Q: Is there presently a date in place in which existing Healthcare Occupancies (remaining portions or in their entirety) must be fully sprinklered?
A: Yes and no.
All existing high-rise hospitals must be fully protected with sprinklers by July 5, 2028. This was decided by CMS in their Final Rule to adopt the 2012 Life Safety Code.
For existing hospitals that are not high-rise (i.e., do not have an occupied floor higher than 75 feet above the lowest level used by a fire department) there is no requirement to become fully sprinklered unless their construction type requires it or there is renovation.
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Brad Keyes, CHSP, is the owner of KEYES Life Safety Compliance, and his expertise is in the management of the Life Safety Program, including the Environment of Care and Emergency Management programs.
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