General Requirements
Barrier breaches resulting in compromised compartments.
Patients cannot be evacuated during fire emergencies due to protective environments, connection to life support equipment, and their compromised conditions. Door failures, gaps around building features and penetrations in rated wall assemblies may compromise the barrier system.
Patients are protected from fire by building compartments.
Patients and Care Givers must be protected from fire (heat & smoke) while remaining in their care environment. Properly maintained environment allows "defend in place" fire response strategies.
Harm to patients.
Unless patients and caregivers are protected during a fire emergency, care is disrupted, leading to an unsafe patient condition.
Ensure fire-rated barriers are intact and provide compartmentation.
Fire resistant barriers must be created around the patient care areas to allow time for emergency response personnel to extinguish the fire or relocate the patients to a safe location within the hospital. Evacuation is a last resort.