K-Tag K131

Multiple Occupancies – Sections of Health Care Facilities

This regulation establishes fire and life safety construction requirements for sections of health care facilities that are classified as non-health-care occupancies. Operators must ensure such sections are not intended to serve four or more inpatients, are separated from health care occupancy areas by a minimum two-hour fire-resistance-rated construction, and that the entire building is protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system. Hospital outpatient surgical departments must be classified as Ambulatory Health Care Occupancy regardless of patient volume.

K131 Multiple Occupancies – Sections of Health Care Facilities 
Sections of health care facilities classified as other occupancies meet all of 
the following: 
 They are not intended to serve four or more inpatients for purposes of
housing, treatment, or customary access.
 They are separated from areas of health care occupancies by
construction having a minimum two hour fire resistance rating in
accordance with Chapter 8.
 The entire building is protected throughout by an approved, supervised
automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 9.7.
Hospital outpatient surgical departments are required to be classified as an 
Ambulatory Health Care Occupancy regardless of the number of patients 
served. 
18.1.3.3, 19.1.3.3, 42 CFR 482.41, 42 CFR 485.623