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WISCONSIN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
CHAPTER DHS 134. FACILITIES SERVING PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
SUBCHAPTER VII -- LIFE SAFETY, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Date:
08/31/2009
Document:
DHS 134.82 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 EQUIVALENCY DETERMINATION. An existing facility that does not meet all the requirements of the applicable Life Safety Code may be considered in compliance with it if it achieves a passing score on the Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES), developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards, to establish safety equivalencies under the Life Safety Code.
(3) RESIDENT SAFETY. (a) Plan for emergencies. 1. Each facility shall have a written plan to be followed in case of fire, a tornado warning, a missing resident or other emergency which shall specify persons to be notified, locations of alarm signaling devices and fire extinguishers, evacuation routes, a procedure for evacuating helpless residents, the frequency of fire drills and assignment of specific tasks and responsibilities to the staff on each shift and personnel from each discipline.
2. The plan shall be developed with the assistance of qualified fire and safety experts, including the local fire protection authority.
3. All employees shall be oriented to the plan and trained to perform assigned tasks, and shall be familiar with the use of the facility's fire protection features.
4. The plan and evacuation procedures shall be posted at suitable visible locations in the corridors throughout the facility and shall include a diagram of the immediate floor area showing the exits, location of fire alarms, evacuation routes and locations of fire extinguishers.
5. The facility administrator shall clearly communicate the plan and evacuation procedure to staff and shall periodically review the plan and evacuation procedures with staff.
6. The facility administrator shall periodically evaluate the effectiveness of the plan and evacuation procedures.
(b) Evacuation drills. 1. The facility shall hold evacuation drills at least quarterly on each shift and under varied conditions. The facility shall actually evacuate residents to a safe area during one drill a year on each shift.
2. The facility shall make special provisions for evacuating physically handicapped persons during drills.
3. Facility staff shall write a report and evaluation of each evacuation drill and shall keep a copy of the report on file.
4. The facility administrator shall investigate all problems with evacuation drills, including accidents, and take corrective action to prevent similar problems in the future.
(c) Fire inspections. The administrator of the facility shall arrange for fire protection as follows:
1. At least semi-annual inspection of the facility shall be made by the local fire authority. Signed certificates of these inspections shall be kept on file in the facility;
2. Certification in writing shall be obtained from the local lire authority for the adequacy of the facility's written fire plan, including procedures for orderly evacuation of residents, as well as the fire safety of the facility. A copy of the certification shall be kept on file within the facility; and
3. If the facility is located in a city, village or township that does not have an officially established fire department, a continuing contract for tire protection service with the nearest municipality providing the service shall be obtained. The contract or a copy of it shall be kept on file in the facility.
(d) Fire equipment. 1. All fire equipment shall be maintained in readily usable condition and inspected annually. A fire extinguisher suitable for grease fires shall be provided in or adjacent to the kitchen. Each extinguisher shall be provided with a tag on which the date of the last inspection is indicated.
2. Extinguishers shall be mounted on walls or posts where they are clearly visible and at a height that is convenient for staff and residents. No extinguisher may be tied down, locked in a cabinet, placed in a closet or placed on the floor.
(e) Fire report. All incidents of fire in a facility shall be reported in writing to the department's division of quality assurance within 72 hours.
Note: The address of the Division of Quality Assurance is P.O. Box 2969, 1 W. Wilson St., Madison, WI, 53701-2969 (phone 608-266-8481).
(f) Smoking. Facilities shall have and enforce a policy and rules to ensure that smoking materials are used safely. The policy and rules shall include the designation of areas in which smoking is permitted, as required under s. 101.123 (4), Stats.
(g) Prevention of ignition. Open-flame lights are not permitted, except as provided by law. Heat-producing devices and piping shall be designed or enclosed to prevent the ignition of clothing and furnishings.
(h) Floor coverings. All floor coverings and edging shall be securely fastened to the floor or constructed so that they are slip-resistant and free of hazards such as curled or broken edges. If the facility serves residents who crawl, a resilient non-abrasive and slip-resistant surface, or non-abrasive carpeting, shall be provided. Scatter rugs not meeting the above criteria are prohibited.
(i) Roads and side-walks. Walkways and roads leading into and out of the facility shall be kept passable and open at all times of the year. Walkways, drives, fire escapes and other means used for exiting to a public way shall be kept free of ice, snow and other obstructions.
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