South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 71 - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION-DIVISION OF LABOR
Article 8 - OFFICE OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL
Subarticle 2 - FIRE PREVENTION AND LIFE SAFETY FOR SPECIAL OCCUPANCIES
Section 71-8301.3 - Requirements for Special Occupancies

Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 71-8301.3

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 3, March 22, 2024

A. All Foster Home Facilities

1. Foster homes providing care, maintenance, and supervision for no more than six (6) children, including the natural or adopted children of the foster parent; shall comply with the following:
a. Must be a facility designed and constructed with the intent to be used as a dwelling per applicable statutes and regulations.

b. At least one (1) portable fire extinguisher with a minimum classification of 2A:10BC shall be installed near cooking areas. The fire extinguishers shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

c. Each facility housing foster children shall maintain means of egress as required by original construction.

d. All heating devices must be selected, used, and installed per the manufacturer's recommendations and the listing conditions set by an approved testing laboratory.

e. Unvented gas heaters shall have an operating oxygen depletion device, an operating safety shutoff device, and shall be located or guarded to prevent burn injuries.

f. Fireplaces shall be equipped with fire screens, partitions, or other means to protect clients from burns.

g. A fire escape plan describing what actions are to be taken by the family in the event of a fire must be developed and posted.

h. A fire escape drill shall be conducted every three (3) months.

i. Records of the drills shall be maintained on the premises for three (3) years. The records shall give the date, time, and weather conditions during the drill, number evacuated, description, and evaluation of the fire drill. Fire drills shall include complete evacuation of all persons from the building.

j. A fire escape drill shall be conducted within twenty-four (24) hours of the arrival of each new foster child.

k. Portable unvented fuel-fired heating equipment shall be prohibited in all foster homes.

l. An approved carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed and maintained outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedroom in dwelling units within which fuel fired appliances are installed and in dwelling units that have attached garages.

m. Each sleeping room must have an operable door that closes and latches to provide compartmentation that protects occupants in case of a fire event.

n. The dwelling shall be free of dangers that constitute an obvious fire hazard, such as faulty electrical cords, overloaded electrical sockets, or an accumulation of papers, paint, or other flammable material stored in the dwelling.

o. Facilities serving as a foster home shall have approved address numbers placed in a position that is plainly legible and visible from the street. Address number shall be a minimum of 4 inches high with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inch and shall contrast with their background.

p. Listed smoke alarms shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions and in the following locations:
(i) On the ceiling or wall outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms; and

(ii) In each room used for sleeping purposes; and

(iii) In each habitable story within a dwelling.

q. Listed smoke alarms shall be powered from:
(i) the electrical system of the dwelling as the primary power source and a battery as a secondary power source;

(ii) a battery rated for a 10-year life, provided the smoke alarm is listed for use with a 10-year battery; or

(iii) battery power that is part of a listed wireless interconnected smoke alarm unit.

r. All sleeping rooms below the fourth story shall have emergency escape and rescue openings that open from the inside.

s. Such emergency escape and rescue openings shall be sized and configured in accordance with the applicable code requirements.

2. Foster homes that do not comply with Section A.1.s. above, shall have one of the following:
a. Listed smoke alarms required to be installed by Section A.1.p. above shall be interconnected in such a manner that the activation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the dwelling unit. Physical interconnection of smoke alarms shall not be required where listed wireless alarms are installed and all alarms sound upon activation of one alarm; or

b. A residential fire sprinkler system in accordance with the applicable statutes, regulations, and adopted codes.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. South Carolina 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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