Section 22-B2608. CENTER DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY

 

2608.1Each maternity center's design, construction and safety shall meet the building code, zoning regulations, and regulations regarding access for the handicapped of the District of Columbia, and the fire safety requirements as stated in the 1997 edition of the Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 101, as interpreted and enforced by the Fire Chief.

 

2608.2Each maternity center shall be designed, constructed, maintained and operated to minimize the possibility of a fire or other life threatening emergency to the personnel and patients. The protection of personnel and patients from fire or other life-threatening emergency shall be assured by careful development of operating and maintenance procedures in compliance with this section.

 

2608.3New and existing buildings to be occupied by a maternity center may be of any recognized construction type except wood frame, providing that fire and safety requirements are adhered to. Any building three or more stories in height shall be of at least one hour fire resistive construction, or it shall be equipped with a sprinkler system. Every building over eight (8) stories or seventy-five (75) feet in height shall be equipped with a sprinkler system. If the maternity center is housed in another multi-use building, the fire regulations which govern it shall apply to that part of the building which houses the maternity center.

 

2608.4There shall be a minimum of two exits from every level including the floor levels below the street. Additional exits may be necessary, based on the size of the center and the travel distance from the exits. Fire escapes exterior to the building are not considered exits.

 

2608.5Hallways and doorways providing ingress and egress to the maternity center and birth rooms shall be adequate to accommodate an ambulance stretcher or wheelchair. Other doorways shall be a minimum of three (3) feet in width. Adequacy of these structures shall be demonstrated as part of the fire inspection procedure by means of a trial run implementation of a transfer procedure.

 

2608.6Every stairway, elevator shaft, light and ventilation shaft, chute, and other opening between floors shall be enclosed or protected to prevent the spread of fire or smoke from one floor to another for a minimum of twenty (20) minutes.

 

2608.7Any area used for general storage and the boiler or furnace room shall be separated by fire resistant construction and meet all requirements of §§ F-305.3 and 308.1, respectively, of the Fire Prevention Code. If any oxygen or compressed gases are stored or used, up to two thousand (2,000) cubic feet may be stored in one room, or approximately ten (10) average oxygen bottles, and such storage and use of oxygen cylinders shall be in compliance with § 2401.1 of the Fire Prevention Code.

 

2608.8Each maternity center shall contain devices for detection, alarm and suppression of a fire as required by Chapter 5 of the Fire Prevention Code, and shall also contain devices for the detection and alarm of carbon monoxide. Detection and alarm devices may be combined in one device. Suppression of the fire may be manual by fire extinguishers or automatic by a sprinkler system. If fire extinguishers are used, there shall be at least one 2AIOABC extinguisher on each floor, with a travel distance of no more than one hundred (100) feet to any one extinguisher from any place on that floor.

 

2608.9Each maternity center shall provide continuous illumination in the areas of egress during occupancy, and an auxiliary source of power for illumination in the birth room in the event of a power failure in accordance with § F-604.1 of the Fire Prevention Code.

 

2608.10 Each maternity center shall make available to its personnel a written copy of a plan for evacuation in the event of fire which has been reviewed and approved by the D.C. Fire Department. All personnel shall be instructed and kept informed of their responsibilities under the plan. A minimum of four fire drills at regular intervals shall be supervised and conducted for personnel annually.

 

source

Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 46 DCR 2779 (March 19, 1999); as amended by Corrected Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 46 DCR 3970 (April 30, 1999).