Infusion Center as Business or Ambulatory Care?

4/27/2022

I have an existing business that is approximately 4,000 sqft. It's a single-story building being renovated into an infusion center with (14) IV patient rooms.

I would consider this type of occupancy to be an Ambulatory Care occupancy because of (4) or more care recipients to be incapable of self preservation at any time. Under Ambulatory Care, this building would need to be sprinkler protected under the International Fire Code.

Are these type of centers considered to fall under Ambulatory Care, or just a doctor's out patient Business occupancy?

Thanks in advance.

Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe

9 Comments

Alex

4/27/2022 06:57:49 am

Hi,

This is an awesome question. When do you deem someone incapable of self-preservation? If I’m giving blood and I’m good with needles, am I incapable? I know if I’m in that seat and see a true emergency, I’m taking the needle out myself!

In your case, since you have (14) rooms, I would say that you have a minimum of have (4) incapable. Workers will require time to check each of the (14) rooms and assist as needed.

I don’t see this building falling under a Group B.

Thanks,
Alex

Todd E Wyatt

4/27/2022 08:15:22 am

I concur with Alex.

2021 IBC defines an AMBULATORY CARE FACILITY as follows:

Buildings or portions thereof used to provide medical, surgical, psychiatric, nursing or similar care on a less than 24-hour basis to persons who are rendered incapable of self-preservation by the services provided or staff has accepted responsibility for care recipients already incapable.

2021 IBC defines INCAPABLE OF SELF-PRESERVATION as follows :

Persons who, because of age, physical limitations, mental limitations, chemical dependency or medical treatment, cannot respond as an individual to an emergency situation.

While the AHJ has the final say as to the Occupancy Classification (OC), the scenario you describe seems to meet the intent of these (2) definitions.

Derek

4/27/2022 08:17:22 am

Agree with Alex here (as we all normally do, lol) twofold.....great question and definitely not a Group B.

Reggie

4/27/2022 08:54:37 am

What if the Infusion Center states in letter head with to the Fire Marshal Office that their services are therapies that consists of vitamins, etc. that combat auto-immune conditions that is delivered by IV due to patients unable to take oral by mouth and the patients are mobile and are never rendered incapable of self-preservation as a result of their services.

Alex

4/27/2022 02:31:17 pm

Sorry about replying with the wrong name but this response was directed to Alex and Dan Wilder. What if the Infusion Center states in letter head with to the Fire Marshal Office that their services are therapies that consists of vitamins, etc. that combat auto-immune conditions that is delivered by IV due to patients unable to take oral by mouth and the patients are mobile and are never rendered incapable of self-preservation as a result of their services.

Udo Ammon

4/28/2022 08:31:47 am

As a former AHJ, it is classified as business occupancy. Also, CMS does not recognize the less than four patients. Doesn't matter how many patients.

Refer to CFR 24, part D483

Dan Wilder

4/27/2022 08:22:21 am

This opens the door to much more than a requirement for a fire sprinkler system. While a good question and I'm not sure your role in the process (contractor, arch, code consultant, AHJ) there is a little grey area here as to if people are incapable of self preservation or not. Looking at a couple of my local AHJ's, there isn't a clear path between them. As Alex said, if I'm giving blood (my donation center has 14 beds in a communal space and 3 private rooms) guess whos going to leave a path for others to follow me out the building...

Some things to consider if not a business...
All ratings to comply with an AHC vs business for both internal and shared walls with adjacent tenants?
Egress pathing distances, corridor & room door widths?
Smoke barriers, dedicated electrical, emergency lighting?
Will the fire alarm system be upgraded as well for detection and notification?

Anthony

4/27/2022 08:44:35 am

If its chemotherapy or another significant medication being administered then patients probably will need help exiting. I think some medications are administered under sedation?

If this is one of those "hydration" "clinics" where they basically offer Gatorade pumped right into your blood then most (all) of the individuals will be able to self exit following Alex's blood trail.

Craig M

4/27/2022 09:03:37 am

So this one becomes tricky because you likely have more than one AHJ and if CMS Medicare and Medicare funding used at this site you likely have to follow 2012 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.

CMS has even more strict requirements than the ICC and the NFPA codes and does not consider the number of patients when using Chapter 20 Ambulatory Health Care so if you have one or 14 patients incapable of self preservation they still consider it a Ambulatory Health Care. I would suggest to reach out to the AHJ before this design starts and nail down exactly what the occupancy type will be as this is going to affect your entire design of this building. Also ensure to ask if there will be any additional licensing requirements that may come from the State Agencies such as the Department of Health or State Fire.

Leave a Reply.

Home
Our Cause

The Blog
The Forum

PE Exam Prep
The Toolkit
MeyerFire University

Pricing
Login
Support
Contact Us

MeyerFire.com is a startup community built to help fire protection professionals shine.
Our goal is to improve fire protection practices worldwide. We promote the industry by creating helpful tools and resources, and by bringing together industry professionals to share their expertise.

MeyerFire, LLC is a NICET Recognized Training Provider and International Code Council Preferred Education Provider.
All text, images, and media Copyright © 2016-2024 MeyerFire, LLC

We respect your privacy and personal data. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The views, opinions, and information found on this site represent solely the author and do not represent the opinions of any other party, nor does the presented material assume responsibility for its use. Fire protection and life safety systems constitute a critical component for public health and safety and you should consult with a licensed professional for proper design and code adherence.

Discussions are solely for the purpose of peer review and the exchange of ideas. All comments are reviewed. Comments which do not contribute, are not relevant, are spam, or are disrespectful in nature may be removed. Information presented and opinions expressed should not be relied upon as a replacement for consulting services. Some (not all) outbound links on this website, such as Amazon links, are affiliate-based where we receive a small commission for orders placed elsewhere.

Infusion Center as Business or Ambulatory Care?

Leave a Reply.

ALL-ACCESS

SUBSCRIBE

COMMUNITY

YOUR POST

PE EXAM

FILTERS

ARCHIVES

PE PREP SERIES