Christmas Trees

Is a Christmas tree considered a flammable decoration?  Community relations wants to place a tree in our main lobby but I cannot find any that are flame retardant.

The answer to your question is yes. A “live cut” Christmas tree would be considered as a flammable/combustible decoration and is prohibited to be placed within a health care occupancy by the Life Safety Code® as well as The Joint Commission standards (see below). Artificial trees that are flame-retardant are permitted to be placed within the hospital. There are no prohibitions about placing the live cut trees outside the hospital (please see attached EC News article). If you can’t find any flame-retardant trees at your local stores, you may want to check on-line.

TJC Std. LS.02.01.70

Elements of Performance:

1. The hospital prohibits all combustible decorations that are not flame retardant.

(For full text and any exceptions, refer to NFPA 101-2000: 18/19.7.5.4)

2000 LSC Section 19.7.5.4

Combustible decorations shall be prohibited in any health care occupancy unless they are

flame-retardant.

Exception: Combustible decorations, such as photographs and paintings, in such limited

quantities that a hazard of fire development or spread is not present.