SECTION 310:616-5-3. Life Safety Code

(a)   This section establishes life safety requirements for free standing birthing centers that are permitted to operate twenty-four hours per day.

(b)   Each floor occupied by patients shall have not less than two remote exits, one of which shall discharge directly to the outside.

(c)   Travel distance to an exit shall be limited to 150 feet.

(d)   Doors in means of egress shall be not less than thirty-four inches wide.

(e)   Corridors and ways of exit shall be provided with emergency lighting. Emergency lights shall operate, without manual intervention, on failure of normal electric service with power supplied by battery packs or emergency generator.

(f)   Construction standards shall be in accordance with applicable building codes for group use and occupancy. In locations where no building code exists, construction shall conform to the state adopted building code. New and existing buildings to be occupied by a birthing center may be of NFPA construction Type V-000, unprotected wood frame or any code complying residential construction type providing that fire and safety features are in practice. Buildings three stories in height shall be of at least one hour fire resistive construction. Plans of construction of a new building, addition to or major alterations of existing buildings, shall be submitted to the Department and the State Fire Marshall. All structures shall be equipped with an approved sprinkler system.

(g)   Interior finishes in exit ways shall be class "A" (flame spread 0 - 25).

(h)   A manual fire alarm interconnected with a corridor smoke detection system shall be installed with direct connection with the local fire department of a manned central station.

(i)   Electrical wiring in new construction shall be in compliance with national electrical code N.F.P.A. #70. Major electrical appliances shall be grounded in accordance with manufacturers recommendations.

(j)   The use of extension cords or temporary wiring is prohibited.

(k)   A floor plan of the building shall be posted in a conspicuous place showing the evacuation route of the exit ways.

(l)   Fire drills shall be conducted quarterly and will be documented.

(m)   The birthing center shall have at least one fire extinguisher for each floor and one extinguisher for the kitchen area. The kitchen extinguisher shall be at least a five pound dry chemical or carbon dioxide type. All others shall be either a five pound ABC or two and one-half gallon pressurized water type.

(n)   Emergency telephone numbers shall be posted at the telephone.

(o)   Air conditioning, heating and ventilation equipment shall be installed and maintained in accordance with N.F.P.A. 90A.

(p)   Corridors shall not be used as return air plenums.

(q)   Air handling units in excess of 2500 cubic feet per minute (cfm) used for heat, exhaust and air conditioning systems, shall be controlled by all phases for the fire alarm system to cease air movement.

(r)   The use of non-vented fuel burning space heaters and portable electric heaters are prohibited.

(s)   All hot water heaters shall be equipped with temperature and pressure relief valves designed for relieving capacity.

(t)   Combustion, exhaust and ventilation air shall be taken from and discharged directly to outside air.

(u)   If parts of a birthing center, already in operation prior to the date a standard is issued, fail to meet a particular standard, compliance with the standard will be waived if patient care and safety are not deemed to be in jeopardy.

[Source: Added at 9 Ok Reg 1715, eff 4-23-92 (emergency); Added at 9 Ok Reg 1979, eff 6-11-92]