Texas Administrative Code
Title 26 - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Part 1 - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
Chapter 551 - INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY OR RELATED CONDITIONS
Subchapter D - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
Section 551.65 - Fire Alarms, Detection Systems, and Sprinkler Systems
Universal Citation: 26 TX Admin Code § 551.65
Current through Reg. 50, No. 13; March 28, 2025
(a) General. Fire alarms, detection systems, and sprinkler systems must be as required by NFPA 101, NFPA 72, NFPA 13, NFPA 13R, or NFPA 13D, as specified in NFPA 101, Chapter 32, New Residential Board and Care Occupancies and Chapter 33, Existing Residential Board and Care Occupancies, and as modified in this section.
(1) Each building must have an approved fire
alarm system.
(2) Components must
be compatible and laboratory listed for the use intended.
(3) Wiring and circuitry for alarm systems
must meet the applicable requirements of NFPA Codes, including NFPA 70, for
such systems.
(4) Fire alarm
systems must be installed, maintained, and repaired by an agent having a
current certificate of registration with the state fire marshal's office of the
Texas Commission on Fire Protection, in accordance with the state law. A fire
alarm system installation certificate must be provided as required by the State
Fire Marshal's Office. An exception is that large facilities who have
professional engineers on staff that are qualified in electrical and electronic
installations are not required to have a certificate of registration with the
State Fire Marshal's Office, provided they do not sell, install, or maintain
fire alarm systems commercially.
(5) Smoke detector sensitivity must be
checked within one year after installation and every alternate year thereafter
in accordance with NFPA 72. Documentation, including as-built installation
drawings, operation and maintenance manuals, and a written sequence of
operation must be available for examination by HHSC.
(b) Fire alarm and smoke detection and sprinkler systems for small facilities.
(1) A
manual alarm initiating system must be provided and must be supplemented by an
automatic smoke detection and alarm initiation system in accordance with NFPA
101, Chapter 9, Building Service and Fire Protection Equipment, Section 9-6,
Fire Detection, Alarm, and Communications Systems.
(2) Smoke detectors must be installed in
resident bedrooms, corridors, hallways, and common living/dining areas. Service
areas such as laundries and kitchens must have heat detectors in lieu of smoke
detectors.
(3) The fire alarm
control panel must be located to be in view of staff. The primary power source
for the complete fire alarm system must be commercial electric.
(4) Emergency power source must be from
storage batteries or on-site engine-driven generator set.
(5) The operation of any alarm initiating
device will sound an audible or visual alarm at the site.
(6) The facility must have a written contract
with a fire alarm company or person licensed by the State Fire Marshal's Office
to maintain the fire alarm system semiannually, and the system will be
inspected as specified in the contract.
(7) Facilities classified as "impractical
evacuation capability," must be protected by a sprinkler system in compliance
with NFPA 13, NFPA 13R, or NFPA 13D with additional requirements for coverage
in all dwelling areas and all closets as specified by NFPA 101, Chapter 32, New
Residential Board and Care Occupancies, and Chapter 33, Existing Residential
Board and Care Occupancies.
(c) Fire alarm and emergency systems for large facilities.
(1) The fire alarm system
must be designed so that whenever the general alarm is sounded by activation of
any device (manual pull, smoke sensor, sprinkler, kitchen range hood
extinguisher, or other device) the following must occur automatically.
(A) Smoke and fire doors which are held open
by approved devices must be released to close.
(B) Air handlers (air conditioning/heating
distribution fans) serving three or more rooms or any means of egress must shut
down immediately.
(C) Smoke dampers
must close.
(D) The proper zone
indicating lights must show on the fire alarm control panel, including
auxiliary panels.
(2)
Fire alarm bells or horns must be located throughout the building for audible
coverage. Flashing alarm lights (visual alarms) of proper intensity must be
installed to be visible in corridors and public areas including dining rooms
and living rooms.
(3) A master
control panel must be visible at the main staff station which has alarm and
trouble conditions by zones, power-on lights, and required signal devices for
trouble conditions. All control panels must be listed in accordance with the
provisions of the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) for the intended use,
i.e., manual, automatic, and water flow activation. Alarm and trouble zoning
must be by smoke compartments and by floors in multi-story
facilities.
(4) Remote annunciator
panels equipped with alarm by zone and a common trouble signal (both audible
and visual) must be located at auxiliary or secondary staff stations on each
floor or major subdivisions of single story facilities, that will indicate the
alarm condition of adjacent zones and the alarm conditions at all other staff
stations.
(5) Manual pull stations
must be provided at all exits, living rooms, dining rooms, and at or near the
staff stations.
(6) The NFPA 13
sprinkler system must be interconnected with the fire alarm panel as a separate
zone for alarm and trouble. Activation of the tamper switch will provide a
trouble condition on the fire alarm panel that will not impair the operation of
the alarm.
(7) The kitchen range
hood extinguisher must be interconnected with the fire alarm system. This
interconnection may be a separate zone on the panel or combined with other
initiating devices located in the same zone as the range hood is
located.
(8) The fire alarm system
must be arranged to transmit an alarm automatically to the fire department
legally committed to serve the area in which the facility is located by the
most direct and reliable method allowed by NFPA 101.
(9) Partial sprinkler systems (those provided
only for hazardous areas) must be interconnected to the fire alarm system and
comply with NFPA 101. Each partial system must have a valve with a supervisory
switch to sound a supervisory signal, water flow switch to activate the fire
alarm, and an end of line test drain.
(10) Emergency electrical services must be
provided to comply with the provisions of NFPA 70. This includes such items as
emergency power provided by generator or batteries for fire alarm systems,
emergency egress lighting, call systems, TV cameras and monitors (if used for
corridor observation), life support systems, or designated wall receptacles.
The system must comply with NFPA 99 and NFPA 37.
(11) Elevators, escalators, and moving walks.
Elevators must comply with the provisions of NFPA 101 and American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators (American
Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)) A17.1. Elevators are required for
buildings having resident facilities (such as bedrooms, dining, or recreation
areas) or services (such as diagnostic or therapy) located on other than the
main entrance floor. Passenger elevators, escalators, and walks must be
inspected by a qualified agent at least every six months. Freight elevators and
dumbwaiters must be inspected every 12 months.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Texas 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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