SECTION 554.357. Fire Protection Systems for New Facilities

(a) Fire protection systems include detection, alarm, and communication systems; fixed automatic extinguishment systems; and portable extinguishers. These systems must meet the requirements of NFPA 101, and of this section. Components must be compatible and listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory for the intended use.

(b) Fire protection systems must meet the requirements of all applicable NFPA standards, such as NFPA 72 for alarm systems, as referenced in NFPA 101. Wiring and circuitry for alarm systems must meet the applicable requirements of NFPA standards, including NFPA 70.

(c) Emergency electrical systems must meet the requirements of this division.

(d) A fire alarm system must be installed, maintained, and repaired by an agent having a current certificate of registration from the State Fire Marshal's Office, according to state law. The agent must provide a Fire Alarm Installation Certificate to the facility as required by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

(e) A fire alarm system must be designed so that whenever a general alarm is sounded by activation of any device, such as a manual pull, smoke detector, fire sprinkler, or kitchen range hood extinguisher, the following must occur automatically:

(1) smoke and fire doors which are held open by approved devices must be released to close;

(2) air conditioning or heating distribution fans serving three or more rooms, or any means of egress, must shut down immediately;

(3) smoke dampers must close; and

(4) the location of an alarm-initiating device must be clearly indicated on the fire alarm control panel and all auxiliary panels.

(f) Fire alarm bells or horns must be located throughout the building for audible coverage. Flashing visual alarm lights must be installed to be visible in corridors and public areas, including dining rooms and living rooms, in a manner that will identify exit routes.

(g) A master control panel, or a fire alarm annunciator panel providing annunciation of all fire alarm signals, that annunciates the location of all alarm, trouble, and supervisory signals, by zone or device, must be visible at the main nurses’ station. Fire alarm system components must be listed as compatible by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. In a zone-based fire alarm system alarm and trouble zones must align with smoke compartments and with floors in multi-story buildings.

(h) A remote annunciator panel, indicating location of alarm initiation and trouble indication, by zone or device, must be located at auxiliary or secondary nurses’ stations on each floor, and must indicate the alarm condition of adjacent zones and the alarm conditions at all other nurses' stations.

(i) A manual pull station must be provided at all exits, in living rooms and dining rooms, and at or near a nurses’ station.

(j) The flow and tamper conditions of a sprinkler system must be monitored by the fire alarm system.

(k) A kitchen range hood extinguisher, if required by NFPA 101 and this subchapter, must be interconnected with the fire alarm system. This interconnection may report as a separate zone on the fire alarm control panel or may be combined with other initiating devices located in the same zone as the range hood is located.

(l) Portable fire extinguishers must be provided throughout the facility as required by NFPA 10 and as determined by the local fire department and HHSC. The following requirements are applicable to fire extinguishers:

(1) Extinguishers in resident corridors must be located so the travel distance from any point to an extinguisher does not exceed 75 feet. Water-type extinguishers must have a capacity of at least 2 1/2 gallons. Dry chemical-type extinguishers must be at least 5 pound ABC extinguishers.

(2) An extinguisher must be installed on a hanger or bracket supplied with the extinguisher or mounted in an approved cabinet. A recessed cabinet is required for an extinguisher located in a corridor.

(3) An extinguisher must be protected from impact or dislodgement.

(4) An extinguisher having a gross weight not exceeding 40 pounds must be installed so the top of the extinguisher is located no more than five feet above the floor. An extinguisher having a gross weight greater than 40 pounds must be installed so the top of the extinguisher is located no more than 3-1/2 feet above the floor. In no case may the clearance between the bottom of an extinguisher and the floor be less than four inches.

(5) A portable extinguisher provided in a hazardous room must be located as close as possible to the exit door opening and on the latch side.

Source Note: The provisions of this §554.357 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