Pennsylvania Code
Title 28 - HEALTH AND SAFETY
Part V - Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
Chapter 717 - STANDARDS FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL RECOVERY HOUSE LICENSURE
Section 717.30 - Safety and emergency procedures

Universal Citation: 28 PA Code ยง 717.30

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024

(a) Policies and procedures. The licensee shall develop and implement written policies and procedures for staff and residents to follow in an emergency which must include provisions for all of the following:

(1) The evacuation and transfer of residents, staff and volunteers to a safe location.

(2) Assignments of staff and volunteers during emergencies.

(3) The evacuation and transfer of residents impaired by alcohol or other drugs.

(4) Notification to the Department within 48 hours of a fire, other disaster or situation which affects the continuation of operations.

(b) Exits. The licensee shall do all of the following:

(1) Ensure that stairways, hallways and exits from rooms and from the drug and alcohol recovery house are unobstructed.

(2) Maintain a minimum of two unobstructed exits that are separated by a minimum distance of 15 feet on every floor that contains resident bedrooms. Equipment such as ladders and escapes located above the ground floor must be securely affixed to the house. Rooms, including resident bedrooms, that contain an exit must be unlocked and accessible to all residents in the event of an emergency.

(3) 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.

(4) Clearly indicate exits.

(5) Light interior exits and stairs at all times.

(c) Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

(1) The licensee shall do all of the following:
(i) Maintain at least one operable, automatic smoke detector on each floor, including the basement and attic.

(ii) Maintain a smoke detector within 15 feet of each bedroom door on floors with resident bedrooms.

(iii) Repair inoperable smoke detectors within 48 hours.

(iv) Maintain carbon monoxide detectors in drug and alcohol recovery houses that have heating systems in which carbon monoxide is a byproduct of the heating system and in drug and alcohol recovery houses with attached garages. The carbon monoxide detector must be located within 15 feet of the carbon monoxide source, audible to drug and alcohol recovery house residents and maintained in an operable state.

(v) Inspect, test and document that all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are functional monthly.

(2) Each smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector must be of a type approved by the Department of Labor and Industry or by the Underwriters Laboratories and must provide both and audible and visual alerts.

(d) Fire extinguishers. The licensee shall do all of the following:

(1) Maintain at least one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum of an ABC rating for every 2,000 square feet of space and fraction of it on each floor.

(2) Maintain at least one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum of an ABC rating in each kitchen in addition to the fire extinguishers required under paragraph (1). The extinguisher in the kitchen must 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 must be indicated on the extinguisher or inspection tag; the licensee shall replace or repair a fire extinguisher found to be inoperable within 48 hours.

This section cited in 28 Pa. Code § 717.6 (relating to application and renewal); and 28 Pa. Code § 717.29 (relating to physical plant standards).

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