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NFPA amends Life Safety Code to allow hand-rub dispenser use

Infection Control Monitor, April 29, 2004

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) on April 29 amended the 2000 and 2003 editions of the Life Safety Code to specifically recognize and permit the use of alcohol-based hand-rub solutions in hospital patient rooms, corridors, and suites.

Adoption of this tentative interim amendment (TIA) provides local authorities having jurisdiction with clear code language required to allow for the use of these hand rubs. The TIA provides detailed criteria about the use and storage of alcohol-based hand rubs, which will help minimize any potential fire risk while allowing facilities to place hand-rub dispensers in convenient locations to improve hand hygiene.

The next step is for hand-rub advocates such as the American Society for Healthcare Engineering to convince the International Code Council (ICC), which publishes the International Fire Code and its companion International Building Code, to take a similar action. Many state and local fire agencies use the International Fire Code.

If the ICC task force passes a similar amendment to the International Fire Code, it clears the way for state agencies to allow dispensers in corridors, which would mean national, state, and local fire agencies hold the same position on this issue.

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