Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
All Boarding homes shall comply with the current applicable
requirements of the state fire marshal, or local fire authority having
jurisdiction, for fire prevention, safety, and fire safety systems. All
equipment shall be properly maintained and inspected as recommended by the
manufacturer, state fire marshal, or the local fire authority.
A. Fire clearance and inspections: Each
boarding home must request from the state fire marshal, or local fire authority
having jurisdiction, an annual fire inspection. Records of inspection shall be
kept on file in the boarding home.
(1) Copies
of the fire inspection records must be kept on file at the boarding home for
the following:
(a) fire
extinguishers;
(b) smoke and fire
alarm systems;
(c) automatic
detection equipment, including carbon monoxide detectors;
(d) kitchen hoods with fire
suppression;
(e) automatic fire
suppression systems, and
(f) other
fire safety equipment.
(2) If the policy of the fire authority
having jurisdiction does not provide for annual inspection of the boarding
home, the boarding home must document the date the request was made and to
whom. If the fire authorities conduct annual inspections, a copy of the latest
inspection must be kept on file in the boarding home.
B. Staff fire and safety training: All staff
of the boarding home must know the location of, and be instructed in proper use
of fire extinguishers, fire safety systems, and other procedures to be observed
in case of fire or other emergencies.
(1)
Boarding home staff must be instructed as part of their duties to constantly
strive to detect and eliminate potential safety hazards, such as loose
handrails, frayed electrical cords, faulty equipment, blocked exits or exit
ways, and any other condition which could cause burns, falls, or other personal
injury to the residents or staff.
(2) The boarding home should request the fire
authority having jurisdiction to give periodic instruction in fire prevention
and techniques of evacuation.
C. Evacuation plan: Each boarding home must
have a fire evacuation plan conspicuously posted in each separate area of the
building for residents in case of fire or other emergencies, showing routes of
evacuation and designated areas to meet. Staff shall be trained to direct and
assist residents during an emergency evacuation.
D. Fire drills: All facilities shall conduct
monthly fire drills which are to be documented. A record of the monthly fire
drills shall be maintained on file in the boarding home and readily available.
There shall be at least one documented fire drill per month. There shall be one
documented fire drill for each daily work shift (i.e.: day, night or graveyard)
per quarter, that employs the use of the fire alarm system or the detector
system in the boarding home. Fire drill records shall show:
(1) the date and time of the drill;
(2) the number of staff participating in the
drill;
(3) any problem noted during
the drill;
(4) the evacuation time
in total minutes, and
(5) if
applicable, the local fire department may be requested to supervise and
participate in fire drills.
E. Fire alarms, smoke detectors and other
equipment: The system shall comply with the current applicable requirements of
the state fire marshal, or local fire authority having jurisdiction.
(1) Facilities shall have an automatic fire
alarm system, if required by the authority having jurisdiction. The fire alarm
system(s) shall be inspected and approved in writing by the fire authority with
jurisdiction.
(2) Approved smoke
detectors that when activated provides an alarm which is audible in all
sleeping areas shall be installed on each floor. Areas of assembly, such as the
dining, living or activity room(s) must also be provided with smoke
detectors.
(3) Approved carbon
monoxide detectors that when activated provides an alarm which is audible in
all sleeping areas shall be installed on each floor.
F. Fire extinguishers: Fire extinguisher(s)
shall be installed in the boarding home, as approved by the state fire marshal
or the local fire prevention authority with jurisdiction.
(1) Facilities must as a minimum have two
2A10BC fire extinguishers:
(a) One
extinguisher located in the kitchen or food preparation area.
(b) One extinguisher centrally located in the
boarding home.
(c) The maximum
distance between fire extinguishers shall be 50 feet.
(d) All fire extinguishers shall be inspected
yearly, recharged as needed and tagged noting the date of the
inspection.
(2) Fire
extinguishers, alarm systems, automatic detection equipment and other
firefighting equipment shall be properly maintained and inspected as
recommended by the manufacturer, state fire marshal, or the local fire
authority.
G. Automatic
fire protection (fire sprinkler) system: Facilities shall have an automatic
fire protection (sprinkler) system. The system shall be in accordance with the
New Mexico commercial building code, international building code (IBC), current
edition as adopted by the New Mexico construction industries division and local
building codes as applied by the state fire marshal, or local fire authority
having jurisdiction.
(1) Exception: Boarding
homes designated as "R-3" in the New Mexico commercial building codes, with 10
transient residents or less, are not required to have a fire sprinkler system,
when they are housed in a one- or two-family dwellings units that are not more
than three stories above grade plane in height and that have separate means of
egress (as referenced in section 310.5 Residential Group R-3).
(2) Exception: Boarding homes designated as
"R-3" in the New Mexico commercial building code, with 16 nontransient
residents or less, are not required to have a fire sprinkler system, when they
are housed in a one- or two-family dwellings units that are not more than three
stories above grade plane in height and that have separate means of egress (as
referenced in section 310.5 Residential Group R-3).
