26 Tex. Admin. Code § 554.356 - Smoke Compartments (Subdivision of Building Spaces) for New Facilities
(a) Smoke
compartments must be as described in NFPA 101 and in this section.
(b) A facility must provide an exit sign on
each side of corridor smoke barrier doors, unless otherwise directed by HHSC.
(c) The metal frame for a vision
panel in a smoke barrier door must be steel, unless otherwise approved by HHSC.
The bottom of a vision panel must be located no more than 43 inches above the
floor. A facility must provide push or pull hardware on pairs of opposite
swinging, double egress smoke barrier doors in corridors. Door leaves must
align in the closed position.
(d) A
facility must provide prominent signs on each side of smoke barrier walls in
concealed spaces such as attics. The signs must state: "Warning: Smoke/fire
barrier. Properly seal all openings."
(e) A facility must provide reasonable access
to concealed smoke barrier walls for maintaining smoke dampers, where provided,
so that walls and dampers can periodically be visually checked for conformance
by facility staff, service personnel, and inspectors. A facility must provide
access to both sides of the wall, and to all parts, end-to-end and
top-to-bottom. A facility must provide prefabricated metal ceiling access
panels, or their equivalent, that are at least 20 inches wide by 20 inches
long. Ceiling access panels must be fire resistance-rated if required to
maintain the fire resistance rating of a roof-ceiling or floor-ceiling
assembly.
(f) A facility should
design air systems to avoid ducts that penetrate smoke barrier walls, thus
eliminating the need for smoke dampers which are often a problem to maintain in
proper working condition.
Notes
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