MIL-HDBK-1191
SECTION 13:
FIRE PROTECTION
13.1 General. This section provides fire protection engineering policy and
design guidance for all medical facilities including hospitals, medical
centers, composite medical facilities, occupational health clinics, free-
standing outpatient health and dental clinics, flight medicine clinics, and
other facilities for inpatient, emergency and ambulatory care. This section
also provides fire protection engineering policy and design guidance for
medical support facilities such as, blood storage and medical warehouses,
medical laboratories and medical research laboratories, and veterinary care
facilities. This section does not apply to contingency facilities. The level
of protection afforded these facilities is minimum, austere, but adequate,
given the least stringent requirement, which safely protects the contents of
the contingency facility. (Refer to Section 1 for description of contingency
facility.)
13.2
Criteria.
13.2.1
Life Safety and Fire Protection Concepts. The life safety concept
and the fire protection concept shall be in accordance with NFPA 101
(reference 13a).
13.2.2
Codes and Standards. Except as modified herein, designs for
facilities shall comply with the latest edition of MIL-HDBK-1008 (reference
13b), the standards contained in the current National Fire Codes published by
the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Uniform Building Code
published by the International Conference of Building Officials, and the Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) Manual
(reference 13c) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
publications.
13.2.3
Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES). NFPA 101A (reference 13d)
may be used to assess existing facilities and for design concept development
of Life Safety Code upgrade projects at existing facilities. NFPA 101A
(reference 13d) may be considered for semi-permanent and contingency
facilities if approved by the appropriate Design Agent and TMA/DMFO. NFPA
101A will not be used in lieu of prescriptive code criteria for the design of
new permanent facilities.
13.2.4
Criteria Deviation. Where valid need exists and an alternate
solution involving equivalent concepts and sound fire protection engineering
are available, criteria deviation may be accepted after approval by the
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) as identified at MIL-HDBK-1008 in
conjunction with TMA/DMFO. Where deviation impacts compliance with JCAHO
standards, coordination with and approval of Joint Commission Standards Group
must be obtained prior to implementation.
13.3
Building Construction. Building construction shall be as
specified in MIL-HDBK-1008 (reference 13b).
13.3.1
General Requirements. Medical facilities shall be noncombustible
construction in which structural framing, walls, partitions and major
components are wholly of noncombustible materials or assemblies. Minor
components may be combustible material when not inconsistent with the codes
and standards referenced above.
13.3.1.1
Type of Construction.
Type of Construction shall comply with the
following minimum requirements:
a) Medical centers, hospitals, composite medical facilities, and
ambulatory health care facilities.
13-1
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