SECTION 553.248. Electrical Requirements for a New Large Type B Assisted Living Facility

(a) Electrical system. A new large Type B assisted living facility must ensure an electrical system meets the requirements of 9.1.2, Electrical Systems, in NFPA 101, Chapter 9, Building Service and Fire Protection Equipment.

(b) Lighting. A new large Type B assisted living facility must provide illumination throughout the building. Minimum lighting levels must not be lower than:

(1) 10 footcandles in resident rooms during the day--illumination requirements for these areas apply to lighting throughout the space, as measured at 30 inches above the floor anywhere in the room.

(2) 20 footcandles in each corridor, staff station, dining room, lobby, toilet room, bathroom, bathing facility, laundry room, stairway, and elevator during the day--illumination requirements for these areas apply to lighting throughout the space, as measured at 30 inches above the floor anywhere in the room.

(3) 50 footcandles for each medication preparation or storage area, kitchen, and desk within a staff station. Illumination requirements apply when the area is in use for a task it supports, as measured where the task is being performed.

(c) Telephone. A new large Type B assisted living facility must provide at least one telephone in the facility that is available to both staff and residents. Emergency telephone numbers must be posted conspicuously at or near the telephone, including fire, police, emergency medical services, and poison control center services.

(d) Communication system. A new large Type B assisted living facility that consists of two or more floors or separate buildings must provide a communication system from each resident living unit to a central staff station.

(1) The communication system must:

(A) be a direct telephone, emergency call system, or intercom;

(B) include at least:

(i) one central notification station at a fixed location that receives all calls processed through the system; and

(ii) one permanently fixed call station or device in every resident living unit.

(2) A new large Type B assisted living facility may provide:

(A) additional or portable notification stations or devices in addition to the central notification; or

(B) additional call stations or devices in private or common resident areas.

(3) A new large Type B assisted living facility may provide residents with portable, wireless call transmitters, such as pendants or wrist bands. However, a device may not be a substitute for a fixed call station in a resident living unit.

(e) Generator.

(1) A new large Type B assisted living facility that provides a system to supply, distribute, and control electricity for emergency lighting and illumination of exit signs required by NFPA 101, such as a system that uses a generator set as an alternate source of power, must comply with the requirements of Article 700, Emergency Systems, in NFPA 70, Chapter 7, Special Conditions.

(A) The emergency system may not include any systems or equipment except:

(i) emergency lighting, as required by NFPA 101;

(ii) secondary power to ensure illumination of exit signs, as required by NFPA 101; and

(iii) secondary power for detection, alarm, and communications systems, as required by NFPA 72.

(B) A new large Type B assisted living facility must ensure wiring from an emergency source to emergency loads is kept entirely independent of all other wiring and equipment except as permitted by Article 700.10, Wiring, Emergency System, in NFPA 70. Two or more emergency circuits supplied from the same source may be routed in the same raceway, cable, box, or cabinet.

(C) A new large Type B assisted living facility must ensure that transfer equipment for an emergency system does not serve another facility, including a hospital, a nursing facility or an independent living facility.

(2) A new large Type B assisted living facility that provides a system to supply, distribute, and control electricity for systems and equipment not identified in paragraph (1) of this subsection must comply with the requirements of Article 702, Optional Standby Systems, in NFPA 70.

(3) The alternate power source for the emergency system may supply other emergency loads, legally required standby loads, and optional standby system loads where the source has adequate capacity to ensure adequate power to the different circuits in the following priority:

(A) emergency circuits for the assisted living facility

(B) legally required standby circuits, if any; and

(C) optional standby circuits, if any.

(4) A new large Type B assisted living facility is not required to comply with the requirements of Article 517, Health Care Facilities, in NFPA 70.

Source Note: The provisions of this §553.248 adopted to be effective August 31, 2021, 46 TexReg 5189