Sprinklers in hospital wardrobes per The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Policy

[acb324]

Does anyone know where I can find a copy of CMS Program Letter No. 93-12? It is driving the need for sprinklers in hospital wardrobes despite this not being required by NFPA 13 and it would be great to have the document to reference the actual requirements. I am wary to design to requirements that came to me in an email, even if it was from a state official. I have obviously requested the document, but with the holiday responses will be nonexistent.

As I understand, it was written in 1993 and classifies freestanding wardrobes as furniture and does not require them to be sprinklered and may be attached to the wall for safety reasons. However closets, lockers and wardrobes that are permanently affixed to the wall, in the wall or under a soffit must be protected by sprinklers but the sprinkler heads need not necessarily be inside. Locker / wardrobe protection may be by an unobstructed room sprinkler if the top is removed off the locker / wardrobe, if the locker / wardrobe doors have louvered or screen doors or provide a ceiling sprinkler one to three feet from the center line face of the locker / wardrobe to act as a water curtain in addition to those required for coverage of the room itself.

 

[cdafd]

not sure if question one answers your question

http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provide...tificationGenInfo/downloads/SCLetter05-38.pdf

no date on this:::

http://www.ahcancal.org/facility_operations/fire_life_safety/Pages/SprinkleringWardrobes.aspx

http://chfs.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/56FEA4B1-0304-429D-AB66-D1963D65CF08/0/LSCSandCReference.pdf

http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/CodesStandards/HITFSupAgenda12908.pdf

 

[acb324]

Thanks cdafd. That is the only one I could find too, which seems to be a clarification of the first one that I am referring to.

I am trying to determine whether or not this renovation requires me to bring the design up to this CMS standard. The sprinklers that are currently installed were done in 1995 which was after this 1993 letter and that design did not include sprinklers in or near the wardrobe. The current design meets NFPA 13 and 101 standards, it is just this CMS document that remains in question.

 

[cdafd]

just got to love government legaleaze, clear as mud sometimes........