| (a) Smoke compartments must be as described in NFPA
101 and in this section.
(b) A facility must provide an exit sign on each side
of corridor smoke barrier doors, unless otherwise directed by HHSC.
(c) The metal frame for a vision panel in a smoke barrier
door must be steel, unless otherwise approved by HHSC. The bottom
of a vision panel must be located no more than 43 inches above the
floor. A facility must provide push or pull hardware on pairs of opposite
swinging, double egress smoke barrier doors in corridors. Door leaves
must align in the closed position.
(d) A facility must provide prominent signs on each
side of smoke barrier walls in concealed spaces such as attics. The
signs must state: "Warning: Smoke/fire barrier. Properly seal all
openings."
(e) A facility must provide reasonable access to concealed
smoke barrier walls for maintaining smoke dampers, where provided,
so that walls and dampers can periodically be visually checked for
conformance by facility staff, service personnel, and inspectors.
A facility must provide access to both sides of the wall, and to all
parts, end-to-end and top-to-bottom. A facility must provide prefabricated
metal ceiling access panels, or their equivalent, that are at least
20 inches wide by 20 inches long. Ceiling access panels must be fire
resistance-rated if required to maintain the fire resistance rating
of a roof-ceiling or floor-ceiling assembly.
(f) A facility should design air systems to avoid
ducts that penetrate smoke barrier walls, thus eliminating the need
for smoke dampers which are often a problem to maintain in proper
working condition.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §554.356 adopted to be effective March 22, 2018, 43 TexReg 1646; transferred effective January 15, 2021, as published in the Texas Register December 11, 2020, 45 TexReg 8871 |
