Pennsylvania Code
Title 28 - HEALTH AND SAFETY
Part V - Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
Chapter 705 - PHYSICAL PLANT STANDARDS
Subchapter A - RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES
Section 705.10 - Fire safety

(1) The residential facility shall:

(2) Portable ladders and rope escapes are not considered exits, but may be used in addition to standard exits.

(1) Maintain a minimum of one operable, automatic smoke detector on each floor, including the basement and attic.

(2) On floors with resident bedrooms, maintain a smoke detector which shall be located within 15 feet of each bedroom door. On floors with no resident bedrooms, the smoke detection device shall be located in a common area or hallway. All detection devices shall be interconnected.

(3) Repair inoperable smoke detectors or fire alarms within 48 hours of the time the detector or alarm is found to be inoperative.

(4) Maintain a manual fire alarm system that is audible throughout the facility in a residential facility where four or more residents reside.

(5) Maintain automatic smoke detectors and fire alarms of a type approved by the Department of Labor and Industry or by the Underwriters Laboratories.

(6) Maintain all smoke detectors and fire alarms so that each person with a hearing impairment will be alerted in the event of a fire, if one or more residents or staff persons are not able to hear the smoke detector or fire alarm system.

(1) Maintain a portable fire extinguisher with a minimum of an ABC rating, which shall be located on each floor. If there is more than 2,000 square feet of floor space on a floor, the residential facility shall maintain an additional fire extinguisher for each 2,000 square feet or fraction thereof.

(2) Maintain at least one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum of an ABC rating in each kitchen.

(3) Ensure fire extinguishers are inspected and approved annually by the local fire department or fire extinguisher company. The date of the inspection shall be indicated on the extinguisher or inspection tag. If a fire extinguisher is found to be inoperable, it shall be replaced or repaired within 48 hours of the time it was found to be inoperable.

(4) Instruct all staff in the use of the fire extinguishers upon staff employment. This instruction shall be documented by the facility.

(1) Conduct unannounced fire drills at least once a month.

(2) Conduct fire drills during normal staffing conditions.

(3) Ensure that all personnel on all shifts are trained to perform assigned tasks during emergencies.

(4) Maintain a written fire drill record including the date, time, the amount of time it took for evacuation, the exit route used, the number of persons in the facility at the time of the drill, problems encountered and whether the fire alarm or smoke detector was operative.

(5) Conduct a fire drill during sleeping hours at least every 6 months.

(6) Prepare alternate exit routes to be used during fire drills.

(7) Conduct fire drills on different days of the week, at different times of the day and night and on different staffing shifts.

(8) Set off a fire alarm or smoke detector during each fire drill.

(9) Prohibit the use of elevators during a fire drill or a fire.