Locking doors in healthcare facilities (Audio Conference)

AUDIOCONFERENCE ON CD OR AUDIO ARCHIVE

Sponsored by Hospital Safety Center

Featuring Joshua W. Elvove, PE, CSP, FSFPE and Peter Leszczak

presented on December 11, 2007

Understand the intent of the door locking requirements in the 2000 edition of the Life Safety Code’s®.

The subject of door locking as it relates to Life Safety Code requirements can be a confusing and blurry area for safety officers. You can debate various interpretations over the provisions. That is why we sought the help of veteran Life Safety Code experts to help you navigate through particular pitfalls and areas of confusion.

Here’s just one scenario: Doors are normally required to be unlocked in the direction of egress to permit a way out from occupiable areas.  However, there are instances where doors are can be locked, provided they are done so in accordance with the specific requirements of the Life Safety Code.  These locking arrangements often create confusion and conflict with local code requirements.  Some local officials permit doors to be locked so long as they are connected to the fire alarm system.  Though this certainly helps, the Life Safety Code (and therefore The Joint Commission) requires additional provisions to ensure occupants can safety leave a building during a fire or other similar emergency. Improperly locked doors may not only put you at risk for a Joint Commission citation, but may place your occupants in danger.

Listen to HCPro as our panel of experts tell you what you need to know about the door locking provisions in the Life Safety Code to ensure your facility is Joint Commission compliant and your occupants are afforded safe egress. You’ll learn where you can lock and unlock doors, what types of locks are appropriate, the role your authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) play, and the difference between the clinical and safety needs for door locking.

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR AGENDA

• Explaining the issue behind door locking
• Dilemmas between life safety and security
• Why is the concern so important?
• Examining the Life Safety Code’s role in door locking
• General means of egress requirements for door locking
• Healthcare provisions for patients with “clinical needs”
• Confusion about patients with “clinical needs”
• Healthcare provisions for delayed egress locks
• Healthcare provisions for access controlled locks
• Offering common sense solutions and ideas
• Staff member roles and responsibilities
• Arranging exit routes and door locking
• Technology options and pitfalls
• Looking to the future
• Better explanations in future editions of the Life Safety Code
• NFPA discussions on the topic
• Q&A

Note: This is an intermediate level program.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this program, you will be able to

1. Identify where doors are permitted to be locked by the Life Safety Code
2. Understand which types of locking arrangements are permitted by the Life Safety Code
3. Distinguish between clinical needs and security needs

MEET THE SPEAKERS
Joshua W. Elvove, PE, CSP, FSFPE served as one of The Joint Commission’s original Life SafetySpecialists, responsible for evaluating healthcare organization compliance with the Life Safety Code. He has more than 26 years of fire protection and life safety experience, including 17 years with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Western and Rocky Mountain Regions. Elvove is a licensed professional engineer and a Certified Safety Professional (CSP). He is a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and was recently promoted to Vice President of the Society.  He is an ASHE member and member of the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code Means of Egressand NFPA 25, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Extinguishing Systems technical committees.

Peter Leszczak has worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a safety and fire protection engineer for more than 13 years.  He began teaching fire science at the University of New Haven, CT in 1994 and is also a consultant with his own firm PSL Engineering, LLC (www.pslengineering.com).  He provides life safety consultation including on-site Life Safety Assessment of all buildings surveyed under JCAHO Standards with follow-up recommendations to address any deficiencies identified.  Mr. Leszczak is a technical Committee member of NFPA 72, NFPA 99 and NFPA 101.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of New Haven, and is NICET Certified for Fire Alarm Systems.

BONUS MATERIALS INCLUDED IN YOUR MATERIALS PACKET!
In addition to the expertise and advice presented during this audioconference, you'll also receive helpful "take-aways" materials in your packet. These materials are provided with PDF links.

WHO SHOULD LISTEN

Safety officers, facility directors, directors of plant operations, fire marshals, security directors, maintenance directors, risk managers

NEW PURCHASE OPTION— AUDIO ARCHIVE
In addition to the regular purchase options for HCPro audioconferences&mdash, audio CD, we are pleased to offer a new option, an audio archive. Audio archive allows you to download the program and play it back at your convenience through your computer or MP3 player. Purchase a CD or audio archive of the program and listen when you can. It’s also a perfect training tool for new staff or as a refresher for veteran staff.

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