Alabama Administrative Code › Title 580 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH › Chapter 580-3-22 - MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR PHYSICAL FACILITIES › Section 580-3-22-.10 - Over Sixteen Bed Residential Facility

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1) These minimum standards are for Mental
			 Illness,
Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse residential facilities
				with over 16 residents. In addition to these standards, the most current
				edition of the NFPA 101,
Life Safety Code, Large Residential Board and
				Care Occupancy,
International Building Code and National Electrical
				Code shall apply.
(2) The
			 facility cannot be occupied until the Commissioner issues a Temporary Operating
			 Authority (TOA) granting temporary operating authority or certification based
			 on compliance with the DMH/MR minimum standards. The above referenced type
			 facility shall be classified by DMH/MR Minimum Physical Facility Standards as a
			 Community Residential Facility.
(a)
FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT
1. Fire
			 alarm systems shall be installed, tested and maintained in accordance with NFPA
			 70,
National Electrical Code,
and NFPA 72,
National
			 Fire Alarm Code,
to include Annunciator Panel and Emergency Forces
			 Notification.
2. Electric smoke
			 detectors/heat sensors shall be installed and connected to the electrical
			 system (recommend battery backup) and must be connected in series so when one
			 detector sounds all detectors will sound.
3. Smoke detectors shall be installed in the
			 following locations:
(i) In other than
			 existing dwellings (new construction), in all sleeping rooms;
(ii) In existing dwellings, outside of each
			 separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping rooms;
			 and
(iii) On each level of the
			 dwelling unit including basements.
4. Smoke detectors shall be mounted on
			 ceilings where possible and only allowed on walls when impossible for ceiling
			 mounting.
5. Detectors on walls
			 shall be mounted with top of detector not less than 4 inches nor more than 12
			 inches from the ceiling.
6. Smoke
			 detectors shall not be located under or within 3 feet of ceiling fan blades or
			 air supply diffusers or returns.
7.
			 When a required fire alarm system is out of service for more than 4 hours in a
			 24 hour period, DMH/MR shall be notified and an approved fire watch shall be
			 provided for the entire period until the fire alarm system has been returned to
			 service.
8. Automatic sprinkler
			 systems shall be required in compliance with NFPA 101,
Life Safety
			 Code
and installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 13. Existing
			 facilities as defined herein (see
			 580-3-22-.02(8)) are exempt from sprinkler system requirements. However, facilities which
			 would be required to have such systems absent this exemption are required to
			 have operable fire alarm systems or smoke detectors. Additionally, all new
			 construction will comply with NFPA 101 and NFPA 13.
9. Portable fire extinguishers shall be
			 installed, inspected, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10,
Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers
.
(i) A minimum of (1) 10 lb ABC in hallway and
			 (1) 5 lb ABC fire extinguisher in kitchen shall be provided.
(ii) Size of fire extinguisher refers to
			 Charge Weight.
(iii) Mount top of
			 fire extinguisher 5 feet above floor.
(iv) A service tag shall be provided from a
			 certified fire equipment service company for each fire extinguisher.
(v) Fire extinguishers must be visually
			 checked, dated and initialed on rear of service tag each month by the facility
			 operator.
10. Battery
			 pack emergency lighting shall be installed in hallways or other locations as
			 required for illuminating the paths of travel from areas of the facility to
			 designated exits.
(i) Emergency lighting
			 functional testing shall be conducted by the facility operator monthly for a
			 period of not less than 30 seconds and annually for not less than 90
			 minutes.
(ii) The emergency
			 equipment shall remain fully operational for the duration of the
			 test.
(iii) Written records of
			 visual inspections and tests shall be kept by the facility operator for
			 inspection by DMH/MR.