A fire safety nuance for your business occupancies
When it comes to fire safety in the 2009 EC standards, one troubling aspect for me is EC.02.03.01, EP 4, which requires the maintenance of “free and unobstructed access to all exits” in business occupancies (e.g., a medical office building).
The maintenance of free and unobstructed access to all exits in healthcare occupancies is addressed in the new life safety standards.
My concern: Business occupancies are most likely not going to be visited by The Joint Commission’s life safety specialists; instead, “regular” surveyors will visit them. How will these surveyors define “free and unobstructed access to all exits,” given they may not have the same in-depth code knowledge of their life safety specialists?
This is one of those situations where you are going to have to take the surveyors by the horns (metaphorical, though sometimes you have to wonder) and educate them to what compliance with this EP means for your organization.
“Free and unobstructed” can be a very fine line, so start enforcement now. Otherwise you'll be running from the survey bulls.
I hope to meet many of you at our EC seminar tomorrow in Boston. Looking forward to it.
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