1. 2009 The Physical Environment
George Mills, Sr. Engineer
Standard Interpretation Group
The Joint Commission

2. Disclaimer
This presentation is current as of November 7, The Joint Commission reserves the right to change the content of the information, as appropriate.
These slides are only meant to be cue points, which were expounded upon verbally by the original presenter and are not meant to be comprehensive statements of standards interpretation or represent all the content of the presentation. Thus, care should be exercised in interpreting Joint Commission requirements based solely on the content of these slides.
These slides are copyrighted and may not be further used, shared or distributed without permission of the original presenter or The Joint Commission.

3. Life Safety Chapter

4. Life Safety Chapter Based on the Life Safety Code® NFPA 101-2000
Format to be consistent with NFPA
CMS K-Tags reconciled
Three occupancies
Healthcare
Ambulatory
Residential
Exception language accepted
Annual Life Safety Assessment will occur as part of Periodic Performance Review

5. Life Safety Chapter
Removed optional Building Maintenance Program (BMP)
Standards & Elements of Performance
LS Administrative
LS Interim Life Safety Measures LS
LS.02 Healthcare
LS.03 Ambulatory
LS.04 Residential
LS < 16 Rooming & Lodging
LS > 17 Hotel & Dormitory

6. LS .02 .01 .34 EPs are sequentially listed Exception language accepted
Life Healthcare Building Protection Fire
Safety Type Alarm
EPs are sequentially listed
Exception language accepted
Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSM) applies to LSC deficiencies
Construction and non-construction

7. Life Safety Process
Overview: When an [organization] finds that it is out of compliance with Standards LS through LS , the hospital either resolves the deficiencies immediately or manages it through one of the following options:
a maintenance management process that documents the deficiency and corrective resolution within 45 days; or
a Plan For Improvement derived from the Statement of Conditions™; or
a Life Safety Code Equivalency approved by The Joint Commission.

8. Life Safety Chapter LS.01.01.01 (Administrative) EP 3
When the hospital plans to resolve a deficiency through a Plan for Improvement (PFI), the hospital meets the time frame identified in the PFI accepted by The Joint Commission.

9. Life Safety Chapter LS.01.02.01 (ILSM) EP 3
The hospital has a written Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSM) policy that covers periods of construction or situations when the Life Safety Code deficiencies cannot be immediately corrected or when The Joint Commission has not granted an equivalency. The policy includes criteria for evaluating when and to what extent the hospital follows special measures to compensate for increased risk.

10. Fire Watch: LS EP 1
The hospital notifies the fire department (or other emergency response group) and initiates a fire watch when a fire alarm or sprinkler system is out of service for 4 hours in a 24 hour period in an occupied building. Notification and fire watch times are documented. (For full text and any exceptions, refer to NFPA and )

11. Rated Barriers: LS EP 3
Walls that are fire-rated for 2 hours (such as common walls between buildings and occupancy separation walls within buildings) extend from the floor slab to the floor or roof slab above and extend from exterior wall to exterior wall. (For full text and any exceptions, refer to NFPA )

12. Penetrations: LS EP 9
The space around pipes, conduits, bus ducts, cables, wires, air ducts, or pneumatic tubes that penetrate fire-rated walls and floors are protected with approved fire-rated material. NOTE: Polyurethane expanding foam is not an accepted fire-rated material for this purpose. (For full text and any exceptions, refer to NFPA )

13. Horizontal Exits: LS.02.01.20 EP 3
Walls containing horizontal exits are fire rated for 2 or more hours, and extend from the lowest floor slab to the floor or roof slab above, and extend continuously from exterior wall to exterior wall. (See also LS EP 4) (For full text and any exceptions, refer to NFPA and )

14. Life Safety Chapter LS
The organization maintains the integrity of the means of egress
EP 13 Exits, exit accesses, and exit discharges are clear of obstructions or impediments to the public way, such as clutter (for example, equipment, carts, furniture), construction material, and snow and ice. (For full text and any exceptions, refer to: NFPA , 18/ )

