![]() ![]() ![]() There are two types, “existing” and “new,” depending on the date of the building. ![]() The Joint Commission classifies any facility providing 24 hour care, where three or fewer individuals are made incapable of self-preservation at any given time, as a residential boarding care occupancy. Health care occupancies include general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and specialty hospitals as well as nursing and convalescent homes, skilled nursing facilities, and intermediate (nursing) care facilities.Īn ambulatory care occupancy as a building or portion of a building used to provide services or treatment simultaneously to four or more patients that (1) provides, on an outpatient basis, treatment for patients that renders the patients incapable of taking action for self-preservation under emergency conditions without the assistance of others or (2) provides, on an outpatient basis, anesthesia that renders the patients incapable of taking action for self-preservation under emergency conditions without the assistance of others.” It is mostly used for ambulatory surgery centers. For the purposes of occupancy definition, the fact that a person is in a wheelchair does not make him or her incapable of self-preservation. Incapable of self-preservation means that in the event of fire, a person is not able to leave the building on his or her own (even if it requires the use of a wheelchair). Occupancy is simply “the purpose for which a building or portion thereof is used or intended to be used.” Following are brief descriptions of several different occupancy types:Ī health care occupancy is an occupancy used for purposes of medical or other treatment or care of four or more persons, where such occupants are mostly incapable of self-preservation due to age, physical or mental disability, or because of security measures not under the occupants’ control. Life Safety Code is a registered trademark of the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. However, your facilities must still comply with the standards in the Environment of Care ® chapter, such as maintaining free and unobstructed access to all exits. What this means for behavioral health programs is that if you are not providing in-patient or residential (24 hour) care, the Life Safety Code Chapter will probably not apply to your organization. where no one stays overnight and no treatment is provided that would make three or more individuals incapable of self-preservation at any given time. It does not apply to organizations that are “business occupancy,” i.e. The LS chapter applies to any organization or part of an organization that is considered a health care, ambulatory care, or residential occupancy. The Joint Commission requirements regarding the Life Safety Code are found in the Life Safety (LS) chapter of standards manuals. In the Life Safety Code, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) specifies construction and operational conditions to minimize fire hazards are improve fire safety. ![]() The Joint Commission requires organizations to comply with the Life Safety Code to help ensure fire safety. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |