Header:
WISCONSIN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
CHAPTER DHS 132. NURSING HOMES
SUBCHAPTER VIII -- LIFE SAFETY, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Date:
08/31/2009
Document:
DHS 132.82 Life safety code.
(1) APPLICABILITY. Facilities shall meet the applicable provisions of the 2000 edition of the Life Safety Code.
Note: Copies of the 2000 Life Safety Code and related codes are on file in the Department's Division of Quality Assurance and the Legislative Reference Bureau, and may be obtained from the National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park. Quincy, MA 02269.
(2) FIRE SAFETY EVALUATION SYSTEM. A proposed or existing facility not meeting all requirements of the applicable life safety code shall be considered in compliance if it achieves a passing score on the Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES), developed by the United States department of commerce, national bureau of standards, to establish safety equivalencies under the life safety code.
(3) RESIDENT SAFETY AND DISASTER PLAN. (a) Disaster plan. 1. Each facility shall have a written procedure which shall be followed in case of fire or other disasters, and which shall specify persons to be notified, locations of alarm signals and fire extinguishers, evacuation routes, procedures for evacuating helpless residents, frequency of fire drills, and assignment of specific tasks and responsibilities to the personnel of each shift and each discipline.
2. The plan shall be developed with the assistance of qualified fire and safety experts, including the local fire authority.
3. All employees shall be oriented to this plan and trained to perform assigned tasks.
4. The plan shall be available at each nursing station.
5. The plan shall include a diagram of the immediate floor area showing the exits, fire alarm stations, evacuation routes, and locations of fire extinguishers. The diagram shall be posted in conspicuous locations in the corridor throughout the facility.
(b) Drills. Fire drills shall be held at irregular intervals at least 4 times a year on each shift and the plan shall be reviewed and modified as necessary. Records of drills and dates of drills shall be maintained.
(c) Fire inspections. The administrator of the facility shall arrange for fire protection as follows:
1. At least semiannual inspection of the facility shall be made by the local fire inspection authorities. Signed certificates of such inspections shall be kept on file in the facility.
2. Certification by the local fire authority as to the fire safety of the facility and to the adequacy of a written fire plan for orderly evacuation of residents shall be obtained and kept on file in the facility.
3. Where the facility is located in a city, village, or township that does not have an official established fire department, the licensee shall obtain and maintain a continuing contract for fire protection service with the nearest municipality providing such service. A certification of the existence of such contract shall be kept on file in the facility.
Note: See NFPA 10, 1973 edition.
(e) Fire report. All incidents of fire in a facility shall be reported to the department within 72 hours.
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