SECTION 553.135. Fire Protection Systems Requirements for an Existing Large Type A Assisted Living Facility

(a) Fire alarm and smoke detection system. An existing large Type A assisted living facility must provide a manual fire alarm system meeting the requirements of 9.6, Fire Detection, Alarm, and Communication Systems, in NFPA 101, Chapter 9, Building Service and Fire Protection Equipment, as modified by this section.

(1) General. An existing large Type A assisted living facility must ensure the operation of any alarm initiating device automatically activates an audible or a visual alarm at the site.

(2) Smoke detectors.

(A) An existing large Type A assisted living facility must install smoke detectors in resident bedrooms, corridors, hallways, living rooms, dining rooms, offices, kitchens, laundries, attached garages used for car parking, and public or common areas, except as permitted in subparagraphs (B) - (D) of this paragraph.

(B) An existing large Type A assisted living facility may install heat detectors in lieu of smoke detectors in kitchens, laundries, and attached garages used for car parking.

(C) An existing large Type A assisted living facility located in a building constructed to meet the requirements of NFPA 101, Chapter 19, Existing Health Care Occupancies, may install a smoke detection system meeting the requirements of 19.3.4.5.1, Corridors, in NFPA 101, Chapter 19, Existing Health Care Occupancies, in lieu of the requirements found in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph.

(D) An existing large Type A assisted living facility comprised of buildings containing living units with independent cooking equipment must additionally have:

(i) a smoke detector installed all in resident bedrooms, corridors, hallways, living rooms, dining rooms, offices, kitchens and laundries within the living unit, that sounds an alarm only within the living unit; and

(ii) a heat detector installed in the kitchen within the living unit that activates the general alarm.

(3) Alarm control panel.

(A) An existing large Type A assisted living facility must provide a fire alarm control unit, or a fire alarm annunciator providing annunciation of all fire alarm, supervisory, and trouble signals by audible and visible indicators, in a location visible to staff at or near the staff area that is attended 24 hours a day.

(B) An existing large Type A assisted living facility is not required to ensure a fire alarm control unit or fire alarm annunciator is visible to staff if the fire alarm is monitored by devices carried by all staff.

(C) An existing large Type A assisted living facility must ensure a fire alarm panel indicates each floor and smoke compartment, as applicable, as a separate zone. Each zone must provide an alarm and trouble indication. When all alarm initiating devices are addressable and the status of each device is identified on the fire alarm panel, zone indication is not required.

(4) Fire alarm power source.

(A) An existing large Type A assisted living facility must ensure a fire alarm system is powered by a permanently-wired, dedicated branch circuit that is powered from a commercial power source in accordance with NFPA 70.

(B) An existing large Type A assisted living facility must provide a secondary, emergency power source meeting the requirements of NFPA 72.

(5) Emergency forces notification. An existing large Type A assisted living facility not equipped with a fire alarm system that automatically notifies emergency forces must immediately notify the fire department by telephone or other means.

(b) Fire sprinkler system.

(1) An existing large Type A assisted living facility may provide a fire sprinkler system meeting the requirements of NFPA 13 in accordance with 33.3.3.5.1, in NFPA 101, Chapter 33, Existing Residential Board and Care Occupancies.

(2) An existing large Type A assisted living facility located in a building that is four or fewer stories in height may provide a fire sprinkler system meeting the requirements of NFPA 13R in accordance with 33.3.3.5.1.1, in NFPA 101, Chapter 33, Existing Residential Board and Care Occupancies.

(3) An existing large Type A assisted living facility located in a high-rise building must be protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic fire sprinkler system meeting the requirements of NFPA 13 according to 33.3.3.5.3, in NFPA 101, Chapter 33, Existing Residential Board and Care Occupancies.

(c) Protection of attics. An existing large Type A assisted living facility equipped with a fire sprinkler system must ensure an attic is protected according to the requirements of 33.3.3.5.4, in NFPA 101, Chapter 33, Existing Residential Board and Care Occupancies, not later than August 31, 2024.

(d) Portable fire extinguishers. An existing large Type A assisted living facility must provide and maintain portable fire extinguishers according to the requirements of NFPA 10.

(1) An existing large Type A assisted living facility must ensure all requirements of NFPA 10 are followed for all extinguisher types, including requirements for location, spacing, mounting heights, monthly inspections by staff, yearly inspections by a licensed agent, any necessary servicing, and hydrostatic testing as recommended by the manufacturer.

(2) An existing large Type A assisted living facility must ensure portable fire extinguishers are located in resident corridors so the travel distance from any point in the facility to an extinguisher is no more than 75 feet.

(3) An existing large Type A assisted living facility must ensure the actual size of any portable fire extinguisher meets the requirements of NFPA 10 for maximum floor area per unit covered, but an extinguisher must be no smaller than the following.

(A) A water-type portable fire extinguisher must have a rating of at least 1-A according to NFPA 10.

(B) All other portable fire extinguishers must have a rating of at least 2-A:5-B:C according to NFPA 10.

(C) A facility must provide at least one approved 20-B:C portable fire extinguisher in each laundry, kitchen and walk-in mechanical room.

(4) An existing large Type A assisted living facility must ensure portable fire extinguishers are installed on hangers or brackets supplied with the extinguisher or mounted in an approved cabinet.

(5) An existing large Type A assisted living facility must ensure a portable fire extinguisher is protected from impact or dislodgement.

(6) An existing large Type A assisted living facility must ensure a portable fire extinguisher is installed at an appropriate height.

(A) A portable fire extinguisher having a gross weight of up to 40 pounds must be installed so the top of the extinguisher is not more than five feet above the floor.

(B) A portable fire extinguisher having a gross weight greater than 40 pounds must be installed so the top of the extinguisher is not more than three and a half feet above the floor.

(C) A portable fire extinguisher must be installed so the clearance between the bottom of the extinguisher and the floor is at least four inches.

(7) A portable extinguisher provided in a hazardous room must be located as close as possible to the exit access door leading from the room and on the latch or knob side of the door.

Source Note: The provisions of this §553.135 adopted to be effective August 31, 2021, 46 TexReg 5189