Pennsylvania Code › Title 28 - HEALTH AND SAFETY › Part IV - Health Facilities › Subpart E - Birth Centers › Chapter 501 - BIRTH CENTERS › ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES › Section 501.81 - Safety from fire

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) Birth centers
					 are classified as C-1 modified occupancy and must comply with the following:
(1) Buildings of one story in height may be
					 constructed of fire resistive, noncombustible, ordinary, or wood frame
					 construction as defined in National Fire Prevention Association, 1961 Edition,
Standard Types of Building Construction.
(2) Buildings of two stories or more in
					 height shall be constructed of fire resistive or noncombustible construction as
					 defined in National Fire Prevention Association, 1961 Edition,
Standard
					 Types of Building Construction.
(3) Means of egress requirements shall comply
					 with the following:
(i) Each floor or fire
					 section of the building shall have at least two means of egress, remotely
					 located from each other.
(A) At least one
					 means of egress shall be a stairway directly to grade, door directly to grade,
					 horizontal exit, or ramp directly to grade.
(B) The other means of egress shall be a fire
					 escape or outside stair if two means of egress are not provided in accordance
					 with clause (A).
(ii)
					 Width of stairways, fire escapes, and ramps.
(A) Stairs shall have a minimum width of 30
					 inches. Winders in stairs are not acceptable.
(B) Fire escapes shall have a minimum width
					 of 24 inches. Fire escapes shall be constructed of steel.
(C) Ramps shall have a minimum width of 30
					 inches. Slope of ramps shall not exceed 2 inches in 12 inches.
(D) Handrails shall be provided. Handrails
					 may protrude into the stairs, but not more than 3 inches on either
					 side.
(iii) Travel
					 distance.
(A) The travel distance between a
					 room door, required as exit access, and an exit may not exceed 100
					 feet.
(B) The travel distance
					 between a point in a room and an exit may not exceed 150 feet.
(iv) Illumination of means of
					 egress.
(A) Each facility shall provide
					 illumination of the means of egress.
(B) The floors of the means of egress shall
					 be illuminated at all points, including angles and intersections of corridors
					 and passageways, stairways, landings of stairs, and exit doors to values of not
					 less than one footcandle measured at the floor.
(4) Interior finish on walls, floors, and
					 ceilings throughout shall be Class C, 200 flame spread rating or
					 less.
(5) Operable residential type
					 smoke detectors shall be installed in all rooms, corridors, and means of
					 egress. The number of detectors shall be determined by the manufacturer's
					 specifications on coverage.
(6)
					 Occupancy shall comply with the following:
(i)
					 Birthing rooms shall be limited to the lowest level with direct grade access,
					 unless an exception is granted by the Department under §
													501.6 (relating to exceptions).
					 Basement occupancy by patients shall be prohibited.
(ii) Examination rooms are permitted above
					 the first floor.
(7)
					 Rooms or spaces, including repair shops, used for storage of combustible
					 supplies and equipment in quantities deemed hazardous by the Department shall
					 comply with the following:
(i) One-hour
					 separation from all adjacent areas.
(ii) Automatic sprinkler system water source,
					 which can be from the domestic water system. Installation and maintenance shall
					 comply with National Fire Prevention Association 13 and 13A.
(8) All types of occupancies,
					 which are not classified as C-1 modified, shall be separated by a 2-hour fire
					 wall from the birth center.
(9)
					 Fire extinguishers shall comply with the following:
(i) Portable fire extinguishers shall be
					 provided. At least two extinguishers shall be provided per floor with a travel
					 distance of 50 feet maximum to each extinguisher.
(ii) Fire extinguishers shall be the ABC
					 type.
(iii) Maintenance shall be
					 yearly.