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The Joint Commission and CMS, as authorities having jurisdiction who have adopted the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code, include enforcement is part of accreditation. (NOTE: this standard does not require these types of fire safety equipment and building features, however if these types of equipment or features exist, then they must be tested as required in the standard.) Compliance It is also a great time for staff to reflect on what would they do in an actual event. Although Facilities tries to combine as many activities into each test to reduce disruption, they are dependent on their clinical colleagues to reassure patients that the alarm they are hearing is a test that confirms the reliability of the fire protection system. Doors held open by magnetic hold opens close, audible alarms sound and visual strobes activate. Many of these system tests affect the daily activities of the healthcare organization as features are activated. The Joint Commission requires twenty systems be tested or inspected as often as weekly, monthly, quarterly and up to annually. Occupant notification, which seems disruptive, is designed to alert staff as soon as possible so they can implement the fire response plan, as well as establishing compliance with the Joint Commission and CMS. In every post-event debrief I have ever conducted I have consistently heard from clinical staff that although they did not appreciate the fire drills as they never seemed ‘convenient’ those same staff then stated that is was these very drills that enabled them to know exactly what to do to protect and aid their patients.
Hospital fire sprinkler system design code#
It is generally felt by many that these fire drills are redundant, but as a code requirement, they are not optional. Included in the fire drill is a requirement to activate the fire alarm system, which includes audible and visual alarms. The Joint Commission requires each organization to have a specific fire response plan and exercise this plan by conducting fire drills once per shift per quarter.
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Those components that are designed to alert occupants of an emergency condition must be understood by all staff. For example, doors held open by magnetic hold opens close, audible alarms sound and visual strobes activate, which are obvious.
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Some of the features of fire protection are obvious to the staff and public, others are not. This is possible because of how our hospitals are built, the protection such as sprinklers, and other features of fire safety. In this environment we do not evacuate immediately in a fire or other emergency condition, but rather ‘defend in place’ (See Building Compartmentation Discussion below) by keeping the patients in their beds and rooms. Clinical Impact - Features of Fire SafetyĬlinical staff must have a basic understanding of the Features of Fire Safety as they work in the healthcare environment. EC.02.03.05: The organization maintains fire safety equipment and fire safety building features. This content includes information linking Environment of Care and Life Safety Code deficiencies and their impact on patient care and patient safety.