5123:2-3-11 Fire safety and emergency response plans.

 

 

 

TO BE RESCINDED

 

5123:2-3-11                 Fire control and evacuation and emergency response plans.

 

 

 

(A)  Purpose

 

The purpose of this rule is to establish standards for fire safety and emergency response to severe weather conditions and other natural disasters.

 

(B)  Fire control and evacuation plan

 

The licensee shall develop and implement a written fire control and evacuation plan.

 

(1)  A graphic plan shall be posted unobstructedly on each floor of the facility and in an area most appropriate for the posting of staff information. The graphic plan shall include:

 

(a)   A primary and secondary means of egress from each floor.

 

(b)   The location of all fire equipment including:

 

(i)   Pull stations;

 

(ii)   Fire escapes; and

 

(iii)   Fire system control panels.

 

(c)   The telephone number of the local fire authority or 911.

 

(2)   The licensee shall develop, in writing, the following:

 

(a)   Instructions for operating or resetting fire system control panels;

 

(b)     Designation  of  assigned  meeting  places  after  fire  evacuation  of  the residential facility;

 

(c)    A procedure for permitting re-entry to the residential facility following a fire drill/evacuation; and

 

(d)    A general fire safety policy which addresses smoking regulations and storage of combustible materials.

 

 

(C)  Fire safety and evacuation training

Each employee of a residential facility shall receive instruction and training in fire safety and evacuation within thirty days of employment. Each individual shall receive training in fire safety and evacuation appropriate to his/her functioning level and needs as indicated in the individual's plan within thirty days of residency. The training shall be approved by the department or the local or state fire authority.

(1)    Each individual shall participate in a documented review of appropriate fire safety and evacuation training at least once during a twelve-month period. Individuals may be trained to assist one another in case of fire to the extent their physical and mental abilities permit them to do so without additional personal risk.

(2)      Each employee shall participate in a documented review of fire safety, evacuation procedures, and operation of the facility's fire protection and warning systems at least once during a twelve-month period.

(D)  Fire safety standards

(1)   Residential facility with six or more individuals

(a)   Fire drills shall be conducted at least six times per year, with at least two drills a year conducted during the morning and the afternoon and at least one drill per year held during the time when individuals are routinely asleep. The licensee shall complete an evaluation of each drill within two weeks following the drill and, if indicated, shall develop a written plan of improvement. Drills are not required to be unannounced.

(b)    Individuals shall actually be evacuated during at least one drill for each twelve-month period.

(c)   The facility shall be equipped with the following:

(i)    An automatic sprinkler system meeting the requirements of NFPA 13-D, "Sprinkler Systems in One and Two Family Dwellings." The sprinkler system shall be interconnected with the smoke and fire detection and alarm system.

(ii)    An automatic sprinkler system meeting the requirements of NFPA 13,  "Standard  for  the  Installation  of  Sprinkler  Systems"  if  a

residential facility has seventeen or more individuals, or if a residential facility with six to sixteen individuals is impractical of evacuation (thirteen minutes or more). The sprinkler system shall be interconnected with the smoke and fire detection and alarm system. A new residential facility with six to sixteen individuals and classified under the provisions of the Ohio building code as an I-1 use group on or after May 18, 1995, shall be required to have a sprinkler system meeting the requirements of NFPA 13-R, "Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies Up to Four Stories in Height."

(iii)       A smoke and fire detection and alarm system meeting the requirements of NFPA 72, "National Fire Alarm Code" depending upon the nature of the physical facility involved and such other standards as required by the appropriate building and fire officials.

(iv)   Fire alarm pull stations near each main exit and in the natural path of escape from a fire, at readily accessible and visable points which are not likely to be obstructed.

(v)    A fire extinguisher, approved by the fire inspector, on each floor and located along the normal path of travel to an exit.

(d)   The residential facility shall provide for two means of exit remote from each other for each floor level except basements which are not used as activity or program areas and are limited to laundry use and storage.

(2)   Residential facility with five or fewer individuals

(a)   Fire drills shall be conducted at least six times per year, with at least two drills a year conducted during the morning and the afternoon and at least one drill per year held during the time when individuals are routinely asleep. The licensee shall complete an evaluation of each drill within two weeks following the drill and shall, if indicated, develop a written plan of improvement. Drills are not required to be unannounced.

(b)    Individuals shall actually be evacuated during at least one drill for each twelve-month period.

(c)   The facility shall be equipped with the following:

(i)   At least a single station smoke detector on each floor of the facility. The smoke detector(s) shall be mounted on the ceiling or wall at a point centrally located in the corridor or area giving access to rooms used for sleeping purposes. Where sleeping rooms are on an upper level, the detector shall be placed at the center of the ceiling directly above the stairway. All detectors shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. (Note: when the detectors are wall-mounted, they shall be located within twelve inches, but no closer than four inches, of the ceiling.) Care shall be exercised to ensure that the installation will not interfere with the operating characteristics of the detector. When activated, the detector shall provide an alarm audible in the residential facility.

(ii)   A fire extinguisher, approved by the fire inspector, on each floor.

(iii)        An approved fire alarm system, which includes bells/sirens/horns/lights or other equipment as may be appropriate, when services are provided to individuals who are visually and/or hearing impaired.

(iv)   An automatic sprinkler system meeting the requirements of NFPA 13-D, "Sprinkler Systems - One and Two Family Dwellings" and a smoke detection system as required in paragraph (D)(2)(c)(i) of this rule, if the residential facility is not capable of being promptly evacuated (in three minutes or less).

(3)    No exit, stairway, corridor, ramp, elevator, fire escape, or other means of exit from a building shall be used for storage purposes or otherwise obstructed from use in case of emergency.

(4)    The licensee shall ensure that all sprinkler systems, fire alarms, extinguishing systems, and other safety equipment are properly maintained.

(5)   The department may utilize the NFPA 101, 1985 edition, life safety code, "Fire Safety Evaluation System" to determine if additional life safety requirements are needed.

(6)   The licensee shall report any fire responded to by a local fire department to the licensure office within two working days.

(E)  Emergency response plan

The licensee shall develop and implement a written emergency response plan for severe weather conditions and other natural disasters, i.e., tornado watches and warnings.

(1)   A graphic plan shall be posted unobstructedly on each floor of the facility and in an area most appropriate for the posting of staff information. The graphic plan may be combined with the fire control and evacuation plan required under paragraph (B) of this rule.

(2)   Each employee of a residential facility shall receive instruction and training in emergency response within thirty days of employment. Each individual shall receive training in emergency response appropriate to his/her functioning level and needs as indicated in the individual's plan within thirty days of residency. The training shall be approved by the department or the local or state fire authority.

(3)    Each employee and individual shall participate during each calendar year in a documented review of the emergency response plan to be followed during severe weather conditions and other natural disasters.

(4)   The licensee shall conduct and document a drill of the emergency response plan at least once during a twelve-month period.

Replaces:                                                     5123:2-3-15

Effective:                                                     01/01/2006

R.C. 119.032 review dates:                         09/30/2005

CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY

Certification

12/05/2005

Date

Promulgated Under:                           119.03

Statutory Authority:                           5123.04, 5123.19

Rule Amplifies:                                  5123.04, 5123.19

Prior Effective Dates:                         10/31/77, 6/12/81, 11/14/85 (Emer.), 5/5/86, 8/31/86,

10/12/87, 11/16/90, 12/9/91, 5/18/95, 4/27/00