DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Adoption of the 2012 Edition of the Life Safety Code [46 Pa.B. 2917]
[Saturday, June 4, 2016]Under authority of the Health Care Facilities Act (act) (35 P.S. §§ 448.101—448.904b) and the health care facility licensure regulations promulgated under the act, specifically 28 Pa. Code §§ 153.1(c), 203.1 and 569.2 (relating to minimum standards; application of the Life Safety Code; and fire safety standards), the Department of Health (Department) will adopt the 2012 edition of the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Life Safety Code (LSC), NFPA # 101, effective July 5, 2016. As of July 5, 2016, the Department will apply these new requirements to all plans for new construction or renovations of licensed health care facilities and for State licensure inspections of these facilities.
The Department has received inquiries regarding the implementation of the 2012 LSC and when the LSC would be enforced. The 2012 edition of the LSC can be utilized immediately; however, the mandatory usage of this edition will not take effect until July 5, 2016, consistent with the Federal final rule ''Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Fire Safety Requirements for Certain Health Care Facilities'' published at 81 FR 26872 (May 4, 2016).
Persons interested in purchasing a copy of the 2012 LSC may submit an order to the NFPA at (800) 344-3555 or www.nfpacatalog.org.
Questions regarding this notice should be directed to Charles Schlegel, Director, Division of Safety Inspection at (717) 787-1911.
Persons with a disability who require an alternative format of this notice (for example, large print, audiotape, Braille) should contact the Division of Safety Inspection at the previously referenced telephone number, or for speech and/or hearing impaired persons V/TT (717) 783-6514, or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984.
KAREN M. MURPHY, PhD, RN,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 16-957. Filed for public inspection June 3, 2016, 9:00 a.m.]
