Pennsylvania Code
Title 28 - HEALTH AND SAFETY
Part V - Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
Chapter 705 - PHYSICAL PLANT STANDARDS
Subchapter B - NONRESIDENTIAL FACILITIES
Section 705.28 - Fire safety
Universal Citation: 28 PA Code ยง 705.28
Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a) Exits.
(1) The
nonresidential facility shall:
(i) Ensure that
stairways, hallways and exits from rooms and from the nonresidential facility
are unobstructed.
(ii) Maintain a
minimum of two exits on every floor, including the basement, that are separated
by a minimum distance of 15 feet.
(iii) Maintain each ramp, interior stairway
and outside steps exceeding two steps with a well-secured handrail and maintain
each porch that has over an 18 inch drop with a well-secured railing.
(iv) Clearly indicate exits by the use of
signs.
(v) Light interior exits and
stairs at all times.
(2)
Portable ladders and rope escapes are not considered exits, but may be used in
addition to standard exits.
(b) Smoke detectors and fire alarms. The nonresidential facility shall:
(1) Maintain a minimum of one operable
automatic smoke detector on each floor, including the basement and
attic.
(2) Place the smoke detector
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.
(5) Maintain automatic smoke detectors and
fire alarms of a type approved by the Department of Labor and Industry or by
the Underwriters Laboratories.
(c) Fire extinguishers. The nonresidential facility shall:
(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, there shall be 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.
(i) This fire extinguisher shall meet the
requirements of one portable fire extinguisher for a 2,000 square foot
area.
(ii) The extinguisher shall
be located near an exit and away from the cooking area.
(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 staff in
the use of the fire extinguisher upon staff employment. This instruction shall
be documented by the facility.
(d) Fire drills. The nonresidential facility shall:
(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, item, 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) Prepare
alternate exit routes to be used during fire drills.
(6) Conduct fire drills on different days of
the week, at different times of the day and on different staffing
shifts.
(7) Set off a fire alarm or
smoke detector during each fire drill.
(8) Prohibit the use of elevators during a
fire drill or a fire.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Pennsylvania 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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