In New York State, a critical requirement is fast approaching. All high-rise healthcare facilities are required to install automatic sprinkler systems before the deadline of July 5, 2028. This isn’t just a recommendation, it’s a non-negotiable that is required by law.
This requirement was introduced by the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), an arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The requirement from CMS incorporates the National Fire Protection Association’s 2012 edition of NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code (LSC) fire safety requirements.
Is Your Facility Affected?
These guidelines apply to all healthcare facilities that are taller than 75 feet.
Healthcare facilities include:
- long term care (LTC) facilities
- critical access hospitals (CAHs)
- inpatient hospice facilities
- programs for all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE)
- religious non-medical healthcare institutions (RNHCI)
- ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs)
- intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF-IID)
The Consequences of Delay
CMS has indicated that extensions or exceptions are highly unlikely, given the ample lead time provided. Failure to comply by the given deadline could lead to penalties, such as significant fine or loss of Medicare/Medicaid funding. Furthermore, having a high-rise facility that is un-sprinklered could mean that patient safety is compromised.
Get Ahead of the Deadline: Begin Your Compliance Strategy
July 2028 might seem far away, but bringing your facility into compliance is a detailed, multi-step endeavor. It is a highly specialized task that demands collaboration among fire protection engineers, architects, contractors, facility managers, and healthcare staff. Furthermore, due to the critical nature of healthcare facilities, this must be done with minimal disruption to the critical operations and patient healthcare.
Your Road to Compliance
If your high-rise healthcare facility isn’t yet compliant, contact RAN Fire Protection Engineering today. We can help you begin a comprehensive assessment and guide you on your journey to compliance. We offer comprehensive fire protection engineering services and have over a decade of experience with retrofitting sprinklers, as well as working on complex projects at healthcare and high-rise facilities.
Visit our page on high-rise projects and our page on healthcare projects.