Clarification of Automatic Fire Sprinkler System Installation Requirements in Attic Spaces in Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities

• Sprinkler Requirement for Long Term Care Facilities: On May 4, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published the final rule Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Fire Safety Requirements for Certain Health Care Facilities (81 FR 26872). This regulation adopted the 2012 Life Safety Code (LSC), and the 2012 Health Care Facilities Code (HCFC). The 2012 LSC requires all existing and newly constructed health care facilities including long term care facilities to be equipped with a supervised automatic sprinkler system. This regulation requires compliance with the 2010 edition of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems.
• Sprinkler Installation Requirements for Attics containing Fire Retardant Treated Wood (FRTW): The use of FRTW is allowed to be installed in a facility in concealed or attic space without the installation of an automatic sprinkler system, provided that it meets certain conditions related to access, construction type, storage and fuel fired equipment. This is a change, because FRTW was not discussed clearly with regards to concealed spaces in the 2000 edition of the LSC or the 1999 edition of NFPA 13.