§ 34-24. Safety precautions.
In all parades there shall be:
(1)
Fire extinguishers. Each float, each section of a tandem float, and each deck of a multideck float shall have at least one dry chemical powder extinguisher with a minimum of a 4A-40BC rating or at least two dry chemical powder extinguishers with a minimum of a 2A-10BC rating. Fire extinguishers shall be securely mounted and readily accessible. Fire extinguishers may be mounted on either the tractor or the float; however, they must be situated so that the distance between the fire extinguisher and the tractor driver and all riders is no greater than 50 feet from a 4A-40BC extinguisher, or 30 feet from a 2A-10BC extinguisher.
(2)
Exits. Each float, or section of a tandem float, shall have two methods of safely entering or exiting each level of each float. The two methods may include ladders, rope ladders, built in stairs or any combination thereof. For double-decker (two-level floats), each float shall have two methods of safely entering or exiting each level of each float. The two methods may include ladders, rope ladders, built in stairs or any combination thereof. Minifloats which have main platforms three feet or less above the ground shall be exempt from this requirement.
(3)
Safety chains. There shall be a sufficient number of safety chains of adequate tensile strength on all tractor hitches which shall be firmly attached to the float.
(4)
Safety positioning devices.
a.
All float riders and truck parade riders, ages six to 12 years old shall be equipped with a safety positioning device which consists of the following components:
i.
Nylon safety belt or harness with a minimum width of one and three-quarter's inches seatbelt grade flat webbing material.
ii.
Nylon tether rope with a minimum diameter of one-quarter-inch and of enough length to restrict a rider's fall over the side of a float to no more than two feet.
iii.
Anchor point eye bolts, steel welded O rings, steel safety hook with Grommets, or any other similar devices shall be metal with a corrosion-resistant finish.
iv.
Minimum diameter of anchor point eye bolts will be three-eighths of an inch and will be threaded to use nuts and washers.
v.
Minimum diameter of steel welded O rings will be 6 mm and two inches round.
vi.
Minimum diameter of the steel safety hook with grommets will be 10 mm or three-eighths inches.
vii.
The anchor point eye bolt shall be securely fastened to the body or framework of the float.
b.
Any safety positioning device utilized by riders must be submitted to the NOFD for approval a minimum of 30 days prior to the date of the parade. In addition to any other penalties specified in this chapter, violations of this section shall subject the offending float rider to removal from the float.
(5)
Animated float. Operators of animation shall be provided solid platforms, not below rider level, upon which to operate, together with a means of exhausting the air therefrom and such other safety requirements as may be necessary.
(6)
Self-propelled floats. Self-propelled floats shall comply with state brake test provisions for an equivalent class and weight of motor vehicles and shall each have affixed thereto a current motor vehicle inspection certificate issued by the state. Self-propelled floats shall contain double the amount of fire extinguishers as provided for in subsection (1) of this section. Additionally, self-propelled floats shall comply with such safety standards and criteria established for that class of floats that may be developed and promulgated by the city. Each self-propelled float shall also have the means of being towed in case of breakdown. Each such self-propelled float shall be designed to allow the driver thereof peripheral vision of at least 180 degrees.
(7)
Tandem floats. The ends of each unit of a tandem float shall be completely enclosed.
(8)
Generators. All electrical generators utilized to provide power for floats shall be mounted on the tractor. Generators utilized to provide power for truck floats may be mounted on the truck float provided that there is adequate ventilation and sufficient separation of the generator from the riders. Effective January 1, 2016, generators shall not be allowed to provide electrical power to truck floats. Truck floats shall use power inverters provided by the cab pulling the truck float. There shall be no refilling generators for floats or truck floats once the parade has started.
(9)
Flambeaux. All flambeaux are subject to the following requirements:
a.
Equipment. Parade lighting may be provided or supplemented with flambeaux carried along the route. The carrying of highway flares, railway fuses, night marine distress signal flares, or similar lighting devices in a parade is prohibited.
b.
Fuels. Flambeaux fuel may be either a Class II combustible liquid or a compressible gas such as propane or butane. Class I flammable liquids having a flashpoint below 100°F, such as gasoline or alcohol based fuels, shall be prohibited
c.
Flambeaux which use liquid fuel. Flambeaux of the traditional old-line "vapor burner" type, utilizing liquid fuel shall be permitted with the following stipulations:
i.
All liquid fueled flambeaux shall be fueled by Class II combustible liquids having a flash point at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, such as kerosene (fuel oil) or mineral spirits.
ii.
Class I flammable liquids having a flash point below 100 degrees Fahrenheit, such as gasoline or alcohol based fuels, shall be prohibited.
iii.
Each liquid-fuel flambeaux shall be comprised of a single non-pressurized fuel can which is vented at the top and has a maximum capacity of approximately two gallons, no more than four burners and a carrying stick.
iv.
A reflector of sheet metal or other suitable material may be attached near the burners.
v.
Each burner shall be a vapor burner suitable for use in open air.
vi.
