This regulation establishes physical plant and life safety standards for apartment complexes owned by behavioral health providers licensed under the Alabama Department of Mental Health. Operators must comply with NFPA 101 Life Safety Code (Apartment Buildings Chapter), the International Building Code, and the National Electrical Code for both existing and new construction. Specific requirements cover fire suppression and alarm systems, smoke detectors, means of egress, emergency lighting, hallway and ceiling dimensions, door specifications, stair construction, and porch/landing guardrails.
View official sourceAla. Admin. Code r. 580-3-22-.14 - Apartment Complexes State Regulations Compare Apartment complexes which are owned by providers shall adhere to the most current edition of the NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, Apartment Buildings Chapter, International Building Code and National Electrical Code. Plans to construct new apartment complexes shall adhere to the NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, Apartment Buildings Chapter, International Building Code and National Electrical Code. These plans will be reviewed by the Office of Life Safety and Technical Services. (1) FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT (a) Apartment complex buildings shall be protected throughout with an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system unless one of the following exceptions or met: 1. Exit door opening directly to the street or yard at ground level from each dwelling unit. 2. Direct access to an outside stair serving a maximum of two units located on the same floor from each dwelling unit. 3. Direct access to an interior stairs serving only that dwelling unit and separated form all other portions of the building by a fire barrier having a 1 hour resistance rating with no opening therein. (b) Apartment complex buildings with more than three stories or more than 11 dwelling units shall be protected with a fire alarm system in accordance with Section 9.6, unless one of the following exceptions are met: 1. Each dwelling unit is separated from other contiguous dwelling units by a fire barrier of not less than 1 hour and where each dwelling unit has either it own independent exit or it own independent stairway or ramp discharging at grade. 2. Building protected by an automatic sprinkler system, not exceeding 4 stories in height and containing not more than 16 dwelling units. (c) Electric smoke detectors shall be installed outside every sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms and on all levels of the dwelling unit, including basements and in bedrooms of dwelling units unless apartment complex is protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system. (d) Smoke detectors shall be mounted on ceilings where possible and only allowed on walls when impossible for ceiling mounting. Detectors on walls shall be mounted with top of detector not less than 4 inches nor more than 12 inches from ceiling. (e) Smoke detectors shall not be located under or within 3 feet of ceiling fan blades or air supply diffusers or returns. (f) Portable fire extinguishers in accordance with Section 9.7.4.1 shall be provided in hazardous areas, unless the building is protected throughout with an approved supervised automatic sprinkler system. (2) MEANS OF EGRESS COMPONENTS (a) Any building that is protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system install in accordance with Section 30.3.5., has four or fewer stories, and has not more than four dwelling units per story shall be permitted to have a single exit, provided that all of the following conditions apply: 1. The stairway is separated from the rest of the building by barriers having not less than a 1-hour fire resistance rating, with self-closing 1-hour fire door assemblies protecting all openings between the stairway enclosure and the building. 2. The stairway does not serve more than one-half story below the level of exit discharge. 3. All corridors serving as access to exits have a minimum 1-hour fire resistance rating. 4. There is not more than 35 ft of travel distance from the entrance door of any dwelling unit to an exit. 5. One-half-hour fire-rated horizontal and vertical separation between dwelling units is provided. (b) Emergency lighting in accordance with Section 7.9 shall be provided in all buildings with 12 dwelling units, or of more than 3 stories in height, unless every dwelling unit has a direct exit to the outside of the building at grade level. (c) Means of egress shall have signs in accordance with Section 7.10 in all buildings requiring more than one exit. (3) ROOM CEILINGS AND HALLWAYS (a) The width of hallways shall be not less than 36 inches and the height not less than 7 feet 6 inches. (b) The height of room ceilings shall not be less than 7 feet 6 inches. (c) Existing facilities which fit the definition of this code will not be subject to the minimum ceiling height as stated. (4) DOORS (a) Doors in the path of travel to the means of escape shall be not less than 28 inches wide and not less than 6 feet 8 inches high. Bathrooms and closet doors shall be not less than 24 inches wide. (b) Doors on facilities with physically disabled persons must comply with ADA standards. (c) Doors shall not have more than 2 locking devices. 1. No double key dead bolt locks are allowed. (5) STAIRS (a) Stairs serving as a required means of escape shall be of permanent fixed construction and shall have handrails on both sides of the steps that are not less than 34 inches nor more than 38 inches above the surface of the tread. (b) In new construction, the minimum height of risers must be a minimum of 4 inches and maximum of 7 inches in height, and a minimum tread depth of 11 inches. (c) In existing construction, the maximum height of risers must be 8 inches and the minimum tread depth must be 9 inches. (d) Stairs must be uniform in design. (6) PORCHES AND LANDINGS (a) Porches and landings shall have guardrails not less than 42 inches high when any portion of the porch or landing equals or exceeds 24 inches above ground level. (b) Open guards, other than approved existing open guards, shall have rails or an ornamental pattern such that an object 4 inches in diameter is not able to pass through any opening up to a height of 34 inches. Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 580-3-22-.14 New Rule: Filed November 21, 2008; effective December 26, 2008. Author: DMH/MR Office of Life Safety and Technical Services Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, § 22-50-11 . State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare. No prior version found. State Regulations Toolbox