1565 Hickory House Nursing Home

Application of Hickory House Nursing Home for Exception to 28 Pa. Code § 203.1

[28 Pa.B. 4834]

   Under 28 Pa. Code § 51.33 (relating to requests for exceptions), the Department of Health (Department) hereby gives notice that Hickory House Nursing Home has requested an exception to the requirements of 28 Pa. Code § 203.1, referencing the National Fire Protection Association's Life Safety Code, NFPA 101 (code), which requires special locking arrangements to conform to the requirements of section 5-2.1.6. The nursing home is requesting a waiver from the requirement of the code to have the locked doors release automatically after 15 seconds of continuous pressure on the release device, as required. The nursing home is installing a ''code alert'' locking system that allows normal passage to all persons through the locked doors, excepting those residents wearing transponders that lock the door(s) on approach. The special locking arrangement is proposed to be installed on only three doors in the facility, which will be de-energized during non-emergency conditions by keypads at each door, and during emergency conditions caused by power outages or activation of the fire alarm/smoke detection systems.

   The request is on file with the Department. Persons may receive a copy of the request for exception by requesting a copy from: Division of Safety Inspection, Room 922 Health & Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120, Telephone [phone], Fax [phone], E-Mail Address: [e-mail].

   Those persons who wish to comment on this exception request may do so by sending a letter by mail, e-mail or facsimile to the Division and address listed within this notice.

   Comments received by the Department within 10 days after the date of publication of this notice will be reviewed by the Department before it decides whether to approve or disapprove the request for exception.

   Persons with a disability who wish to obtain a copy of the request and/or provide comments to the Department and require an auxiliary aide service or other accommodation to do so, should contact Peter P. Petresky at [phone], V/TT: [phone] for Speech and/or Hearing Impaired Persons or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1 [phone] [TT].

DANIEL F. HOFFMANN,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-1565. Filed for public inspection September 25, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]