Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) Emergency power
systems must meet the requirements of NFPA 99 applicable to existing
facilities, for the risk category determined by the requirements of §
554.300(i) of this subchapter (relating to General Requirements), and the
requirements of this section. Rehabilitation or modernization of an existing
emergency power system must be based on the assessed risk category and
according to the requirements of NFPA 99 for new health care
facilities.
(b) An emergency
electrical power system must supply power adequate at least for lighting all
entrances and exits, equipment to maintain the fire detection, alarm, and
extinguishing systems, and any systems or equipment whose failure is likely to
cause major injury or death to a resident if the normal electrical supply is
interrupted. Emergency electrical services by generator or battery must be
provided to comply with the provisions of NFPA 70. Battery systems must be
capable of sustaining power for a duration of at least one and one-half hours.
(1) The emergency electrical power system
must supply the following systems :
(A)
illumination for means of egress, nurses' stations, medication rooms, dining
and living rooms, and areas immediately outside of exit doors;
(B) exit signs and exit directional signs
required by NFPA 101;
(C) alarm
systems, including fire alarms activated by manual stations, water flow alarm
devices of sprinkler systems, fire and smoke detecting systems, and alarms
required for nonflammable medical gas systems if installed;
(D) task illumination and selected
receptacles at any required or provided generator set location;
(E) selected duplex receptacles, including
receptacles in resident corridors, each resident-bed location where systems or
equipment is used whose failure is likely to cause major injury or death to a
resident, nurses' stations, medication rooms, including biological
refrigerator, if a generator is required or provided;
(F) nurse call systems;
(G) resident room night lights when
provided;
(H) elevator cab
lighting, control, and communication systems;
(I) all facility telephone equipment;
and
(J) those paging or speaker
systems that are necessary for the communication plan for an emergency. Radio
transceivers that are necessary for emergency use must be capable of operating
for at least one hour upon total failure of both normal and emergency
power.
(2) If the
emergency electrical power system supplies other systems the facility considers
critical to operation, the transfer to the emergency power source must be by
delayed automatic connection.
(3)
The emergency lighting must be automatically in operation within 10 seconds
after the interruption of normal electrical power supply. Emergency service to
receptacles and equipment may be a delayed automatic connection. Receptacles
connected to emergency power must be of a uniform and distinctive color. Stored
fuel capacity must be sufficient for not less than four hours of required
generator operation.
(4) An
emergency motor generator, if provided, must meet the following standards:
(A) any emergency generator must be installed
in accordance with NFPA 37, NFPA 110 and NFPA 99;
(B) generators located on the exterior of the
building must be provided with a noncombustible protective cover or be
protected as per manufacturer's recommendations; and
(C) motor generators fueled by public utility
natural gas must have the capacity to be manually or automatically switched to
an alternate fuel source, as specified in NFPA 70.
(5) Wiring for the emergency system must be
in accordance with NFPA 70.
(c) When the failure of systems or equipment
is likely to cause major injury or death to a resident, such as the failure of
a mechanical ventilator used to support or completely control breathing, the
facility must provide emergency electrical power with an emergency generator
as, defined in NFPA 99, located on the premises.
