Life Safety Update: Unprotected Openings in Corridor Walls

Note: This update was reviewed by CMS and the only comment was a reminder that proper protections called for in the Life Safety Code are followed. For example, under certain circumstances additional smoke detection will be required.   

Recently, several facilities were cited for a deficiency because of a sliding glass window in a corridor wall to an office or reception area.  Section 18.3.6 for new buildings and Section 19.3.6 for existing buildings of the 2000 Life Safety Code, permit unlimited spaces to be open to the corridor except for patient sleeping rooms, treatment rooms, and hazardous areas. Therefore, for the example above, the office or reception area would be treated as an open space to the corridor and for a sprinklered building would be required to comply with Section 18.3.6.1 or Section 19.3.6.1. The requirements differ for buildings or smoke compartments protected with sprinklers versus a nonsprinklered building or smoke compartment.  

Briefly, for a sprinklered building an open space to the corridor would require that: 

1. The corridor to which the space opens in the same smoke compartment would have to be protected with smoke detectors or the smoke compartment protected throughout with quick-response sprinklers.
2. The space open to the corridor would have to be protected by smoke detectors.
3. The open space to the corridor does not interfere with access to exits.