9 CSR 45-5.150 - Fire Safety for Group Homes Serving 17 or More People
PURPOSE: This amendment changes the name of the division to comply with House Bill 555 and House Bill 648 passed by the 95th Missouri General Assembly which removed the term "mental retardation" from Missouri statutes, updates the rule with current terminology in the field of developmental disabilities, and adds requirements recommended by the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety to ensure consistency with current best practice in fire safety.
PURPOSE: This rule establishes fire safety requirements for group homes serving seventeen (17) or more people funded through the Medicaid home and community-based waiver. The department delegates its authority for fire safety inspections under this rule to the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety.
(1) General Requirements.
(M)
(N) The facility shall notify the nearest fire
department that the facility is in operation and have required documentation
completed and signed by the local fire authority (fire department notification
form) on file at the facility and available for review by the Division of Fire
Safety inspector.
(N)
(O) Facilities served by a volunteer or membership
fire department shall be a member in good standing with the fire department. A
copy of the membership or receipt for membership shall be on file at the
facility and available for review.
(O)
(P) The facility
shall, as soon as possible, no later than the following business day, report
any fire in the facility to the Division of Fire Safety office and the
Department of Mental Health.
(P)
(Q) The Division of
Fire Safety may make additional requirements that provide adequate life safety
protection if it is determined that the safety of the occupants is endangered.
Every building or structure shall be constructed, arranged, equipped,
maintained, and operated to avoid danger to the lives and safety of its
occupants from fire, smoke, fumes, or resulting panic during the period of time
necessary for escape from the building.
(Q)
(R) Prior to new
construction, remodeling existing structures, and any structural alterations to
existing facilities, the provider shall submit two (2) copies of plans and
specifications prepared to scale for review and approval. One (1) copy shall be
submitted to the Department of Mental Health's Licensure and Certification
Unit; the second copy to the Division of Fire Safety. The plans shall include a
narrative indicating the utilization of each area of the facility. The
architect or contractor shall certify in writing that the plans are in
compliance with these certification rules. The provider shall not begin
construction until the plans have been reviewed and approved by the Division of
Fire Safety. All plans for new construction, remodeling, or additions shall
comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Accessibility
Guidelines.
(R)
(S) During the construction or remodeling process, the
provider shall request a framing and wiring inspection and an inspection for
the rough-in wiring for the fire alarm system by the Division of Fire Safety
before the walls are enclosed. Failure to have these inspections conducted will
result in an unapproved fire inspection from the Division of Fire
Safety.
(S)
(T) The ceiling height in all facilities shall be a
minimum of seven feet six inches (7'6"). An allowance will be made by the
Division of Fire Safety for some areas that are below seven feet six inches
(7'6") for the installation of ductwork and plumbing. No more than forty
percent (40%) of the ceiling in each room shall be below minimal height, with
no portion of the ceiling less than six feet eight inches (6' 8").
(T)
(U)
Facilities shall comply with all local building codes, fire codes, and
ordinances.
(U)
(V) The latest edition of the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA), Chapter 101, Life Safety Code prevails in the
interpretation of these rules.
(V)
(W) Each residential
facility shall be inspected at least once annually by a Division of Fire Safety
inspector. The department will initiate the fire safety inspection. If a
facility is found out of compliance with the fire safety rules, the department
will apply procedures for achieving compliance as promulgated under
9 CSR
45-5.060.
(A) The staff shall conduct at least one (1)
fire drill per month and one (1) natural disaster drill per quarter, with a
minimum of two (2) drills, one (1) fire and one (1) natural disaster, conducted
annually while the individuals are sleeping. A drill must be conducted within
one (1) week of the arrival of a new individual. The staff shall maintain a
written record at the facility of the date, type of drill, time required to
evacuate the building, whether the evacuation was completed, notation of any
problems evacuating, and number of occupants present during the
drill.
(B) Unscheduled drills shall
be held at the Division of Fire Safety inspector's discretion.
