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Learn more details about mixed occupancies

Tip Of The Week, October 3, 2007

We hate to say it, but in last week's issue, our example of a mixed occupancy under the Life Safety Code (LSC) could have been a bit better. Here's what we mean:

If you have a healthcare occupancy that contains an ambulatory surgical center serving four outpatients, two options exist to address this mixed occupancy under the LSC, as detailed by fire protection consultant Joshua Elvove:

• Apply the most restrictive requirements of each occupancy (e.g., 8-ft wide corridors, corridor protection, hazardous area protection, etc., as required by Chapter 19 in the LSC)
• Separate the uses by appropriate construction and provide independent egress (thus eliminating the mixed occupancy)

As you can see, the second choice offers the advantage of not having to use the more stringent healthcare occupancy requirements in those locations that can be classified as another occupancy, said Elvove, who is an instructor at HCPro's Life Safety Code Boot Camp-Hospital Version. Readers in the Chicago area still have time to join us for next week's boot camp.

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