(a) A center's construction type is limited to the building construction shown in the minimum construction requirements in the Life Safety Code chapter for New Health Care Occupancies.
(b) A center must have a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72 fire alarm system with initiation, notification, emergency forces notification, annunciation, emergency control and detection in accordance with the Life Safety Code. The center must have a written contract with a fire alarm firm that has been issued an Alarm Certificate of Registration number from the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office to inspect, test and maintain a fire alarm system to meet NFPA 72 requirements, semiannually. Inspections required in the contract must be performed. The person performing the semiannual service must have an individual fire alarm license from the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office.
(c) A center must be protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with NFPA 13. The center must ensure that the sprinkler system is inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 25. The center must have a written contract with a fire protection sprinkler firm that has been issued a Sprinkler Certificate of Registration number from the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office to perform the required services, semiannually. The center must document and show to DADS that all the requirements of NFPA 25 are met including the annual inspection, test, and maintenance performed by the registered fire sprinkler firm. The center must retain one set of the fire sprinkler system plans and hydraulic calculations on the property.
(d) A center must distribute portable fire extinguishers throughout the center of size and type in accordance with NFPA 10.
(e) A center must provide emergency power for emergency lighting, exit signs, and the fire alarm by a generator.
(f) A center must ensure that the design, installation, and maintenance of emergency motor generators are in accordance with NFPA 37, NFPA 99, and NFPA 110.
(g) A center must ensure that the generator is of sufficient size to maintain Life Safety Code requirements, medical equipment, and HVAC to operate in designated core areas of the center in the event of power failure.
(h) The center must ensure that emergency powered receptacles are used:
  (1) for a patient care-related electrical appliance, including a biological refrigerator;
  (2) at a nurse station; and
  (3) in a medication room.
(i) The center must store and administer oxygen in accordance with NFPA 99.

Source Note: The provisions of this §550.1204 adopted to be effective September 1, 2014, 39 TexReg 6569; transferred effective May 1, 2019, as published in the Texas Register April 12, 2019, 44 TexReg 1875