Section 422 Ambulatory Care Faciilities

Occupancies classified as ambulatory care facilities shall comply with the provisions of Sections 422.1 through 422.6 and other applicable provisions of this code.

Ambulatory care facilities where the potential for four or more care recipients are to be incapable of self-preservation at any time shall be separated from adjacent spaces, corridors or tenants with a fire partition installed in accordance with Section 708.

Where the aggregate area of one or more ambulatory care facilities is greater than 10,000 square feet (929 m²) on one story, the story shall be provided with a smoke barrier to subdivide the story into not fewer than two smoke compartments. The area of any one such smoke compartment shall be not greater than 22,500 square feet (2092 m²). The distance of travel from any point in a smoke compartment to a smoke barrier door shall be not greater than 200 feet (60 960 mm). The smoke barrier shall be installed in accordance with Section 709 with the exception that smoke barriers shall be continuous from outside wall to an outside wall, a floor to a floor, or from a smoke barrier to a smoke barrier or a combination thereof.

Where ambulatory care facilities require smoke compartmentation in accordance with Section 422.3, the fire safety evacuation plans provided in accordance with Section 1002.2 shall identify the building components necessary to support a defend-in-place emergency response in accordance with Sections 403 and 404 of the International Fire Code.

Not less than 30 net square feet (2.8 m²) for each nonambulatory care recipient shall be provided within the aggregate area of corridors, care recipient rooms, treatment rooms, lounge or dining areas and other low-hazard areas within each smoke compartment. Each occupant of an ambulatory care facility shall be provided with access to a refuge area without passing through or utilizing adjacent tenant spaces.

A means of egress shall be provided from each smoke compartment created by smoke barriers without having to return through the smoke compartment from which means of egress originated.

Automatic sprinkler systems shall be provided for ambulatory care facilities in accordance with Section 903.2.2.

A fire alarm system shall be provided for ambulatory care facilities in accordance with Section 907.2.2.

In ambulatory care facilities, the essential electrical system for electrical components, equipment and systems shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 27 and NFPA 99.