Each burner shall be connected to an appropriate wick tube. The wick tube shall be a pipe made of iron, steel, stainless steel, copper, or other suitable flame-resistant heat-conducting material.
vii.
The wick tube(s) shall be connected to the fuel can with black iron pipe or galvanized iron pipe or other suitable piping and appropriate elbow and tee fittings.
viii.
The fuel can, shall be mounted on a vertical length of pipe of sufficient height so that gravity will cause adequate fuel pressure to be supplied to the wick tubes. Such vertical length of pipe shall incorporate a hand-operated fuel shutoff valve which can be opened and closed with a wrench or an attached handle. Any flambeaux constructed or fabricated at any time after December 1, 2013, shall use a fuel shutoff valve that can be operated using only the hand and would not require a wrench or tool to turn the valve. In operation, the burner/wick-tube system shall cause a Class II combustible liquid fuel to generate fuel vapor which is then mixed with ambient air for ignition.
d.
Flambeaux which use compressible gas fuel. Flambeaux utilizing compressed propane gas, butane, or the like fuel shall be permitted with the following stipulations:
i.
A backpack support for the user, operator or carrier shall be provided to hold the gas containment tank and first regulator stage components.
ii.
A torch frame carrying a single or multiple numbers of burners is connected to the tank by means of a quick disconnect hose.
iii.
The torch frame is designed such that an internal passageway is formed by the hollow, closed ended, tubular members that make up the torch frame.
iv.
A hand manipulated, quick release kill switch is in place which must be held down by the operator to allow the gas to continuously flow to the burners during use. (welding, taping, rigging, or other means to circumvent the kill switch is prohibited)
v.
The burner chambers are formed by concentric cylindrical members.
e.
Flambeaux fueling operations.
i.
Flambeaux fueling may only take place prior to or at the formation area. No refueling will be allowed along the parade route.
ii.
At the parade disbanding location, all flambeaux shall be extinguished under the supervision of the flambeaux contractor.
f.
Placement of flambeaux. No flambeaux shall be within 15 feet of the front, back, and/or sides of a float, parade element or parade participant not involved in the carrying or supervision of flambeaux. Flambeaux shall not be placed or flanked along the sides of a float or parade element, except for king's, queen's, duke's, or maid's floats with a maximum of five riders aboard such float, having no throws aboard the float, which are preceded by crowd chaperones on each side of the float who will carry rope to create a barrier between the flambeaux and the parade spectators, and keep the flambeaux at least three feet from the side of such floats and the flambeaux are facing forward and with the reflector to the rear, and which have a fire watch in close proximity for immediate response .
g.
Group supervision.
i.
Each flambeaux group shall be composed of one stick man for every 15 flambeaux carriers.
ii.
Stick man duties include ensuring that the flambeaux safety guidelines are being adhered to.
h.
Safety briefing. A safety briefing shall be conducted prior to each parade by the NOFD Flambeaux Detail Officer with mandatory participation from the krewe's parade marshall or his/her designee, the flambeaux contractor and all stick men. All flambeaux safety guidelines established in this chapter will be reviewed at such safety briefing.
i.
Flambeaux carrier behavior.
i.
Flambeaux carriers shall carry flambeaux in manner that prevents flambeaux from coming in contact with floats or parade elements, parade participants not involved in the carrying or supervision of flambeaux, parade spectators, trees/vegetation, and any public utility elements.
ii.
All flambeaux carriers shall carry their flambeaux in a safe manner, utilizing a pole belt or harness, back support, or similar device to distribute the weight of the flambeaux to provide a stable means of carrying the flambeaux for the duration of the parade route. Spinning, dipping of the flambeaux or any other activity which may cause the fuel to spill is prohibited.
iii.
Flambeaux carriers shall not exit the designated parade route with active (lit) flambeaux unless so directed by NOPD, NOFD, or parade official.
j.
Enforcement. Any flambeaux carrier who fails to comply with the requirements set forth in the flambeaux safety guidelines, and/or any other applicable law shall be removed from the parade. The resulting unmanned flambeaux shall be extinguished by the flambeaux contractor and placed in the parade property truck for the rest of the parade.
(10)
Safety seats.
a.
All truck parade riders, age three to five years old, shall be placed in safety seats according to the following specifications:
i.
Seats shall be made of wood. The height of the safety seat shall be adjusted for each child so that the top of the side railing of the truck is no lower than the child's underarms.
ii.
The safety seat shall include safety belts that attach across the waist and through the legs of the child placed in the seat.
iii.
The safety seat shall be bolted into the floor of the truck.
iv.
Three to five year olds shall be seated and strapped in safety seats whenever the truck is in motion.
b.
Any safety seat utilized by riders must be submitted to NOFD for approval a minimum of 30 days prior to the date of the parade.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 19,314, § 1, 7-15-99; Ord. No. 19,908, § 1, 11-16-00; M.C.S., Ord. No. 25988, § 6, 8-14-14)