Focus: Fire-Life Safety / Column

Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: Suite doors

Brad Keyes discusses regulations for suite doors

By Brad Keyes / Special to Healthcare Facilities Today


Q: Does the 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code permit existing suite doors opening into the corridor to be compliant if they do not latch shut? We have different interpretations of 19.2.5.7.1.2.

A: No. Corridor entrance doors to suites must latch. Section 19.3.6.3.5 requires all corridor doors to latch. CMS does not allow the exception for a device that holds the door closed with 5 lbs. of force. Since a suite is nothing more than a room, the barrier that separates the suite from the corridor must meet the conditions for corridor walls, which means the door must latch. The provision in 19.2.5.7.1.2 (2) is there to allow existing suites to have smoke resistant walls when fire-rated barriers are required by the corridor walls.

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.



June 19, 2019


Topic Area: Regulations, Codes & Standards


Recent Posts

On the Lookout: The Software Supply Chain as a Healthcare Cyberattack Vector

Staying watchful of third-party software vendors and their activities is critical for healthcare cybersecurity.


Hackensack Meridian Health & Wellness Center at Clifton Opens

The Clifton center expands health care access in Passaic County by reducing barriers such as travel and wait times.


Suffolk Breaks Ground on Expansion of White Plains Hospital

The 10-story, approximately 500,000-square-foot expansion is slated to open in 2028.


EVS Leadership Culture Critical in Preventing Hospital-Acquired Sepsis

Cleaning is an essential yet complex component for the prevention of HAI-induced sepsis.


Man Dies by Suicide in Emergency Department Waiting Room at Kansas Hospital

No staff or patients were harmed, and the man was alone in the waiting area when he shot himself.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.