MEMORANDUM on compliance with fire safety rules during the New Year and Christmas celebrations

The New Year holidays are a time for mass morning performances and evening leisure. Only strict adherence to fire safety regulations when organizing and conducting festive events will help avoid injuries and accidents, as well as celebrate the New Year more safely.

New Year festive events mainly take place in every organization, institution, in schools and kindergartens, considering that all facilities belong to the category of places with mass gatherings of people. Taking into account the large number of people at the venues during the New Year celebrations, those responsible for ensuring fire safety during cultural and mass events (evenings, performances, New Year trees, etc.) must take all necessary measures to ensure reliable fire protection at the venues of festive events.

Those responsible for ensuring fire safety during cultural and mass events are the heads of institutions.

Before the start of New Year events, the head of the institution must carefully check all premises, evacuation routes, and exits for compliance with fire safety requirements, as well as ensure the availability and proper functioning of fire extinguishing means, communication, and fire automation. All identified deficiencies must be eliminated before the event begins.

During the New Year events, there must be duty personnel on stage and in the hall from among the institution's staff and members of voluntary fire formations.

During events with children, a duty teacher, class leaders, or caregivers must be present at all times. These individuals must be instructed on fire safety measures and the procedure for evacuating children in case of fire and are obliged to ensure strict compliance with fire safety requirements during the event.

The floors and premises where New Year events are held must have at least two dispersed evacuation exits. Only premises located no higher than the 2nd floor in buildings with combustible ceilings are allowed to be used.

Evacuation exits from the premises must be marked with light indicators with the inscription "Exit" in white on a green background, connected to the emergency or evacuation lighting network of the building. When people are present in the premises, the light indicators must be in the on position.

When conducting a New Year celebration, the tree must be installed on a stable base (stand) in such a way that it does not obstruct the exit from the premises. The branches of the tree must be at least one meter away from walls and ceilings. The decoration of the tree's illumination must be carried out only by an experienced electrician. The illumination of the tree must be installed securely, reliably, and in accordance with the requirements of the Electrical Installation Rules. The bulbs in the garlands must have a power of no more than 25 W. At the same time, the electrical wires powering the tree lighting must be flexible, with copper conductors. The electrical wires must have proper insulation and be connected to the power grid using plug connections. In case of malfunction of the tree lighting (overheating of wires, flickering of bulbs, sparking, etc.), the illumination must be immediately turned off and not turned on until the malfunctions are identified and rectified.

In the premises used for festive events, the following is prohibited: 

• conducting events with locked swing grilles on the windows of the premises where they are held;
• using arc spotlights, candles, and firecrackers, organizing fireworks and other light fire hazardous effects that may lead to a fire;
• decorating the tree with celluloid toys, as well as gauze and cotton that are not treated with fire-retardant compositions;
• dressing children in costumes made of easily flammable materials;
• conducting fire, painting, and other fire hazardous and explosion hazardous works;
• using shutters on windows for darkening the premises;
• reducing the width of aisles between rows and placing additional chairs, stools, etc. in the aisles;
• completely turning off the lights in the room during performances or shows;
• allowing the premises to be filled with people beyond the established norm.

In case of fire, the actions of the staff of children's and other institutions and those involved in extinguishing the fire must primarily be aimed at ensuring the safety of children, their evacuation, and rescue. Each employee of the institution who discovers a fire and its signs (smoke, smell of burning or smoldering materials, temperature rise, etc.) is obliged to:

 a) immediately report this by phone "101"  (it is necessary to clearly state the address of the institution, the location of the fire, as well as to provide their position and surname);
 b) activate the fire alert system, start evacuating children from the building to a safe place according to the evacuation plan, and involve others in the process;
 c) notify the head of the institution or the person replacing them about the fire;
 d) organize the meeting of fire units and take measures to extinguish the fire using the available fire extinguishing means in the institution.

Wishing you a safe New Year!!!