SECTION 554.301. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The definitions listed in §554.101 of this chapter (relating to Definitions) also apply to this subchapter.

(1) Alarm Planning Superintendent--Fire Alarm Planning Superintendent. A person licensed by the State Fire Marshal's Office to plan, install, certify, inspect, test, service, monitor, and maintain fire alarm or fire detection devices.

(2) ANSI--American National Standards Institute.

(3) ASHRAE--Formerly American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. A global society focusing on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration, and sustainability.

(4) ASME--The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, a developer of codes and standards associated with the art, science, and practice of mechanical engineering.

(5) ASME A17.1--Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, 2007 edition, published by ASME.

(6) ASME A17.3--Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators, 2008 edition, published by ASME.

(7) ASTM--ASTM International, a not-for-profit, voluntary standards developing organization that develops and publishes international voluntary consensus standards for materials, products, systems, and services.

(8) ASTM E84--Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, 2010, published by ASTM.

(9) ASTM E90--Standard Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of Airborne Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions and Elements, published by ASTM.

(10) ASTM E108--Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings, published by ASTM.

(11) ASTM E662--Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials, 2017, published by ASTM.

(12) Building Rehabilitation--Any construction activity involving repair, modernization, reconfiguration, renovation, changes in occupancy or use, or installation of new fixed equipment, including, the following:

(A) the replacement of finishes, such as new flooring or wall finishes or the painting of walls and ceilings;

(B) the construction, removal, or relocation of walls, partitions, floors, ceilings, doors, or windows;

(C) the replacement of doors, windows, or roofing;

(D) changes to the appearance of the exterior of a building, including new finish materials;

(E) the repair, replacement, or extension of fire protection systems, including fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm system, and fire suppression systems at cooking operations;

(F) the replacement of door hardware, plumbing fixtures, handrails in corridors, or grab rails in bathrooms and restrooms;

(G) the repair, replacement, or extension of nurse call systems;

(H) the repair or replacement of emergency electrical system equipment and components, including generator sets, transfer switches, distribution panel boards, receptacles, switches, and light fixtures;

(I) the change of a wing or area to a secured wing or unit;

(J) the change of a secured wing or unit to ordinary resident-use;

(K) a change in the use of space, including the change of resident bedrooms to other uses, such as offices, storage, or living or dining spaces; and,

(L) changes in locking arrangements, such as the installation of access control systems or the installation or removal of electronic locking devices, including electromagnetic locks, and other delayed-egress locking devices.

(13) NFPA 10--Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, 2010 edition.

(14) NFPA 13--Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2010 edition.

(15) NFPA 25--Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, 2011 edition.

(16) NFPA 37--Standard for the Installation and Use of Stationary Combustion Engines and Gas Turbines, 2010 edition.

(17) NFPA 54--National Fuel Gas Code, 2012 edition.

(18) NFPA 55--Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code, 2010 edition.

(19) NFPA 58--Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, 2011 edition.

(20) NFPA 70--National Electrical Code, 2011 edition.

(21) NFPA 72--National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, 2010 edition.

(22) NFPA 90A--Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems, 2012 edition.

(23) NFPA 96--Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations, 2011 edition.

(24) NFPA 110--Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems, 2010 edition.

(25) NFPA 220--Standard on Types of Building Construction, 2012 edition.

(26) NFPA 255--Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials. This document was withdrawn by NFPA in 2009 in lieu of ASTM E84 and UL 723.

(27) NFPA 258--Recommended Practice for Determining Smoke Generation of Solid Materials. This document was withdrawn by NFPA in 2006 in lieu of ASTM E662.

(28) Patient care vicinity--A space extending 6 ft. (1.8 m) horizontally in all directions around the resident bed and extending vertically to 7 ft. 6 in. (2.3 m) above the floor. If the dimension between the bed and a wall or partition is less than 6 ft. (1.8 m), the limit of the patient care vicinity is at the wall or partition.

(29) RME--Responsible Managing Employee. A person licensed by the State Fire Marshal's Office who is designated by a registered fire sprinkler firm to ensure that any fire protection sprinkler system, as planned, installed, maintained, or serviced, meets the standards provided by law. The type of RME license issued determines the type of fire sprinkler services the fire sprinkler firm may perform.

(30) TAS--Texas Accessibility Standards.

(31) TCEQ--Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

(32) UL--UL LLC, formerly Underwriters' Laboratory.

(33) UL 723--Standard for Test for Surface Burnings Characteristics of Building Materials.

(34) UL 790--Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings.

(35) UL 1069--Standard for Hospital Signaling and Nurse Call Equipment.

Source Note: The provisions of this §554.301 adopted to be effective March 22, 2018, 43 TexReg 1646; transferred effective January 15, 2021, as published in the Texas Register December 11, 2020, 45 TexReg 8871; amended to be effective January 2, 2022, 46 TexReg 9037