Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 10 - MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH › Part 1 › Subtitle 07 - HOSPITALS › Chapter 10.07.02 - Nursing Homes › Section 10.07.02.46 - Physical Plant - Emergency Power

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Unless otherwise indicated, all general
				  requirements apply to both new construction and an existing nursing
				  home.
B. Emergency Electrical
				  Power.
(1) The nursing home shall provide
				  emergency electrical power.
(2)
				  Emergency power for the purpose of egress lighting and protection shall be as
				  required by NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.
(3) Other emergency lighting shall be as
				  follows:
(a) Nursing station;
(b) Drug distribution station or unit dose
				  storage;
(c) A lighted area for
				  emergency telephone use;
(d) Boiler
				  or mechanical room;
(e)
				  Kitchen;
(f) Generator set location
				  and switch gear location;
(g)
				  Elevator, if operable on emergency power;
(h) Areas where life support equipment is
				  used;
(i) If applicable, lighting
				  for the common area of refuge; and
(j) If applicable, lighting in toilet rooms
				  of the common area of refuge.
(4) Emergency power shall be provided for
				  the:
(a) Nurses' call system;
(b) Duplex receptacles installed 50 feet
				  apart in all corridors in resident areas or appropriately located duplex
				  receptacles in the common area of refuge;
(c) Telephone service with at least one
				  telephone available for incoming and outgoing calls;
(d) Fire pump;
(e) Sewerage pump and sump pump;
(f) Elevator, if required, for evacuation as
				  referenced in NFPA 101 Life Safety Code;
(g) Heating equipment, if applicable, to
				  maintain a minimum temperature of 71°F or 22°C in the common areas of
				  refuge;
(h) Life support
				  equipment;
(i) Nonflammable medical
				  gas systems;
(j) Computer system,
				  if applicable, to enable use of electronic medical records system;
				  and
(k) Refrigerated medication
				  storage.
(5) Common Area
				  or Areas of Refuge.
(a) The nursing home
				  shall provide a common area or areas of refuge in an emergency situation if all
				  resident rooms, day rooms, and toilet rooms are not tied into the emergency
				  generator to provide heat and cooling.
(b) The common area or areas of refuge:
(i) Shall be at least 30 square feet per bed,
				  not including corridors;
(ii) May
				  not include toilet rooms in the 30 square feet per bed; and
(iii) Shall maintain a minimum temperature of
				  71°F or 22°C and a maximum temperature of 81°F or
				  27°C.
(c) The
				  nursing home shall provide heated toilet rooms adjacent to the common areas of
				  refuge.
(d) The nursing home shall
				  provide a Department-approved written plan that:
(i) Defines the specified area of
				  refuge;
(ii) Outlines paths of
				  egress from the common areas of refuge; and
(iii) Describes provisions for light, heat,
				  food service, washing, and toileting residents.
(6) Emergency Power Source.
(a) The emergency power source shall be a
				  generating set and prime mover located on the premises with automatic
				  transfer.
(b) The emergency
				  generator shall:
(i) In the event of failure
				  of the normal electrical service, be activated immediately;
(ii) Come to full speed and load acceptance
				  within 10 seconds;
(iii) Have a
				  capacity of 48 hours of operation from fuel stored on-site; and
(iv) Be tested once a month, for at least 30
				  minutes under normal emergency nursing home connected load, and the test
				  recorded in a permanent log book maintained for that purpose.