The Joint Commission and HFAP Start Surveying to The 2012 Life Safety Code®
As of November 1, CMS, The Joint Commission, and HFAP will be surveying hospitals to the 2012 Life Safety Code® (LSC). The LSC was adopted by CMS in June, with some of the big changes required under the final rule including:
- Facilities located in buildings taller than 75 feet are required to install automatic sprinkler systems within 12 years after the rule’s effective date.
- Facilities are required to have a fire watch or building evacuation if their sprinkler systems is out of service for more than 10 hours.
- Greater flexibility for long-term care (LTC) facilities in what they can place in corridors. LTC facilities will be able to include more home-like items such as fixed seating in the corridor for resting and certain decorations in patient rooms.
- Fireplaces will be permitted in smoke compartments without a one-hour fire wall rating, which makes a facility more home-like for residents.
- For ambulatory surgical centers, alcohol-based hand rub dispensers now may be placed in corridors to allow for easier access.
- Fire watches must be continuous, “constantly circulating” through impaired
- All side-hinged swinging fire doors must be tested annually.
- Once every five years, an internal inspection of sprinkler pipe is required.
- Fire hose valves must be inspected quarterly and tested annually/every three years, depending on size.
- 1-hour fire-rated barriers are required between non-sprinklered construction areas and occupied egress areas.
Visit the Federal Register to see the full list of changes.