Florida Administrative Code › 59 - AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION › 59A - Health Facility and Agency Licensing › Chapter 59A-4 - MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR NURSING HOMES › Section 59A-4.130 - Fire Prevention, Fire Protection, and Life Safety, Systems Failure and External Emergency Communications

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1)
				Each nursing home licensee must provide fire protection through the elimination
				of fire hazards as evidenced by compliance with the fire codes adopted by the
				State Fire Marshall. The fire codes adopted by the State Fire Marshal for
				nursing homes is contained Rule Chapter 69A-53, F.A.C., and is known as
				"Uniform Fire Safety Standards for Hospitals and Nursing Homes."
(2) All fires or explosions shall be reported
				to the Agency's Office of Plans and Construction by telephone at (850)412-4477
				or by fax at (850)922-6483 by the next working day after the occurrence. The
				nursing home licensee shall complete and submit a Fire Incident Report, AHCA
				form 3500-0031, July 2014, incorporated by reference and available at
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-06023
,
				to the Office of Plans and Construction and a copy to the appropriate Agency
				field office within 15 calendar days of the incident. All reports shall be
				complete and thorough and shall record the cause of the fire or explosion, the
				date and time of day it occurred, the location within the facility, how it was
				extinguished, any injuries which may have occurred and a description of the
				local fire department participation. The Fire Incident Report is available from
				the Agency for Health Care Administration, Office of Plans and Construction,
				2727 Mahan Drive, Mail Stop #24, Tallahassee, Florida 32308 or at the web
				address: http://ahca.myflorida.com/plansandconstruction.
(3) If a system failure of the fire alarm
				system, smoke detection system, or sprinkler system occurs, the following
				actions shall be taken by the licensee:
(a)
				Immediately notify the local fire department and document the response and any
				instructions given by the local fire department.
(b) Notify the Agency's Office of Plans and
				Construction and the appropriate Agency field office within one business day
				after the occurrence.
(c) Assess
				the extent of the condition, effect corrective action and document the
				estimated length of time for the corrective action. If the corrective action
				will take more than four hours, the following must be completed:
1. Implement a contingency plan to the
				facility fire plan containing a description of the problem, a specific
				description of the system failure, and the projected correction period. All
				staff on the shifts involved must have documented in-service training for the
				emergency contingency.
2. Begin a
				documented fire watch until the system is restored. Staff performing the fire
				watch must be trained in appropriate observations and actions, as well as be
				able to expeditiously contact the fire department. To maintain a fire watch,
				the licensee must utilize only certified public fire safety personnel, a
				security guard service, or facility staff. If facility staff are used for this
				function, they must meet the following criteria:
a. Be off duty from their regular facility
				position or assigned only to fire watch duty. The licensee must maintain
				compliance with direct care staffing requirements at all times;
b. Be trained and competent, as determined by
				the licensee, in the duties and responsibilities of a fire watch;
c. Have immediate access to two-way
				electronic communication.
3. If the projected correction period changes
				or the system is restored to normal operation, the licensee must notify the
				appropriate Agency's field office and local fire
				authorities.