(1) Each home shall be in compliance with fire and safety rules promulgated by the Office of the Safety
Fire Commissioner for personal care homes,
(2) Each home shall comply and remain in compliance with any and all local ordinances that specifically
address fire safety in homes of that size and function. Private quarters shall be maintained in such a
manner as to comply with Fire Safety codes and not threaten the health or safety of residents. In the
absence of or in addition to any such local ordinances, the following requirements must be met:
(a) Wall type electric outlets and lamps or light fixtures shall be maintained in a safe and operating
condition. It shall be the home’s responsibility to insure that the necessary light bulbs are provided;
(b) Cooking appliances shall be suitably installed in accordance with approved safety practices. Where
metal hoods or canopies are provided, they shall be equipped with filters which shall be maintained in an
efficient condition and kept clean at all times;
(c) Space heaters may not be used unless safely positioned and operated in compliance with all state
and local fire codes and in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Space heaters using combustible
fuel shall be vented to the outside.
(d) Fire screens and protective devices shall be used with fireplaces, stoves and heaters, including
space heaters;
(e) Each home must be protected with sufficient smoke detectors, powered by house electrical service
with battery back-up, which when activated shall initiate an alarm which is audible in the sleeping rooms;
(f) Each home must have at least one charged 10 lb. multipurpose ABC fire extinguisher on each
occupied floor and in the basement. These extinguishers shall be checked annually to assure they
remain in operable condition;
(g) Each home shall have a working doorbell or doorknocker which is audible to staff inside at all times;
and
(h) Exterior doors shall be equipped with locks which do not require keys to open them from the inside.
(3) The electrical service of the home shall be inspected by a qualified electrician and declared free of
hazards within no more than six months prior to the date of filing the application for a permit. A signed
copy of this inspection report shall be submitted to the Department as a part of the application. Electrical
service shall be maintained in a safe condition at all times. The Department may require a re-inspection
of the electrical service at any time renovation or repair work is done in the home or there is a request for
a change in capacity or there is reason to believe that a risk to residents exists.
(4) The Department may request a repeat fire safety inspection of any personal care home if at any time
the physical plant undergoes substantial repair, renovation, additions, or the Department has reason to
believe that residents are at risk. Further, if the Department determines that a substantial increase in the
amount of personal assistance is being offered to residents, a repeat fire safety inspection may be
requested. All requirements so identified shall be met by the home.
(5) Water and sewage systems shall meet applicable federal, state, and local standards and/or
regulations.
(6) Floors, walls, and ceilings shall be kept clean and in good repair;
(7) Kitchen and bathroom areas shall be cleaned with disinfectant at least daily and maintained to
insure cleanliness and sanitation.
(8) The storage and disposal of bio-medical and hazardous wastes shall comply with applicable federal,
state, and local rules and/or standards.
(9) Solid waste which is not disposed of by mechanical means shall be stored in vermin-proof, leakproof, nonabsorbent containers with closefitting covers until removed. Waste shall be removed from the
kitchen at least daily and from the premises at least weekly.
(10) An insect, rodent or pest control program shall be maintained and conducted in a manner which
continually protects the health of residents.
(11) Any pets living at the home must meet the following requirements:
(a) No vicious animals shall be kept at the home;
(b) All animals must be inoculated for rabies yearly;
(c) Exotic animals must be obtained from federally approved sources.
(12) Poisons, caustics, and other dangerous materials shall be stored and safeguarded in an area away
from food preparation and storage areas, and away from medication storage areas.
(13) A home shall be equipped and maintained so as to provide a sufficient amount of hot water for
residents’ use. Heated water provided for resident’s use shall not exceed 120 degrees F. at the hot water
fixture and a water temperature monitor shall be installed at the hot water fixture.
(14) The following evacuation requirements must be met:(a) Residents who need assistance with ambulation shall
be assigned bedrooms which have a ground level exit to the outside or to rooms with above ground level which have exits
with easily negotiable ramps
or easily accessible elevators;
(b) There shall be an established procedure and mechanism for alerting and caring for residents in
case of emergencies and evacuating them to safety. This shall include instructions and evacuation plans
posted on each floor of a home. Each sleeping room shall have a secondary exit. This secondary exit
may be a door or a window usable for escape. A plan showing these routes of escape shall be posted in
the home on each floor;
(c) A home serving a person or persons dependent upon wheelchairs for mobility shall provide at least
two (2) exits from the home, remote from each other, that are accessible to these persons; and
(d) A home serving persons dependent upon a wheelchair for mobility shall have a clearly accessible
route for emergencies throughout the common areas of the home, and at least one fully accessible
bathroom.