(C) During severe weather, fire drills may be
postponed.
(D) Each fire drill
shall evacuate all persons from the building, or evacuate to an area of refuge
and defend in place and be conducted as follows:
1. Drills simulate an actual fire
condition;
2. Occupants (referred
to hereafter as "individuals") and staff members do not obtain clothing or
personal effects after the alarm has sounded;
3. The individuals and staff members proceed
to a predetermined point outside the building that is sufficiently remote to
avoid fire danger, or to a predetermined point inside of the building;
and
4. Individuals and staff
members remain in place until a recall is issued or until they are
dismissed.
5. Exception. If there
is potential harm to individuals during drills because a resident is medically
fragile, the provider may arrange the drill to not involve the medically
fragile. However, all individuals who are medically fragile must participate in
a drill at least once per year. This must be documented in the home.
(E) No window in a facility shall
have bars or any other item placed over them in a stationary manner that would
impede a rescue or evacuation.
(F)
All flammable/combustible liquids, matches, toxic cleaning supplies, poisonous
materials, or other hazardous items shall be stored so as to be inaccessible to
the occupants if the occupants cannot handle the materials safely. If there are
firearms and/or ammunition on the premises, they shall be kept in a locked
space without access by individuals.
(G) Clothes dryers shall be vented to the
outside and maintained per the manufacturer's instructions.
(H) The house numbers shall be plainly
visible from the street in case of emergency, at least four inches (4") in
height and contrasting color with the building.
(I) Good housekeeping practices ensuring fire
safety will be maintained daily.
(J) Stairways, walks, ramps, and porches
shall be kept free of ice and snow.
(K) Fresh-cut Christmas trees shall not be
used unless they are treated with a flame resistant material and documentation
of the treatment is on file at the facility and available for review by the
Division of Fire Safety.
(L)
Candles and other devices that have an open flame shall not be used indoors.
However, short-term supervised use of candles for special occasions or dinners
is permitted.
(M) The facility may
use a cellular phone when all of the following conditions are met:
1. The phone must always have a
signal;
2. The phone must always be
charged;
3. The phone must be able
to make and receive normal calls;
4. The phone must remain at the facility at
all times; and
5. The emergency
plan for the facility must address the use of cellular phones.
(2) Means of Egress Requirements.
(B)
(C) Wheelchairs, walkers, and other support equipment
shall not be stored in corridors.
(C)
(D) No door in the
path of travel to the means of egress shall be less than thirty-six inches
(36") wide.
(D)
(E) No primary means of escape shall lead through a
bathroom, storage room, furnace room, kitchen, garage, or any other room deemed
hazardous by the Division of Fire Safety inspector.
(E)
(F) All exit doors
shall swing in the direction of egress travel and shall have door closures
attached.
(F)
(G) Emergency lighting that has a battery backup shall
be installed to light the path of egress. The location and number of emergency
lights shall be determined by the Division of Fire Safety inspector. Emergency
lights shall be tested monthly and documentation indicating which lights were
tested, the date tested, and the name of the person performing the test kept
for review by the Division of Fire Safety.
(G)
(H) Lighted exit signs
with a battery backup shall be installed above exit doors and as needed
throughout the facility to direct the occupants to the exits.
(H)
(I)
No locks that require a key or special knowledge to unlock the lock from the
inside shall be allowed. Delayed egress locks complying with section 7.2.1.6.1
of the 2012 edition NFPA 101 are permitted, provided that no more than one (1)
such device is located in any egress path.
(I)
(J) Overhead garage
doors are not recognized as exit doorways.
(J)
(K) Mirrors shall not
be placed on exit doors or adjacent to any exit in such a manner to confuse the
direction of the exit. All exit doors shall be readily recognizable.
(K)
(L)
All hallways shall have a clear width of at least thirty-six inches (36") wide
and shall be kept free of all articles that might impede the occupants'
evacuation from the home.
