Alabama Administrative Code › Title 580 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH › Chapter 580-3-22 - MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR PHYSICAL FACILITIES › Section 580-3-22-.08 - Three Beds Or Less 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 Community Residential
			 Facilities housing three or less residents. In addition to these minimum
			 standards, the most current edition of the NFPA 101,
Life Safety Code,
			 One and Two Family Dwellings Chapter,
International Building Code and
			 National Electrical Code shall also apply with the following exception: NFPA
			 101, Life Safety Code, Chapter 24.3.5 shall not apply because the International
			 Residential Code Council has voted not to include sprinkler requirements for
			 One and Two Family Dwellings.
(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. The facility shall
			 include bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room, laundry, and other common
			 areas under one roof.
(a)
FIRE SAFETY
			 EQUIPMENT
1. Electric smoke detectors
			 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.
2. 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.
3. Smoke detectors shall be mounted on
			 ceilings where possible and only allowed on walls when impossible for ceiling
			 mounting. Detectors on walls shall be mounted with top of detector not less
			 than 4 inches nor more than 12 inches from the ceiling.
4. Smoke detectors shall not be located under
			 or within 3 feet of ceiling fan blades or air supply diffusers or
			 returns.
5. 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.
6. 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 must 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 review by
			 DMH/MR.