15. Vertical Openings: LS.02.01.30 EP 1
Existing vertical openings (other than exits stairs) are enclosed with 1-hour fire-rated construction. In new construction, vertical openings (other than exit stairs) are enclosed by 1-hour fire-rated walls when connecting three or fewer floors and 2-hour when connecting 4 or more floors.
NOTE: these vertical openings include, but are not limited to, communicating stairs, ramps, elevator shafts, ventilation shafts, light shafts, trash chutes, linen chutes, and utility chases. (For full text and any exceptions, refer to NFPA / )

16. Corridor Walls: Existing
Existing corridor partitions are fire rated for ½ hour, are continuous from the floor slab to the floor or roof slab above, extend through any concealed spaces (such as those above suspended ceilings and interstitial spaces) are properly sealed, and are constructed to limit the transfer of smoke.
NOTE: Unsealed spaces 1/8 inch wide or less around pipes, conduits, ducts, and wires above the ceiling are permitted.

17. Corridor Walls: Existing, Cont.
Note 2: in smoke compartments protected throughout with an AASS, corridor partitions are allowed to terminate at the ceiling if the ceiling is constructed to limit the passage of smoke. The passage of smoke can be limited by an exposed, suspended-grid acoustical tile ceiling. The following ceiling features also limit the passage of smoke: sprinkler piping and sprinklers that penetrate the ceiling , ducted HVAC supply & return air diffusers, speakers and recessed lighting fixtures. (For full text and any exceptions, refer to NFPA and )

18. Corridor Walls: New
In new buildings, corridor walls are constructed to limit the transfer of smoke. (For full text and any exceptions, refer to NFPA )

19. Hazardous Areas: LS EP 2
All hazardous areas are protected by walls and doors in accordance with NFPA 18/

20. Smoke Barriers: LS EP 18
Smoke barriers extend from the floor slab to the floor or roof slab above, through any concealed spaces (such as those above suspended ceilings and interstitial spaces), and extend continuously from exterior wall to exterior wall. All penetrations are properly sealed. (For full text and any exceptions, refer to NFPA / )

21. Issue Resolution & Clarification
Corridor Clutter & Other Life Safety Code Interpretations

22. LD.04.01.05 EP 4: What to do when the documentation isn’t there…
During survey documentation is reviewed
If the information is not readily available, but will be available later in the survey this may result in a finding at LD EP 4
The requested information should be utilized by the organization, so not having the information may indicate a lack of responsibility by the organization
If the documentation arrives late, non-compliance has already been established
Scored at LD EP4
Leaders hold staff accountable for their responsibilities

23. Corridor Clutter If the corridor looks cluttered, it probably is
Carts with wheels that are not parked and forgotten (not longer than 30 minutes), but are actively used are allowed provided they are "in use"
Crash Carts are always considered "in use" and allowed with staff understanding that in an emergency situation the cart is moved out of the corridor
Isolation carts, located outside a occupied patient room & required would be “in use”

24. General Life Safety Interpretations
Rated doors must have legible labels on the door and jambs
Doors installed prior to 1967 may have jambs without rating labels
Missing labels may be equivalized if evidence of compliance is provided to central office
Alternative is to have third party testing agency re-label doors
Are ILSM in place where non-compliant door assemblies are found?

25. General Life Safety Interpretations
Fire stop: existing application is acceptable if:
It was installed in a manner consistent with original design specifications
It is in acceptable condition currently
If the firestop is cracking, etc, then it is to be removed and repaired using current technologies
JC does not accept the expanding foam used for insulation in any fire or smoke barrier
This product does have a UL label, for insulation properties
Easily ignited
Toxic gases when burned
Testing has confirmed foam alcohol based hand rub (ABHR) is equivalent to gel

26. Questions?

27. SIG Support: 630 792 5900 George Mills, MBA, FASHE, CEM, CHFM
Senior Engineer SIG
Jerry Gervais, CHSP, CHFM Engineer SIG
Open Position
Engineer SIG
John Maurer CHFM, CHSP Engineer SIG

28. Disclaimer
This presentation is current as of November 7, The Joint Commission reserves the right to change the content of the information, as appropriate.
These slides are only meant to be cue points, which were expounded upon verbally by the original presenter and are not meant to be comprehensive statements of standards interpretation or represent all the content of the presentation. Thus, care should be exercised in interpreting Joint Commission requirements based solely on the content of these slides.
These slides are copyrighted and may not be further used, shared or distributed without permission of the original presenter or The Joint Commission.