Hospitals and other healthcare environments often treat people who are most vulnerable in the case of a fire. This industry is like no other Many patients rely on healthcare workers to keep them safe or help them evacuate. Visitors often do not know the fire emergency plan and rely on many of those same employees. This puts even more fire protection and life safety responsibility on the healthcare facility. Fire and life safety services for healthcare and medical organizations present specific issues other commercial buildings do not have to address. These regulations at both the federal and local level must be followed rigorously because patients’ lives might be at risk.
Every moment is precious when you are responsible for the safety of others. And when the people in your care are elderly residents, those moments just became more urgent. If a fire were to occur, you must be confident in your fire protection system. A proper system will help compartmentalize a fire as soon as it starts, protecting the lives of your residents. R.C.P. has worked with many nursing homes and assisted living facilities and we are experts in the code requirements that mandate the inspection and maintenance of your facility’s fire protection systems. We have the experience. We can help. Patients and doctors have enough to worry about as it is without the concern of possible fire damage causing difficulties for everyone. That is precisely why R.C.P. is determined to provide reliable, secure fire and life safety systems for healthcare facilities in the New York City metro area.
Healthcare Environments and NFPA 101
Hospitals are not the only facilities with special requirements for fire protection and life safety. The National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) defines healthcare environments by including hospitals, ambulatory care centers, and doctor’s offices. NFPA 101 lists separate requirements for these different types of facilities.
Depending on the healthcare environment’s use, it will be required to have fire sprinklers, fire extinguishers, and fire alarms to varying degrees. Facilities must also have emergency and evacuation plans. The plans must be kept up-to-date and the staff must be trained as well as perform regular drills. NFPA 101 and other fire safety codes have helped US hospitals decrease fires and fatality rates.
Fire Safety in Special Areas of Healthcare Environments
Surgical Rooms. Fires in operating rooms are rare. But they must be given special attention as many surgical patients cannot easily be evacuated in case of a fire. Oxygen tanks and other medical gases are flammable as well as alcohol and other flammable chemicals. Standard sprinkler systems could wreak havoc in an operating room. Advance notice is essential so staff can react calmly to protect the patient.
Sensitive Electronics. Throughout healthcare environments, there is sensitive equipment like computer systems, telecommunications equipment, imaging technologies like MRIs, CATs, and X-rays machines. This sensitive, often expensive equipment is at risk, not only from the fire itself but also from smoke and fire suppression systems. Special care must be taken to protect these systems.
Labs with Flammable Materials. Healthcare environments are not just used to treat patients. Many have research laboratories as well. In these labs, there are often flammable materials and chemicals that can cause a fire. These laboratories need to have suppression systems that minimize the chance of a fire. Facility managers must also know what hazardous materials are always in the labs.
Kitchens. Aside from all the medical equipment and materials that can cause a fire, most healthcare environments have commercial kitchens to feed hospital staff, patients, and visitors. These kitchens need all the same fire protection and ventilation systems of any commercial kitchen, as well as fire extinguishers in case of cooking fires.