The intent of this appendix is to provide a minimum degree of fire and life safety to persons occupying and existing buildings containing ambulatory care facilities where such buildings do not comply with the minimum requirements of the International Building Code.
Smoke barriers shall be constructed in accordance with Sections 422 and 709 of the International Building Code.
Exceptions:
- Smoke barriers shall be permitted to terminate at an atrium enclosure in accordance with Section 404.6 of the International Building Code.
- Smoke barriers shall be continuous from an outside wall to an outside wall, a floor to a floor, a smoke barrier to a smoke barrier or a combination thereof.
Openings in smoke barriers shall be protected in accordance with Section 716 of the International Building Code. Opening protectives shall have a minimum fire protection rating of 1/3 hour.
Exception: Existing wired glass vision panels in doors shall be permitted to remain.
Penetrations of smoke barriers shall comply with the International Building Code.
Exception: Approved existing materials and methods of construction.
Joints made in or between smoke barriers shall comply with the International Building Code.
Exception: Approved existing materials and methods of construction.
Penetrations in a smoke barrier by duct and air-transfer openings shall comply with Section 717 of the International Building Code.
Exception: Where existing duct and air-transfer openings in smoke barriers exist without smoke dampers, they shall be permitted to remain. Any changes to existing smoke dampers shall be submitted for review and approved in accordance with Section 717 of the International Building Code.
An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout the entire floor containing an ambulatory care facility in Type IIB, IIIB and VB construction where either of the following conditions exist at any time:
- Four or more care recipients are rendered incapable of self-preservation.
- One or more care recipients that are rendered incapable of self-preservation are located at other than the level of exit discharge serving such a facility.
In buildings where ambulatory care is provided on levels other than the level of exit discharge, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the entire floor where such care is provided, all floors below and all floors between the level of ambulatory care and the nearest level of exit discharge, including the level of exit discharge.
In high-rise buildings containing ambulatory care facilities, an automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout the entire floor containing an ambulatory care facility where either of the following conditions exist at any time:
- Four or more care recipients are rendered incapable of self-preservation.
- One or more care recipients that are rendered incapable of self-preservation are located at other than the level of exit discharge serving such a facility.
In buildings where ambulatory care is provided on levels other than the level of exit discharge, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the entire floor where such care is provided, all floors below and all floors between the level of ambulatory care and the nearest level of exit discharge, including the level of exit discharge.
Fire areas containing ambulatory care facilities shall be provided with an electronically supervised automatic smoke detection system installed within the ambulatory care facility and in public use areas outside of tenant spaces, including public corridors and elevator lobbies.
Exception: Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, provided that the occupant notification appliances will activate throughout the notification zones upon sprinkler waterflow.
Incidental uses associated with and located within existing ambulatory care facilities required to be separated by Section 422 in the International Building Code, and that generally pose a greater level of risk to such occupancies, shall comply with the provisions of Sections K103.2 through K103.4.2.1. Incidental uses in ambulatory care facilities required to be separated by Section 422 of the International Building Code are limited to those listed in Table K103.1.
INCIDENTAL USES IN EXISTING AMBULATORY CARE FACILITIES
| ROOM OR AREA | SEPARATION AND/OR PROTECTION |
| Furnace room where any piece of equipment is over 400,000 Btu per hour input | 1 hour or provide automatic sprinkler system |
| Rooms with boilers where the largest piece of equipment is over 15 psi and 10 horsepower | 1 hour or provide automatic sprinkler system |
| Refrigerant machinery room | 1 hour or provide automatic sprinkler system |
| Hydrogen fuel gas rooms, not classified as Group H | 1 hour in ambulatory care facilities |
| Incinerator rooms | 2 hours and provide automatic sprinkler system |
| Laboratories not classified as Group H | 1 hour or provide automatic sprinkler system |
| Laundry rooms over 100 square feet | 1 hour or provide automatic sprinkler system |
| Waste and linen collection rooms with containers with total volume of 10 cubic feet or greater | 1 hour or provide automatic sprinkler system |
| Storage rooms greater than 100 square feet | 1 hour or provide automatic sprinkler system |
| Stationary storage battery systems having a liquid electrolyte capacity of more than 50 gallons for flooded lead-acid, nickel cadmium or VRLA, or more than 1,000 pounds for lithium-ion and lithium metal polymer used for facility standby power, emergency power or uninterruptible power supplies | 1 hour in ambulatory care facilities |
For SI: 1 square foot = 0.0929 m2, 1 pound per square inch (psi) = 6.9 kPa, 1 British thermal unit (Btu) per hour = 0.293 watts,1 horsepower = 746 watts, 1 gallon = 3.785 L.
The required capacity of each door opening shall be sufficient for the occupant load thereof and shall provide a minimum clear opening width of 28 inches (711 mm). Where this section requires a minimum clear opening width of 28 inches (711 mm) and a door opening includes two door leaves without a mullion, one leaf shall provide a minimum clear opening width of 28 inches (711 mm). In ambulatory care facilities, doors serving as means of egress from patient treatment rooms shall provide a minimum clear opening width of 32 inches (813 mm). The maximum width of a swinging door leaf shall be 48 inches (1219 mm) nominal. The minimum clear opening height of doors shall be 80 inches (2032 mm).
Exceptions:
- Door openings to storage closets less than 10 square feet (0.93 m2) in area shall not be limited by the minimum clear opening width.
- The width of door leaves in revolving doors that comply with Section 1010.1.4.1 shall not be limited.
- The maximum width of door leaves in revolving doors that comply with Section 1010.1.4.2 shall not be limited.
- Exit access doors serving a room not larger than 70 square feet (6.5 m2) shall have a door leaf width of not less than 24 inches (610 mm).
- Door closers and door stops shall be permitted to be 78 inches (1980 mm) minimum above the floor.
| ICC IBC—18 | International Building Code | K101.2 K102.1, K102.2, K102.2.2, K102.2.3, K102.2.4, K102.2.5, K102.2.6, K102.5.1, K102.5.2.1, K102.5.2.2, K102.5.4, K102.5.6, K103.1, K103.2, K103.4.1, K103.4.2, K104.3.1 |
| ASME A17.3—2015 | Safety Code for Existing Elevator and Escalators | K104.3.1, K104.3.2 |
