1. Managing the Physical Environment The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Healthcare Facility Managers Society of New Jersey Thursday, June 20, 2013 A program presented by: Robert H. Bartels, CHFM CHSP CHEP FASHE President & Founder SAFETY MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC. (877) 577-6550 ** info@safemgt.cominfo@safemgt.com © SMS, Inc., 20131

2. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Suites Concept: Use of suites can alleviate some complex & costly code deficiencies. Falls under 19.2.5 & 18.2.5 Arrangement of Means of Egress Premise: Every habitable room shall have an exit access door leading directly to an exit access corridor. 2

3. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Suites Issue: * Size * # Exits * # Intervening Rooms * Travel Distance 3

4. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Suites Issue: * Size & Exits - Patient Sleeping - 1,000 SF - 5,000 SF - Non-Sleeping - 2,500 SF - 10,000 SF 4

5. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Suites Issue: * Size & Exits - Patient Sleeping - 1,000 SF requires single exit - 5,000 SF requires 2 exits (must be remote in new) 5

6. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Suites Issue: * Size & Exits - Non-Sleeping - 2,500 SF requires single exit - 10,000 SF requires 2 exits (must be remote in new) 6

7. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Suites Issue: * Intervening Rooms & Travel Distance - Patient Sleeping – permitted only by exceptions - Non-Sleeping – one with travel distance of 100 or less; two with travel distance of 50 or less - Intervening room may not be through hazardous area 7

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14. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Code Problems In New Construction Concept: Newly constructed buildings should be fully compliant Premise: Buildings are designed by qualified Architects & Engineers, then site reviewed by regulators 14

15. © SMS, Inc., 2013 15 133 – NFPA 101 2000 15

16. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Code Problems In New Construction Issue: How is it possible to end up with code violations after this process & what are the violations commonly identified after taking possession of a new building? 16

17. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Code Problems In New Construction - Why do they occur? - Complexity of codes - Lack of LSC knowledge - Time is money - Value engineering - User influence 17

18. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Code Problems In New Construction Issue: Common Violations - Not full sprinkler protection - Utilities in exit stairs - Improper exit discharge - Oversize suites or exit issues - Inadequate building separation 18

19. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Code Problems In New Construction Issue: Common Violations - Room door swing into exit corridors - Wall projections - Stair width - Shaft enclosure - Improper fire stopping 19

20. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Room Door Swing Concept: Doors from rooms should not interfere with exit corridors. Falls under 7.2.1.4.4 Swing and Force to Open Premise: During its swing, any door in a means of egress shall leave not less than one- half of the required width of an aisle, corridor, passageway, or landing unobstructed and shall not project more than 7 in. into the required width of an aisle, corridor, passageway, or landing, when fully open. 20

21. © SMS, Inc., 2013 21 47 – EXIT CORRIDOR CLEAR 21

22. © SMS, Inc., 2013 22 41 – EXIT SIGN OBSTRUCTED 22

23. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Room Door Swing Issue: We find frequent instances where doors swing into egress corridors in new and existing buildings. In many cases these doors do not swing fully open due to door closers not opening 180 degrees, & due to objects interfering with their full opening such as handrails, soap/gel dispensers, lights, fire extinguishers, etc. 23

24. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Fire Door Latching Concept: Pairs of rated fire doors require positive latching to maintain their rating. The Code identifies specific # of latches for specific size and type doors Premise: The number of latches required for a specific size Tin Clad Fire Doors can be found in section 3.4 of NFPA 80, Fire Doors & Windows under table 3-4.3.3(a) 24

25. 25 69 – POSITIVE LATCH © SMS, Inc., 2013

26. 26 35 - SMOKE PARTITION OPEN © SMS, Inc., 2013

27. 27 36 – SMOKE PARTITION CLOSED © SMS, Inc., 2013

28. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Fire Door Latching Issue: Tin Clad Fire Doors up to 66 in height require 2 latches & doors over 66 require 3 latches. Doors over 86 to 106 require 4 latches. Often the receptacle for the bottom latch has been removed from the floor. Also, many 66 fire doors are installed with only the top latch. 28

29. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Fire Dampers Concept: When an air duct penetrates multiple floors it is typically required to be enclosed with 1 or 2 hour fire resistive construction & provided with fire dampers where the duct penetrates the shaft wall Premise: Fire dampers shall be installed at each direct or ducted opening into or out of enclosures required by 3-3.4.1. Falls under NFPA 90A 1999 edition Shafts. 29

30. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Fire Dampers Issue: Frequent improper installation of fire dampers in new & existing construction including: Improper floor line installation Improper wall installation Improperly sealed penetrations 30

31. © SMS, Inc., 2013 31 119 – COMBINATION DAMPER 31

32. © SMS, Inc., 2013 32 822 - DAMPER 32

33. 33 43 – WALL GRILL & DUCT © SMS, Inc., 2013

34. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Locking Doors In Means Of Egress Concept: Occasionally, for clinical safety reasons, a door in a means of egress may need to be locked. Falls under Means of Egress Requirements Premise: The code states Doors within a required means of egress shall not be equipped with a latch or lock that requires the use of a tool or key from the egress side. There are 3 exceptions. 34

35. © SMS, Inc., 2013 35 122 - DETEX 35

36. 36 125 – EXIT DISCHARGE WIDTH © SMS, Inc., 2013

37. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Locking Doors In Means of Egress Issue: Hospitals have a long history of locking certain high risk areas (particularly L&D & Newborn Nurseries) with non- conforming locking arrangements. 37

38. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Fire Alarm Pull Box Locations Concept: Fire alarm pull boxes should be located in the normal path of egress & near exits. Falls under NFPA 72 1999 edition. Premise: Fire alarm boxes should be located within 5 of exits, the top of the device should not be more than 54 from the floor & travel distance to a box should not be more than 200. 38

39. © SMS, Inc., 2013 39 29 – EXIT ACCESS DOOR 39

40. © SMS, Inc., 2013 40 35 – SMOKE PARTITION OPEN 40

41. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Fire Alarm Pull Box Locations Issue: Frequent findings of - Pull boxes mounted too high - Pull boxes over 5 from exit - Horizontal exits w/o pull boxes - Mechanical room distances >200 41

42. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Tying-off to Sprinkler Systems Concept: Sprinkler piping or hangers shall not be used to support non-system components. Falls under NFPA 13, 1999 edition. Premise: Designs for hanging sprinkler piping are based only on the weight of the water filled pipe & a safety factor, not extra weight. 42

43. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Tying-off to Sprinkler Systems Issue: Items supported by or on sprinkler piping is all to common a finding. It is even more problematic in older systems that have endured the effects of time & vibration for many years. TJC & CMS have become more aggressive in recent years in looking for this issue. 43

44. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Corridor Walls Concept: Corridors in hospitals must be separated from rooms by compliant partitions Premise: Corridors shall be separated from all other areas by partitions complying with 19.3.6.2 through 19.3.6.3 Falls under NFPA 101, 2000 edition. 44

45. © SMS, Inc., 2013 The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Corridor Walls Smoke Barriers per Chapter Requirements Smoke Doors Smoke Dampers Penetrations 45

46. 46 830 – ABOVE CEILING CABLING © SMS, Inc., 2013

47. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Corridor Walls Issue: - New Construction vs. Existing - Sprinklered vs. Non-Sprinklered - Code exceptions - Appendix clarifications 47

48. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Corridor Doors Concept: Corridors in hospitals must be separated from rooms by compliant doors. Premise: Doors protecting corridor openings in other than enclosures of vertical openings, exits, or other hazardous areas shall be substantial doors… 48

49. 49 USE AREA DOOR, LOUVER © SMS, Inc., 2013

50. The Life Safety Code Myths, Misconceptions & Opportunities Corridor Doors Issue: - Latching - Kick Plates - Frames - Louvers, transoms, transfer grills - Undercuts 50

51. 51 75 – DOOR GAPS © SMS, Inc., 2013

52. 52 90 – DOOR GAPS © SMS, Inc., 2013

53. 53 50 – DOOR UNDERCUT © SMS, Inc., 2013