26 Tex. Admin. Code § 554.303 - Emergency Power
(a) Emergency power
systems must meet the requirements of NFPA 99 applicable to existing
facilities, for the risk category determined by the requirements of §
554.300(i) of
this subchapter (relating to General Requirements), and the requirements of
this section. Rehabilitation or modernization of an existing emergency power
system must be based on the assessed risk category and according to the
requirements of NFPA 99 for new health care facilities.
(b) An emergency electrical power system must
supply power adequate at least for lighting all entrances and exits, equipment
to maintain the fire detection, alarm, and extinguishing systems, and any
systems or equipment whose failure is likely to cause major injury or death to
a resident if the normal electrical supply is interrupted. Emergency electrical
services by generator or battery must be provided to comply with the provisions
of NFPA 70. Battery systems must be capable of sustaining power for a duration
of at least one and one-half hours.
(1) The
emergency electrical power system must supply the following systems :
(A) illumination for means of egress, nurses'
stations, medication rooms, dining and living rooms, and areas immediately
outside of exit doors;
(B) exit
signs and exit directional signs required by NFPA 101;
(C) alarm systems, including fire alarms
activated by manual stations, water flow alarm devices of sprinkler systems,
fire and smoke detecting systems, and alarms required for nonflammable medical
gas systems if installed;
(D) task
illumination and selected receptacles at any required or provided generator set
location;
(E) selected duplex
receptacles, including receptacles in resident corridors, each resident-bed
location where systems or equipment is used whose failure is likely to cause
major injury or death to a resident, nurses' stations, medication rooms,
including biological refrigerator, if a generator is required or
provided;
(F) nurse call
systems;
(G) resident room night
lights when provided;
(H) elevator
cab lighting, control, and communication systems;
(I) all facility telephone equipment;
and
(J) those paging or speaker
systems that are necessary for the communication plan for an emergency. Radio
transceivers that are necessary for emergency use must be capable of operating
for at least one hour upon total failure of both normal and emergency
power.
(2) If the
emergency electrical power system supplies other systems the facility considers
critical to operation, the transfer to the emergency power source must be by
delayed automatic connection.
(3)
The emergency lighting must be automatically in operation within 10 seconds
after the interruption of normal electrical power supply. Emergency service to
receptacles and equipment may be a delayed automatic connection. Receptacles
connected to emergency power must be of a uniform and distinctive color. Stored
fuel capacity must be sufficient for not less than four hours of required
generator operation.
(4) An
emergency motor generator, if provided, must meet the following standards:
(A) any emergency generator must be installed
in accordance with NFPA 37, NFPA 110 and NFPA 99;
(B) generators located on the exterior of the
building must be provided with a noncombustible protective cover or be
protected as per manufacturer's recommendations; and
(C) motor generators fueled by public utility
natural gas must have the capacity to be manually or automatically switched to
an alternate fuel source, as specified in NFPA 70.
(5) Wiring for the emergency system must be
in accordance with NFPA 70.
(c) When the failure of systems or equipment
is likely to cause major injury or death to a resident, such as the failure of
a mechanical ventilator used to support or completely control breathing, the
facility must provide emergency electrical power with an emergency generator
as, defined in NFPA 99, located on the premises.
Notes
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No prior version found.