Sec. 10.07.02.46. Physical Plant — Emergency Power

A. Unless otherwise indicated, all general requirements apply to both new construction and an existing nursing home.

B. Emergency Electrical Power.

(1) The nursing home shall provide emergency electrical power.

(2) Emergency power for the purpose of egress lighting and protection shall be as required by NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.

(3) Other emergency lighting shall be as follows:

(a) Nursing station;

(b) Drug distribution station or unit dose storage;

(c) A lighted area for emergency telephone use;

(d) Boiler or mechanical room;

(e) Kitchen;

(f) Generator set location and switch gear location;

(g) Elevator, if operable on emergency power;

(h) Areas where life support equipment is used;

(i) If applicable, lighting for the common area of refuge; and

(j) If applicable, lighting in toilet rooms of the common area of refuge.

(4) Emergency power shall be provided for the:

(a) Nurses’ call system;

(b) Duplex receptacles installed 50 feet apart in all corridors in resident areas or appropriately located duplex receptacles in the common area of refuge;

(c) Telephone service with at least one telephone available for incoming and outgoing calls;

(d) Fire pump;

(e) Sewerage pump and sump pump;

(f) Elevator, if required, for evacuation as referenced in NFPA 101 Life Safety Code;

(g) Heating equipment, if applicable, to maintain a minimum temperature of 71°F or 22°C in the common areas of refuge;

(h) Life support equipment;

(i) Nonflammable medical gas systems;

(j) Computer system, if applicable, to enable use of electronic medical records system; and

(k) Refrigerated medication storage.

(5) Common Area or Areas of Refuge.

(a) The nursing home shall provide a common area or areas of refuge in an emergency situation if all resident rooms, day rooms, and toilet rooms are not tied into the emergency generator to provide heat and cooling.

(b) The common area or areas of refuge:

(i) Shall be at least 30 square feet per bed, not including corridors;

(ii) May not include toilet rooms in the 30 square feet per bed; and

(iii) Shall maintain a minimum temperature of 71°F or 22°C and a maximum temperature of 81°F or 27°C.

(c) The nursing home shall provide heated toilet rooms adjacent to the common areas of refuge.

(d) The nursing home shall provide a Department-approved written plan that:

(i) Defines the specified area of refuge;

(ii) Outlines paths of egress from the common areas of refuge; and

(iii) Describes provisions for light, heat, food service, washing, and toileting residents.

(6) Emergency Power Source.

(a) The emergency power source shall be a generating set and prime mover located on the premises with automatic transfer.

(b) The emergency generator shall:

(i) In the event of failure of the normal electrical service, be activated immediately;

(ii) Come to full speed and load acceptance within 10 seconds;

(iii) Have a capacity of 48 hours of operation from fuel stored on-site; and

(iv) Be tested once a month, for at least 30 minutes under normal emergency nursing home connected load, and the test recorded in a permanent log book maintained for that purpose.