The Benefits of Sprinkler Protection in Healthcare Occupancies

The 2012 edition of NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code®), as enforced by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and accrediting organizations such as Joint Commission and Det Norske Veritas (DNV), does not require all buildings containing healthcare occupancies to be fully protected by sprinkler systems. The primary driving requirement for sprinkler system installation is based on the construction type of the building. In addition, it is important to note that federal law requires “high-rise buildings” containing healthcare occupancies to be fully protected by sprinkler systems by July 5, 2028.

There are many benefits to installing sprinkler systems in healthcare occupancies, whether they are required or not. These benefits, as well as the advantages granted by the Life Safety Code® (2012 edition) when sprinkler systems are present, are discussed below.

The Benefits of Sprinkler Protection in Healthcare Occupancies 

Because many patients in healthcare occupancies may require staff assistance to respond to a fire emergency, every second counts when a fire occurs.  Areas that are protected by sprinkler systems help reduce fire spread, thus providing staff much needed time to relocate patients to safer areas within the building as part of the “defend in place” strategy.

In addition to the protection afforded to vulnerable patients during fire emergencies, the amount of damage from fire in areas protected by sprinkler systems is significantly reduced. In turn, the likelihood that a substantial interruption of medical services will occur is reduced. This likely coincides with mitigating lost revenue. Based on this premise, insurance carriers recognize the benefits that sprinkler systems provide, and they will often offer reduced premiums for buildings that are fully protected by sprinkler systems. 

The Code Advantages of Sprinkler Protection in Healthcare Occupancies 

Due to the increased level of safety provided by sprinkler systems, the Life Safety Code® grants numerous advantages or “code offsets” when sprinklers are present throughout the entire building, throughout the smoke compartment and/or within certain rooms within healthcare occupancies. Although this is not an all-inclusive list, some examples Include: 

• Exit Travel Distance – When sprinkler systems are present throughout the entire building, the maximum allowable travel distance to exits is 200 feet. If the building is not fully sprinklered, and the maximum allowable travel distance is 150 feet. 
   
• Corridor Walls – When sprinkler systems are present throughout the smoke compartment, corridor walls are not required to maintain a 30-minute fire resistance rating. Instead, corridor walls are permitted to terminate at ceilings when those ceilings limit the transfer of smoke. This code offset results in a large cost savings since penetrations above ceilings of corridor walls are not required to be sealed.
   
• Smoke Dampers – When sprinkler systems are present throughout the smoke compartment on both sides of a smoke barrier with duct penetrations, smoke dampers are permitted to be omitted. This code offset results in large cost savings not only upon initial construction, but also by not having to spend money to test/maintain the smoke dampers.
   
• Increase in Sleeping Suite Size – Sleeping suites are limited to a maximum size of 5,000 ft². However, when sprinkler systems are present, a maximum size of 10,000 ft² is permitted. Note: In addition to sprinklers, Section 18/19.2.5.7.2.3. of NFPA 101 (2012) contains other requirements that must be met to increase sleeping suite size beyond 5,000 ft2.
   
• Hazardous Areas – When rooms classified as hazardous areas (larger storage rooms, certain soiled linen/trash rooms, etc.) are protected by sprinklers in existing healthcare occupancies, the walls are not required to maintain a 1-hour rating. Again, a cost savings is recognized since penetration above ceilings are not required to be sealed and fire doors are not required to be maintained in these rooms. Note: Use of this code offset requires careful evaluation prior to implementation to ensure that code provisions contained in Chapter 4 of NFPA 101 (2012) are met (e.g., requirements for new construction are not removed or reduced).

High-Rise Healthcare Occupancies 

As mentioned earlier, CMS requires that all buildings containing healthcare occupancies classified as high-rise to be protected throughout with sprinkler systems by July 5, 2028. The Life Safety Code® defines a “high-rise building” as a building where the floor of an occupiable story is greater than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. 

Those facilities that fall within this category are strongly encouraged to start this process immediately, as it takes time to design the sprinkler system, procure materials and coordinate the work to minimize interruptions to patient care.