Los Angeles Municipal Code § 57.4703 Institutional Occupancies

A valid permit from the Department is required in accordance with Section 57.105.6 when a building or portion of a building is used as an institutional occupancy.

The owner, manager, or person in charge of any institutional occupancy shall be responsible for providing and controlling the fire and life safety provisions of this section. The person in charge of any institutional occupancy shall, upon request by the Chief, furnish the name, address, and telephone number of the owner, manager, owner’s representative, or lessee. Every institutional occupancy shall be under the constant supervision of the owner, manager, or person in charge.

Every institution as required by the Chief shall implement a written and approved Fire/Life Safety Program which includes procedures for notifying the Fire Department, procedures for the use of fire protection equipment, and an emergency evacuation plan.

All Emergency Plans, procedures, and evacuation signs shall be submitted to the Fire Department for approval prior to implementation. The approved copy of the Fire/Life Safety Program shall be available for review by the Chief.

Fire drills shall be scheduled and performed quarterly for each shift implementing the fire/life safety emergency procedures. A written record shall be kept on forms approved by the Chief of all such drills. Records shall give the date and time of each drill held. Records shall be maintained for a period of three years and be available for review by the Chief.

The evacuation plan shall be posted throughout the facility and shall include the following minimum requirements:

1. Evacuation routes, including locations of exits.

2. The location of fire alarm pull stations.

3. The location of portable fire extinguishers and other fire protection equipment.

4. The phone number of the Fire Department.

5. Designation of outside refuge areas where guests or patients are to assemble after evacuation of the building.

6. Assignment of a responsible person to call the Fire Department upon notification of any fire or upon the activation of any fire protection system.

The Fire/Life Safety Program shall be updated and approved annually. All personnel shall receive approved training conducted by the Department or by a health care facility instructor who is certified in accordance with Section 57.117. New employees shall receive such training within 30 days of employment.

Heating appliances in institutional occupancies shall be in accordance with Sections 57.4703.1 through 57.4703.4.

Portable electrical heating appliances shall not be used in any institutional occupancy without the approval of the Chief. All gas fired heating devices shall be connected to the gas supply by means of approved rigid or semi-rigid piping. All heating appliances shall be provided with guards that will provide protection against ignition of clothing and other combustible material.

Appliances employing open flame radiated heat shall have fixed and substantially constructed metallic guards located not less than 10 inches from the radiating flame, with guard members spaced not more than 2 inches apart.

Cabinet type appliances that are not provided with an inner combustion chamber and an air circulating space between the combustion chamber and the outer shell shall have fixed and substantially constructed metallic guards located not less than 3 inches from the shell and spaced not more than 2 inches apart.

All lights protruding from any wall or ceiling shall be provided with suitable guards to prevent their accidental breakage or contact with readily ignitable materials.

Portable electric appliances shall not be placed closer than 5 feet to wash basins, bath tubs, showers, or other grounded surfaces.

Fire Clearance Safety Inspections shall be conducted in accordance with Sections 57.4703.7.1 and 57.4703.7.2.

As provided by California Health and Safety Code Section 13235, a prospective State licensee of a community care facility, as defined in Section 1502 of the California Health and Safety Code, or of a residential care facility for the elderly, as defined in Section 1569.2 of the California Health and Safety Code, may request a pre-inspection of the facility prior to final clearance approval in connection with the issuance of such State license. A fee equal to, but not exceeding, the actual cost of the pre-inspection services shall be charged for the pre-inspection of these facilities. Such fee shall be paid to the Department prior to the pre- inspection by the Department. The fee shall be established in the same manner as provided for the establishment of fees under Section 57.106.7.1.1.

The Department shall charge and collect a fee for the final clearance approval inspection in connection with the issuance of a State license to operate a residential care facility housing non-ambulatory elderly persons. The fee shall be established in the same manner as provided for the establishment of fees under Section 57.106.7.1.1, but shall not exceed any fee for such inspection established by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 13131.5(f) of the California Health and Safety Code.