(L)
(M) Dead-end
corridors/hallways shall not exceed twenty feet (20').
(M)
(N)
Each wing or corridor of the facility shall be separated into fire compartment
areas by fire doors and walls, having not less than a one- (1-) hour rating.
All fire doors shall be equipped with a door closure and may be held open at
all times with an electrical magnetic switch that is interconnected to the fire
alarm system.
(N)
(O) Facilities initially certified and areas initially
approved on or after the effective date of this rule, shall meet the following
requirements. All facilities that have a set of stairs, or use stairs as a fire
escape shall be constructed as follows:
(O)
(P) Every ramp used in
the component of the means of egress shall be a minimum of forty-four inches
(44") wide, and have landings at the top and bottom being the same width as the
ramp. Ramp height shall comply with the following:
(P)
(Q) All ramps shall have a slip-resistant surface and
be designed so that water or snow does not accumulate on their
surface.
(Q)
(R) All ramps over ten inches (10") in height shall
have guardrails and handrails on both sides.
(A) Each floor occupied in the home shall
have not less than two (2) remotely located means of egress. Required means of
egress shall not be a window. Each exit door shall not be less than thirty-six
inches (36") wide.
(B) Individual
sleeping rooms in all new group homes certified after the effective date of
this rule shall have two (2) means of egress, or a primary means of egress and
a means of escape.
1. All
stairs shall be at least thirty-six inches (36") wide. Fire escapes shall be
constructed of noncombustible materials. Existing fire escapes shall be of
sturdy construction and, at the discretion of the Division of Fire Safety, may
be required to be load tested;
2. A
maximum rise of eight inches (8");
3. A minimum tread of nine inches
(9");
4. A maximum height between
landings of twelve feet (12');
5. A
minimum landing size of forty-four inches (44");
6. Handrails placed on both sides of sturdy
construction and positioned thirty-four to thirty-eight inches (34"-38") above
the tread;
7. An outside diameter
of the handrails of at least one and one-fourth inches (1 1/4") and no greater
than two inches (2") in size;
8.
Handrails with a clearance of at least one and one-half inches (1 1/2") between
the handrail and the wall or upright to which it is attached;
9. Spiral staircase or winder is not
permitted.
1. Ramps less than three inches (3") in
height have a slope of one inch (1") per eight inches (8") of run;
2. Ramps with a height of three to six inches
(3"-6") have a slope of one inch (1") per ten inches (10") of run;
3. Ramps with a height greater than six
inches (6") have a slope of one inch (1") per twelve inches (12") of
run.
(3) Travel Distance to Exits.
(A) The travel distance between any room door
intended as an exit access or an exit shall not exceed one hundred feet
(100').
(B) The travel distance
between any point in a room and an exit shall not exceed one hundred fifty feet
(150').
(C) At the discretion of
the Division of Fire Safety inspector and in consideration of the presence of
an automated sprinkler system, the distances in subsections (A) and (B) of this
section may be extended by fifty feet (50').
(4) Protection.
(B)
(C) Interior stairways shall be closed with one- (1-)
hour fire barriers, with all openings equipped with smoke-actuated
automatic-closing or self-closing doors having a fire resistance comparable to
that required for the enclosure.
(C)
(D) All furnace rooms,
rooms containing water heaters, boiler rooms, storage rooms, laundry rooms, and
all other rooms or areas deemed hazardous by the Division of Fire Safety
inspector shall be separated from the remainder of the building by construction
having not less than a one- (1-) hour fire resistance rating. All doors to
these rooms shall have a self-closing device attached and shall have a minimum
one- (1-) hour fire rating.
(D)
(E) All doors to
sleeping rooms shall have a fire resistance rating of twenty (20)
minutes.
(E)
(F) All buildings shall be protected throughout by an
approved, automatic sprinkler system installed and maintained in accordance
with the National Fire Protection Association, Standards for Installation of
Sprinkler Systems. Quick response or residential sprinkler heads shall be
installed throughout the structure.
