Sunday, November 29, 2009

Compliance News: Fireplaces in Hospitals

By Robert Trotter, CBO, CFM

Prescriptive requirements for fireplaces in new and existing healthcare occupancies are found in the NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®. Likewise the 2009 Hospital Accreditation Standards of The Joint Commission has three Elements of Performance in the Life Safety Chapter relative to fireplaces. They are:

• LS.02.01.50 EP 1. Fireplaces are not permitted in patient sleeping areas. Where allowed, fireplaces are separated from patient sleeping spaces by one-hour or more fire-rated construction.
• LS.02.01.50 EP 2. Fireplaces are equipped with a fireplace enclosure guaranteed against breakage up to a temperature of 650° F and constructed of heat-tempered glass or other approved material.
• LS.02.01.50 EP 3. The hearth of newly installed fireplaces is raised at least four inches above the floor.

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