floor at the registers to help shoppers know how far away to stand.
On the way out, I noticed another change. The automatic doors at one of the two main entrance/exit points were closed but not blocked, and an employee was monitoring the door. The automatic slider at the other end of the store was half-closed and had a store employee standing by to make sure the door was used for exit only. Since I’m currently living in Mexico where the egress situation is much different from what is required by the US codes, I was actually thinking that the supermarket was doing a pretty good job of keeping people safe. Maybe the closed exit even has breakaway doors in case of an emergency (or not).
Photo: wtop news
I’ve heard that many US retail stores are also temporarily changing their egress routes – I’m guessing that the intent is to control access, but egress is being affected as well.
- Are AHJs allowing stores to make temporary changes? If yes, are there some guidelines to help ensure safe egress?
- If you see a modification that you know is not code-compliant, do you speak with the store manager?
- Have you seen any good examples of balancing monitored access points with safe egress?
WWYD?
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If I were to see any violation I would report to the manager first. Sadly, like you, I haven’t been to a store other than the local grocery (mom and pop shop with no changes in crowd control). If nothing changes from one visit to the next I would then start to escalate the issue. But for now I’ll stick with getting to know my local Amazon delivery guy through the window and supporting the small business.
I actually let the store manager know that the path of egress they created outside would deny access to a person in a wheelchair. They had also blocked marked exits with carts which would impede egress. They could have disabled the automatic opener and still allowed free egress without piling carts in front of the door. We are going to see a good bit of fuzzy engineering in the name of social distancing. We can’t create a new hazard for folks. Those of us who know better will have to let owners and managers know. Or at least this gal will because someone dying at a blocked door is not acceptable and someone being denied goods and services is not acceptable. I know folks mean well, but being safe encompasses responsibility and good planning.
My observation of Colorado is that there is no derangement of means of egress. I would say that the precautions along with the great reduction in the presence of people enhances safety although artificially for the present time.
Colorado had dentists as non essential caregivers although they could do emergency dentistry. I had cleaning scheduled for yesterday. They had me park out in front of the building, call in with my cell phone and wait until they called me back. All the interior doors were blocked open so I touched nothing going to the room. The technician looked like she was ready for Ebola – gown covered everything, glasses, full face schield, etc. They had cone shaped like a funnel hooked up to an exhaust and filtration machine that was positioned close to the side of my mouth. Since the exam light was very bright I could report every particle that appeared in my field of vision. Momentary choking subverted the whole effort I had to report to her. Off topic a bit but such are the times. I found myself using my car key to press the elevator button and using back end to open the exterior door for some reason
You are on to something, Laurie. It would behoove all of us in inspection to visit all such stores in a municipality and be sure the questions you asked here are also asked there.
Paul DeBaggis
Certified Building Official
What I left out is many states are refixing the number of occupants in these stores. (Mass is 40% of normal occupancy) Without inspection consultation, some of these store managers may think reducing occupancy also allows reducing exits. That’s a whole different story.
paul
As always start with the big picture, and work back to the specific. Are sprinklers in service? Is alarm system operational? Exit lighting. Deli hood and duct requirements. In rear, are cardboard, pallets, and plastic totes being controlled? Consumer delivery vehicle staging, as well as dumpsters. Then operational controls, including insuring all staff understand fire plan. Poll a couple directly. Store management might find staff is not as current as they believe. Now your ready to consider the exiting issue.
After you reach an agreed resolution, redline the fire preplan to have a temporary revised edition issued to fire Ops post haste.
Best.
Hi Lori:
As been saying for the past 20 ears, this is nothing knew, people go to the roll/bagel bin and don’t use a tongs or plastic bag and when you tell them, they say whats the big deal, I went to one unnamed supermarket and the associate sprayed the handle, but I already got the cart from the rack, so if there were an germs , I already got them, it’s not common sense , it’s using your brain which most people aren’t doing, I went to a delivery pickup point and the attendant sneezed and didn’t even cover up but sneezed into the open, what am I going to do, fight with a moron, I just left, that’s why this virus is so bad, it’s not THAT contagious but if you don’t do the right thing it spread, I’ve been in ems 45 years, certified for 43 and we never used gloves until hiv developed, they changed the cpr routine in nys apr 17, then apr 24 they went back to the previous, if someone need cpr, why do you stop after 20 minutes. What everyody is blind to is sudden cardiac arrest, it kills 1,00 0 a day, so when you think of 7-8 weeks, about 7500 have died from that, it’ s not that corona is any better, but people are blind to that and EVERYBODY, politicians as well as medical pros, have a good day and you and the family stay safe.
Welcome to the new crazy. This is a new side issue. Telling a store manager is not going to help. They are dealing with trying to comply with ever changing orders. Stressed out customers and workers. Trying to not get sick them selves. Code enforcement is working from home. Not doing inspections. I know locksmiths are being asked to lock doors they never would under the story we must to comply. most AHJs work for the same governments telling stores they cant even open arresting people for violating the orders on one hand releasing other criminals to avoid the virus.