(F)
(G) The sprinkler
system shall initiate the fire alarm system upon activation of water
flow.
(G)
(H)Tamper switches shall be installed on the sprinkler
system valves and shall transmit a supervisory signal to the fire alarm control
panel.
(H)
(I) All facilities shall have the sprinkler system
tested, inspected, and approved annually by a fire sprinkler company. A copy of
the test report and approval of the system shall be kept on file at the
facility for review by the Division of Fire Safety inspector.
(A) Vertical openings shall be protected so
that no primary means of egress is exposed to an unprotected vertical opening.
The vertical opening shall be considered protected if the opening is cut off
and enclosed in a manner that provides a fire-resisting capability of not less
than one- (1-) hour and resists the passage of smoke. Any doors or openings
shall have fire-and smoke-resisting capability equivalent to that of the
enclosure and shall be self-closing or automatic closing.
(B) Exception. Specific residential
facilities that were certified prior to the effective date of this rule with
twenty- (20-) minute fire barriers shall be considered in compliance with
current requirements, unless renovations or significant changes have occurred
in the way the building is being used or the number of residents is
increased.
(5) Interior Finish.
(A) Interior wall and ceiling finishes
throughout shall be a minimum Class B finish, as specified in the definition
section of these fire safety rules. Textile material having a napped, tufted,
looped, woven, non-woven, or similar surface shall not be applied to walls or
ceilings. Foam plastic materials or other highly flammable or toxic materials
shall not be used as an interior wall, ceiling, or floor finish.
(B) All wall studs, ceiling joists, and floor
joists shall be covered with a minimum of Class B finish, and no exposed studs
or joists shall be allowed.
(C)
Hangings or draperies shall not be placed over exit doors or be located to
conceal or obscure any exit. All other hangings and draperies shall be treated
with a flame retardant material with verification to this effect on file for
the Division of Fire Safety inspector to review. Exception shall be made for
small window valances. These exceptions shall be noted on the fire inspection
survey.
(6) Detection,
Alarms, Extinguishment.
(A) All facilities
shall have a full coverage electrical fire alarm system. Pull stations shall be
mounted at each exit door. Horns and strobe lights connected to the fire alarm
shall be installed throughout the facility. Smoke detectors shall be installed
in all sleeping rooms, throughout all corridors, in all living spaces, storage
rooms, and offices. Additional smoke detectors may be required by the Division
of Fire Safety as deemed necessary. Heat detectors shall be installed in all
mechanical rooms, kitchens, and throughout the attic. The battery backup
control panel shall be Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) or Factory Mutual
(F.M.) listed and installed on a dedicated circuit in the breaker box. The fire
alarm system shall be installed and maintained in good working order and should
be Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) or Factory Mutual (F.M.) listed. The
fire system shall be installed and maintained per the National Fire Alarm Code
(NFPA 72) and the National Electrical Code.
(B) All smoke detectors that are ten (10)
years old or older shall be replaced with new smoke detectors of the same
style. The new smoke detectors shall have the installation date written on the
side of the detector for the Division of Fire Safety to reference.
(C) All smoke detectors that are connected to
a fire alarm system shall be replaced after ten (10) years of service, or
recalibrated by the smoke detector's manufacturer. If the smoke detectors are
recalibrated, temporary smoke detectors shall be installed so that the fire
alarm system continues working properly and providing protection to the
occupants while the original smoke detectors are being serviced.
(D) Any facility that has hearing-impaired
occupants shall make adequate provisions so that the activation of any fire
alarm system shall notify the occupants of the home. The Division of Fire
Safety inspector may require additional requirements for the hearing-impaired
occupants to insure adequate notification.
(E) Occupant notification shall be provided
automatically without delay. Pre-signal systems shall be prohibited.
