Alabama Administrative Code › Title 580 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH › Chapter 580-3-22 - MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR PHYSICAL FACILITIES › Section 580-3-22-.09 - Four To 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 services housing 4
			 to 16 residents. In addition to these standards, the most current edition of
			 the NFPA 101,
Life Safety Code, Small 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. The facility shall include bedrooms, kitchen,
			 dining room, living room, laundry, and other common areas under one roof.
(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.
2. Electric smoke
			 detectors/heat sensors shall be installed and connected to the electrical
			 system (recommend battery backup) and shall 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. Detectors on walls shall be mounted with top of detector not less
			 than 4 inches nor more than 12 inches from the ceiling.
5. Smoke detectors shall not be located under
			 or within 3 feet of ceiling fan blades or air supply diffusers or
			 returns.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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 the floor.
(iv) A service tag shall be provided from a
			 certified fire equipment service company for each fire extinguisher.
(v) Fire extinguishers shall be visually
			 checked, dated and initialed on rear of service tag each month by the facility
			 operator.
9. 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 inspection by
			 DMH/MR.