HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation and review of the facility's building plans, and plan review letter showed sections of the hospital does not meet the building construction type to be a hospital which is a Type II (111) for a two story hospital. The section of the building which is built as a Type II (000),(which is not allowed to be used as a two story hospital) provides no protection of the structure in the event of a fire. The Type II (000) construction type must have a complete two hour fire resistance rated wall separation from the first floor concrete slab to the second floor roof deck between the Type II (000) and the Type II (111). Without the separation of construction types puts puts the entire building as a Type II (000) and puts all patients, staff and visitors at a higher risk of injury or death from a fire. The facility census was 16.

-National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 220, "Standard on Types of Building Construction", 1999 Edition, Chapter 2 Definitions states: 'Fire Resistance Rating.* The time, in minutes or hours, that materials or assemblies have withstood a fire exposure as established in accordance with the test procedures of NFPA 251, Standard Methods of Test of Fire Endurance of Building Construction and Materials."

-NFPA 220 table 3-1
Type II (000) construction standard does not require a protective foam coating or Class A interior protection to the vertical and horizontal steel beams that serve as main structural elements including connecting plates, bolts and cross-members (part of steel beam connecting other structural steel beams together) are vulnerable to heat and could fail and result in a catastrophic collapse of the entire structure due to having no protection provided between the building types.

-Type II (111) construction standard requires application of protective foam coatings or Class A interior protection to the vertical and horizontal steel beams that serve as main structural elements including connecting plates, bolts and cross-members (part of steel beam connecting other structural steel beams together) are protected from heat.
The one hour (111) protection must be provided for the exterior bearing walls, interior bearing walls, columns, beams, girders, trusses and arches, floor-ceiling assemblies, roof-ceiling assemblies which provides a one hour protection of the building structure for fire.

-NFPA 101, 2000 Edition, Section 18.1.2.3 which states: " Health care occupancies in buildings housing other occupancies shall be completely separated from them by construction having a fire resistance rating of not less than 2 hours as provided for additions in 18.1.1.4."

Chapter 18.1.1.4.6 to 18.1.2 Mixed Occupancies (See also 6.1.14)

NFPA 101, 2000 edition, Section 6.1.14.2 states: " Applicable Requirements. Where a mixed occupancy classification occurs, the means of egress facilities, construction, protection, and other safeguards shall comply with the most restrictive life safety requirements of the occupancies involved.

Exception:* Where incidental to another occupancy, buildings used as follows shall be permitted to be considered part of the predominant occupancy and subject to the provisions of the Code that apply to the predominant occupancy:

(a) Mercantile, business, industrial, or storage use
(b)Nonresidential use with an occupant load fewer than that established by Section 6.1 for the occupancy threshold "

-Observation on 12/15/2015, during the facility tour, the first floor staff use corridor (smoke zone #5) between the Litton Conference room door and the 1 1/2 hour rated corridor doors showed a 1 hour fire resistance rated wall separating Type II (111) and the Type II (000) construction. This section did not have a two hour wall which ran from the first floor concrete slab to the second floor roof deck separating the Type II (000) building from the two story building. Without the two hour fire rated wall makes the entire section a Type II (000).

-Observation showed the first floor (smoke zone #1), which included the Emergency Department, Diagnostic Imaging/X-Ray, Laboratory and facility staff offices section (Medical Office Building or MOB) of the first floor was constructed to a Type II (000) standard. This section did not have a two hour wall with 1 1/2 hour rated doors separating the building from the two story building which ran from the first floor concrete slab to the second floor roof deck. Without the two hour fire rated wall makes the entire section a Type II (000).

-Observation showed on the second floor the hospital's surgery wing, obstetrics (OB) wing, and medical surgical/ ICU wing Type II (111) was located above the non-conforming Type II (000) building which did not have a two hour separation wall that ran from the first floor concrete slab to the second story roof deck. Without the separation wall makes these sections a type II (000) which is not allowed for a two story hospital.

-Review of the consulting engineer letter dated September 12, 2012 to the Architect for the working drawings, item #1 stated the hospital construction type will have to be at least a type II (111) per the 2000 Life Safety Code.