(F) All facilities shall have the fire alarm
system tested, inspected, and approved annually by a fire alarm company and a
copy of the test report and approval of the system kept on file at the facility
for review by the Division of Fire Safety inspector.
(G) Facilities using any equipment or
appliances using wood or fossil fuel, and that pose a potential carbon monoxide
risk, including facilities with attached garages, shall install a carbon
monoxide detector(s). The detector(s) shall be installed according to the
manufacturer's instructions. The Division of Fire Safety inspector may require
additional carbon monoxide detectors if the Division of Fire Safety inspector
determines that the safety of the occupants is endangered.
1. Carbon monoxide detectors shall be in good
operating condition. If a battery-operated detector is not operational, the
facility shall install a detector that is powered by the home's electrical
system with a battery backup.
2. If
an elevated carbon monoxide level is detected during a fire inspection, the
facility shall have all gas-fired appliances checked by a heating and air
conditioning company to identify the source of the carbon monoxide. Until the
facility has documentation on file at the home verifying that all gas-fired
appliances were checked by a heating and air conditioning company and are in
safe working order, and the facility is determined safe by the Division of Fire
Safety inspector, the fire inspection shall not be approved.
3. If a level of carbon monoxide is
determined that endangers the lives of the occupants, the Division of Fire
Safety inspector shall take measures necessary to protect the occupants. This
may include evacuation of the building or closing the facility. The facility
shall obtain and have on file at the facility, documentation verifying that all
gas-fired appliances were checked by a heating and air conditioning company and
are in safe working order. The facility shall be reinspected by the fire
inspector and determined safe before the occupants can return to the building
or the facility can reopen.
(H) At least one (1) portable (five pound (5
lb)) 2A-10B:C fire extinguisher shall be required in all facilities. One (1)
fire extinguisher shall be located in the kitchen. Additional fire
extinguishers shall be placed throughout the facility, with a travel distance
no greater than seventy-five feet (75') between fire extinguishers. Additional
fire extinguishers may be required by the Division of Fire Safety inspector
depending on the floor plan arrangement of space and the number of levels
used.
(I) Fire extinguishers shall
be installed and maintained according to the instructions of the Division of
Fire Safety inspector and inspected and approved annually by a fire
extinguisher company. Documentation of the inspection and approval shall be on
file at the facility and available for review by the Division of Fire Safety
inspector.
(J) Facilities using a
commercial stove, deep fryer, or two (2) home type ranges placed side by side,
or a home type range that produces a grease laden vapor shall be equipped with
a range hood and extinguishing system with an automatic cutoff of the fuel
supply and exhaust system in case of fire. The Division of Fire Safety
inspector shall inspect these systems to insure they are in good working
condition and installed/maintained correctly. The Division of Fire Safety
inspector shall base this inspection on National Fire Protection Association,
Chapter 96, Standard for Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking
Operations.
(K) The range hood fire
extinguishment system shall be connected to the control panel of the fire alarm
system. The activation of the range hood fire extinguishment system shall cause
the fire alarm system to activate throughout the building.
(7) Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning,
and Mechanical Equipment.
(A) Unvented
fuel-fired room heaters, portable electric space heaters and floor furnaces
shall not be permitted for use.
(B)
No facility shall be allowed to heat the home with a wood burning stove,
fireplace, or wood burning furnace located inside of the structure as a primary
source of heat.
(C) All gas and
electric heating equipment shall be equipped with thermostatic controls. All
water heaters, if gas fired, shall have the exhaust properly vented with
galvanized pipe with screws at all joints or with a material recommended by the
manufacturer. All water heaters shall have a properly sized pressure relief
valve installed with a drip leg. The drip leg pipe on the pressure relief valve
shall extend to approximately six inches (6") above the floor and shall be of
rigid material such as copper or black iron pipe. Chlorinated polyvinyl
chloride (CPVC) or PVC pipe can only be used if manufactured specifically for
use on drip legs. No drip leg may be reduced in size from the opening of
temperature and pressure valve.
