Administrative Rules of Montana
Department 37 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Chapter 37.106 - HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
Subchapter 37.106.16 - Minimum Standards for a Forensic Mental Health Facility
Rule 37.106.1611 - OBSERVATION AND SECLUSION ROOM(S)

(1) A forensic mental health facility must designate specific room(s) designed for observation, seclusion, and restraint purposes.

(2) The location of these rooms must facilitate staff observation and monitoring of clients in these areas.

(3) The room must be equipped with video and audio monitoring equipment.

(4) The room must have a minimum of 60 square feet and a ceiling height of nine feet. Ceilings in seclusion rooms must be monolithic.

(5) Rooms used for observation, seclusion, and restraint must be designed to prevent injury to clients. All finishes, light fixtures, vents and diffusers, and sprinklers must be tamper resistant. These rooms must not have: electrical outlets, medical gas outlets or similar devices; sharp corners, edges, or protrusions. The wall must be free of objects or accessories of any kind. Doors must swing out or be a slide in pocket door and have hardware on the exterior side only. The door must be a minimum width of 44 inches and include an impact resistant view panel for discreet staff observation of the client. The use of impact resistant one-way observation windows is permitted.