Are You Properly Assessing Interim Life Safety around Construction?

Healthcare construction poses many dangers not only to the worker but also the patients, staff, and visitors. Upon design and construction of healthcare occupancies, certain safe guards are installed as life safety system devices. These devices can be, but are not limited to, sprinkler systems, horn/strobe devices, smoke detectors, heat detectors, fire and smoke walls and doors, and a means of egress. These safeguards are meant to protect occupants of the building during an emergency.

During construction it may be necessary to take one or more of these systems off line for an extended amount of time. In doing so, interim life safety measures must be in place to protect the occupants in the affected building. At no time shall a building's life safety system be degraded without interim measures in place. It is important that during the pre-planning and risk assessment stages, these deficiencies that are set to occur are noted and a thorough plan is agreed upon for ILSM. The Joint Commission assesses ISLM needs through the following criteria:

• Will construction block or obstruct any internal or external exits or hallways?
• Will construction impair access for emergency responders?
• Will construction impair any of the facilities fire detection or alarm system?
• Will construction impair any part of the facilities fire suppression system?
• Will construction compromise smoke or fire walls/doors/ceilings or smoke dampers?
• Will construction affect the fire safety of personnel in adjacent smoke compartments?
• Will it be necessary to erect any temporary construction partitions?
• Will the project result in the accumulation of debris and materials and increase the combustible load in the work area?

Once an ILSM has been identified and noted during the risk assessment process, staff should be trained and oriented to the interim measures before compromising the existing system. All staff on all shifts during the impairment must be familiar with these interim measures. Additional notification e-mails, signage, and personnel may be needed. Remember to document all steps taken for reference during a Joint Commission inspection.

It is important to note that the authority having jurisdiction (i.e. local fire department) should also be notified of the impairment date and duration of interim measures.