Texas Administrative Code › Title 37 - PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS › Part 9 - TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS › Chapter 259 - NEW CONSTRUCTION RULES › Subchapter G - TEMPORARY HOUSING-BUILDINGS › Section 259.619 - Life Safety

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) Provisions
				  shall be made for the rapid removal of occupants by such reliable means as the
				  remote control of doors or by keying all locks to keys readily available to
				  jail staff who are continually on duty and have undergone emergency drills.
				  There shall be not less than two exits on each floor as remote as practicable
				  from one another. Travel distance between any point on the floor of the
				  facility to an exit shall not exceed 150 feet. Travel distance between any room
				  door and an exit may be increased by 50 feet in fully sprinklered facilities
				  not to exceed 200 feet of total travel distance.
(b) Access to exits shall be marked by
				  readily visible signs at all locations where the exit is not readily visible
				  from outer cell doors.
(c) Interior
				  stairways serving as emergency exits for new facilities and new additions shall
				  be separated by a two-hour fire rated enclosure and self-closing fire
				  doors.
(d) Hazardous area
				  protection shall be provided as required by §
										263.21
				  of this title (relating to Life Safety).
(e) Self alarming smoke detectors or smoke
				  detectors which are part of an automatic fire detection and alarm system shall
				  be provided for each inmate living and day room area in sufficient numbers to
				  provide prompt warning to occupants and staff. The alarm systems should be
				  tested in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation, but shall be
				  tested at least on calendar quarterly intervals and test results made a matter
				  of record to include date and results of test, and signature of the person
				  testing the equipment.
(f) Plans
				  and drills for emergencies shall be provided as required by §§
										263.40-263.42 of
				  this title (relating to Life Safety).
(g) A manually operated or automatic smoke
				  removal system shall be provided. (Exception: Single story minimum security
				  facility buildings which provide direct exiting to the exterior of the building
				  from the inmate living and day room areas and whose exit doors are incapable of
				  being locked are not required to provide a smoke removal system.)
(h) Fire extinguishers of adequate number and
				  type to meet NFPA 10 shall be provided at appropriate locations. Fire
				  department connections in proximity to the building as approved in writing by
				  local fire official shall be provided. A standpipe and hose system with a
				  one-inch non-collapsible or one and one-half inch collapsible hose utilizing a
				  minimum of two inches domestic water system shall be provided.
(i) All life safety equipment shall be out of
				  reach of inmates, or otherwise secured from unauthorized tampering. At least
				  one self-contained breathing apparatus shall be available and maintained in or
				  near each facility control station. All jail staff shall be trained and
				  quarterly drills conducted in the use of this equipment. A minimum of one unit
				  shall be provided for each building or a multi-building facility. All life
				  safety equipment shall be inspected, maintained, and tested by persons
				  qualified to do so (whether under vendor contract, by state or private agency
				  or otherwise) in order that such equipment shall be safe, secure, and fully
				  operative at all times.
(j) Records
				  and reports shall be maintained as required by §
										263.70 and
				  § 263.71 of this title (relating to Life Safety).