1586

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 594

ASSISTANCE
53.

(A)    IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED.

(B)    "OCCUPANT NEEDING EVACUATION ASSISTANCE" MEANS
ANY PERSON WHO, BECAUSE OF AGE, BLINDNESS, DISABILITY, OR
PHYSICAL OR MENTAL ILLNESS, IS UNABLE TO EVACUATE A
BUILDING IN CASE OF FIRE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.

(C)    "AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM" MEANS A
SYSTEM DESIGNED TO AUTOMATICALLY DETECT AND EXTINGUISH A
FIRE WHILE SOUNDING AN ALARM, AND INSTALLED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH ACCEPTED ENGINEERING PRACTICES AS APPROVED BY THE
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION.

54.

(A)         EVERY BUILDING CONSTRUCTED AFTER JULY 1,

[[1576]] 1977 WHICH WILL HOUSE 50 OR MORE OCCUPANTS
NEEDING EVACUATION ASSISTANCE SHALL BE PROTECTED
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BUILDING BY AN AUTOMATIC FIRE
EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM.

[[(B) EVERY EXISTING BUILDING HOUSING 50 OR MORE
OCCUPANTS NEEDING EVACUATION ASSISTANCE SHALL BE
PROTECTED THROUGHOUT EVERY INTERIOR ESCAPE ROUTE BY AN
AUTOMATIC FIFE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM BY JULY 1, 1980.

(C)         EVERY EXISTING BUILDING HOUSING 50 OR MORE

OCCUPANTS NEEDING EVACUATION ASSISTANCE SHALL BE
PROTECTED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BUILDING BY AN AUTOMATIC
FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM BY JULY 1, 1986.]]

[[(D)]] THIS SUBTITLE SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO

ANY EXISTING SAFETY    FIRE LAWS. THESE PROVISIONS DO NOT

LIMIT THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE FIRE PREVENTION

COMMISSION OR STATE     FIRE MARSHAL TO ACT UNDER EXISTING
SAFETY FIRE LAWS.

55.

(A) PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE SHALL
BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH §13 OF THIS ARTICLE.

£[ (B) NOTWITHSTANDING THE CRIMINAL SANCTIONS IMPOSED
BY THIS SUBTITLE, ANY PERSON SUFFERING ANY LOSS BY REASON
OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE BY ANOTHER PERSON,
WHETHER OR NOT THAT PERSON HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF A
CRIMINAL VIOLATION, MAY RECOVER REASONABLE DAMAGES FROM
THAT PERSON IN ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION.]]

[[ (B) THE PROVISION OF THE SUBTITLE SHALL APPLY IN

BALTIMORE CITY WHERE THEY WILL BE ENFORCED__BY THE

BALTIMORE CITY BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS.]]