K102 Fire Safety Requirements for Existing Ambulatory Care Facilities — 2025 California Fire Code

Ambulatory care facilities where the potential exists for four or more care recipients to be incapable of self-preservation at any time, whether rendered incapable by staff or staff has accepted responsibility for a care recipient already incapable, shall be separated from adjacent spaces, corridors or tenants with a fire partition installed in accordance with Section 708 of the Cali- fornia Building Code .

Where the aggregate area of one or more ambulatory care facilities is greater than 10,000 square feet (929 m [2] ) on one story, the story shall be provided with a smoke barrier to subdivide the story into not fewer than two smoke compartments. The area of any one such smoke compartment shall be not greater than 22,500 square feet (2092 m [2] ). The travel distance from any point in a smoke compartment to a smoke barrier door shall be not greater than 200 feet (60 960 mm). The smoke barrier shall be installed in accordance with Section 709 of the California Building Code with the exception that smoke barriers shall be continuous from an outside wall to an outside wall, a floor to a floor, or from a smoke barrier to a smoke barrier or a combination thereof.

K102.2.1 Refuge area. Not less than 30 net square feet (2.8 m [2] ) for each nonambulatory care recipient shall be provided within the aggregate area of corridors, care recipient rooms, treatment rooms, lounge or dining areas and other low-hazard areas within each smoke compartment. Each occupant of an ambulatory care facility shall be provided with access to a refuge area without passing through or utilizing adjacent tenant spaces.

K102.2.2 Smoke barriers. Smoke barriers shall be constructed in accordance with Sections 422 and 709 of the California Building Code .

Exceptions:

1. Smoke barriers shall be permitted to terminate at an atrium enclosure in accordance with Section 404.6 of the Califor- nia Building Code .
2. Smoke barriers shall be continuous from an outside wall to an outside wall, a floor to a floor, a smoke barrier to a smoke barrier or a combination thereof.

K102.2.3 Opening protectives. Openings in smoke barriers shall be protected in accordance with Section 716 of the California Building Code . Opening protectives shall have a minimum fire protection rating of 1/3 hour.

Exception: Existing wired glass vision panels in doors shall be permitted to remain.

K102.2.4 Penetrations. Penetrations of smoke barriers shall comply with the California Building Code .

Exception: Approved existing materials and methods of construction.

K102.2.5 Joints. Joints made in or between smoke barriers shall comply with the California Building Code .

Exception: Approved existing materials and methods of construction.

APPENDIX K—CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING AMBULATORY CARE FACILITIES

K102.2.6 Duct and air transfer openings. Penetrations in a smoke barrier by duct and air-transfer openings shall comply with Section 717 of the California Building Code .

Exception: Where existing duct and air-transfer openings in smoke barriers exist without smoke dampers, they shall be permitted to remain. Any changes to existing smoke dampers shall be submitted for review and approved in accordance with Section 717 of the California Building Code .

K102.2.7 Independent egress. A means of egress shall be provided from each smoke compartment created by smoke barriers without having to return through the smoke compartment from which means of egress originated.

An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in ambulatory care facilities where required by Sections K102.3.1 and K102.3.2.

K102.3.1 Types IIB, IIIB and VB construction. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout the entire floor containing an ambulatory care facility in Type IIB, IIIB and VB construction where either of the following conditions exist at any time:

1. Four or more care recipients are rendered incapable of self-preservation.
2. One or more care recipients that are rendered incapable of self-preservation are located at other than the level of exit discharge serving such a facility.

In buildings where ambulatory care is provided on levels other than the level of exit discharge, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the entire floor where such care is provided, all floors below and all floors between the level of ambulatory care and the nearest level of exit discharge, including the level of exit discharge.

K102.3.2 High-rise buildings. In high-rise buildings containing ambulatory care facilities, an automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout the entire floor containing an ambulatory care facility where either of the following conditions exist at any time:

1. Four or more care recipients are rendered incapable of self-preservation.
2. One or more care recipients that are rendered incapable of self-preservation are located at other than the level of exit discharge serving such a facility.

In buildings where ambulatory care is provided on levels other than the level of exit discharge, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the entire floor where such care is provided, all floors below and all floors between the level of ambulatory care and the nearest level of exit discharge, including the level of exit discharge.

Fire areas containing ambulatory care facilities shall be provided with an electronically supervised automatic smoke detection system installed within the ambulatory care facility and in public use areas outside of tenant spaces, including public corridors and elevator lobbies.

Exception: Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, provided that the occupant notification appliances will activate throughout the notification zones upon sprinkler waterflow.

In ambulatory care facilities, existing waste and linen chutes shall comply with Sections K102.5.1 through K102.5.5.

K102.5.1 Enclosures. Chutes shall be enclosed with 1- hour fire-resistance-rated construction. Opening protectives shall be in accordance with Section 716 of the California Building Code and have a fire protection rating of not less than 1 hour.

K102.5.2 Chute intakes. Chute intakes shall comply with Section K102.5.2.1 or K102.5.2.2.

K102.5.2.1 Chute intake direct from corridor. Where intake to chutes is direct from a corridor, the intake opening shall be equipped with a chute-intake door in accordance with Section 716 of the California Building Code and have a fire protection rating of not less than 1 hour.

K102.5.2.2 Chute intake via a chute-intake room. Where the intake to chutes is accessed through a chute-intake room, the room shall be enclosed with 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction. Opening protectives for the intake room shall be in accordance with Section 716 of the California Building Code and have a fire protection rating of not less than 3/4 hour. Opening protectives for the chute enclosure shall be in accordance with Section K102.5.1.

K102.5.3 Automatic sprinkler system. Chutes shall be equipped with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.11.2.

K102.5.4 Chute discharge rooms. Chutes shall terminate in a dedicated chute discharge room. Such rooms shall be separated from the remainder of the building by not less than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction. Opening protectives shall be in accordance with Section 716 of the California Building Code and have a fire protection rating of not less than 1 hour.

K102.5.5 Chute discharge protection. Chute discharges shall be equipped with a self-closing or automatic-closing opening protective in accordance with Section 716 of the California Building Code and have a fire protection rating of not less than 1 hour.