(D)
Facilities with a water heater two hundred thousand British thermal units
(200,000 Btus) per hour input or larger, or that is heating with a boiler,
shall have a valid permit from the Division of Fire Safety posted on the
premises. A copy of the permit shall be kept on file at the Division of Fire
Safety.
(E) All furnace rooms
shall be properly vented. Furnace flue pipes shall be constructed of galvanized
pipe or material recommended by the manufacturer. All galvanized pipe shall be
secured by screws at every joint in the pipe.
(F) All joints in the gas supply pipe shall
be located outside of the furnace cabinet housing.
(G) A gas shutoff valve shall be located next
to all gas appliances, furnaces, hot water heaters.
(H) All furnaces shall be equipped with an
electrical fused switch to protect the unit from electrical overloading and to
disconnect the electrical supply.
(I) If a furnace or water heater is located
inside a garage, the burner or ignition source shall be at least eighteen
inches (18") above the finished floor and enclosed inside a fire resistant room
as described in subsection (4)(C) of this rule having a fire rating of thirty
(30) minutes. The door to this room shall also have a minimum thirty (30)
minute fire rating and have a door closure attached. Open penetrations,
including combustion air or return air vents, shall not be allowed to penetrate
these enclosures or doors. Louvers that close on activation of the fire alarm
or smoke detectors are allowed.
(J)
All furnace rooms and rooms containing the gas water heater shall have adequate
combustion air for the units. The vent size opening for the combustion air
shall be measured at one (1) square inch per one thousand (1,000) Btus input if
the combustion air is drawn from inside the structure and one (1) square inch
per four thousand (4,000) Btus input if the air is drawn from outside of the
structure. There shall be two (2) combustion air vent openings in each furnace
room, one (1) located at the lower level and the other at the upper level.
Combustion air or return air vents shall not penetrate the rated or smoke
enclosure.
(K) One (1) combustion
air vent opening shall be permitted if the vent opening communicates directly
to the outside of the structure. This opening shall be one (1) square inch per
three thousand (3,000) Btus input of the total gas appliances located in this
room. The gas appliances must be installed per the manufacturer's instructions
with proper clearance or have a minimum clearance of one inch (1") from the
sides and back, and six inches (6") from the front of the unit.
(L) Air conditioning, heating, ventilating
ductwork, and related equipment shall be installed in a safe manner and be in
good operating condition as determined by the Division of Fire Safety
inspector.
(M) Any furnace or air
handling equipment that has airflow of two thousand (2,000) cubic feet per
minute or more, shall have a fan shutdown switch that is interconnected with
the fire alarm system.
(N) All
elevators shall be inspected bi-annually by a state licensed elevator inspector
and shall obtain an annual state operating permit form from the Division of
Fire Safety and post it as required.
(O) If any combustibles are stored in a
furnace room, they must be enclosed in a metal container.
(8) Electrical Services.
(A) Electrical wiring shall be installed and
maintained in good working order. If the Division of Fire Safety considers the
wiring to be unsafe for the occupants or if it is installed improperly, an
inspection by a licensed electrician may be required prior to fire safety
approval. The inspection by the licensed electrician shall be based on National
Fire Protection Association, Chapter 70, National Electrical Code.
(B) No electrical extension cords will be
allowed, unless approved in writing by the Division of Fire Safety. Extension
cords shall not be permanently affixed to the structure or replace permanent
wiring. Exception: The use of UL approved fused power surge strips is
acceptable.
(9)
Equivalency Concepts. Nothing in this rule is intended to prevent the use of
systems, methods, or devices of equivalent or superior quality, strength, fire
resistance, effectiveness, durability, and safety as alternatives required by
this rule. These alternatives may be used only if technical documentation to
demonstrate equivalency and the system, method, or device is submitted and
approved by the Missouri Division of Fire Safety.
Notes
*Original authority: 630.655, RSMo 1980.
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