Alabama Administrative Code
Title 420 - ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
Chapter 420-5-4 - ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES
Section 420-5-4-.11 - Fire And Safety
Universal Citation: AL Admin Code R 420-5-4-.11
Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 11, August 30, 2024
(1) General.
(a) Fire Safety and
Emergency Plan. All assisted living facilities shall maintain a current written
fire safety, relocation, and evacuation plan. In facilities which do not have
multiple smoke compartments, an evacuation floor plan shall be appropriately
posted in a conspicuous place.
(b)
Fire Drills. Fire drills shall be conducted at least once per month in all
facilities at varying times and days and quarterly on each shift of Group and
Congregate facilities. All fire drills shall be initiated by the fire alarm
system. The drills may be announced in advance to the residents. The drills
shall involve the actual evacuation of residents to assembly areas in adjacent
smoke compartments or to the exterior as specified in the emergency plan to
provide staff and residents with experience in exiting through all exits
required by the currently adopted Life Safety Code. Written
observations of the effectiveness of the fire drill plan shall be assessed
monthly, filed, and kept for at least three years.
(c) Fire Drills During Resident Sleeping
Hours. When drills are conducted between 9 PM and 6 AM, a coded announcement
shall be permitted to be used instead of the normal audible fire alarm signals.
These drills may be conducted without disturbing sleeping residents, by using
simulated residents or empty wheelchairs.
(d) Roller latches are prohibited on doors
separating corridors from adjacent spaces.
(e) If alcohol-based hand rub dispensers are
used in the facility, the dispensers must be installed in a manner that:
1. Minimizes leaks and spills.
2. Adequately protects against inappropriate
access.
3. Complies with the
requirements of the currently adopted Life Safety
Code.
(f) Fire
Alarm and Sprinkler System.
1. Fire Alarm
System. Where fire alarm systems are required, a corridor smoke detection
system shall be installed on each floor, including areas open to the exit
access corridor, to comply with NFPA 12, connected to the
facility's fire alarm system. In lieu of corridor smoke detection, smoke
detectors connected to the building fire alarm system may be installed in each
resident's room, open areas, and at smoke doors (except that corridor smoke
detection shall not be deleted when its use is dictated by other
requirements).
2. Fire alarm and
sprinkler system outages of more than 4 hours require evacuation of the
facility or the establishment of a continuous fire watch. The fire watch
procedure must be coordinated with the Department and the local Fire Marshal.
Outages and fire watch documentation shall be reported to the Department within
12 hours or no later than the next duty day, and shall be corrected
expeditiously.
3. The fire alarm
system and the sprinkler system shall be inspected by licensed, trained, and
qualified personnel at least semiannually for compliance with the respective
codes. Inspection and testing reports shall be maintained in the facility for a
period of at least 3 years.
Author: Victor Hunt
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 22-21-20, et seq.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Alabama may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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