PDFWAC 212-12-020
Additional assisted living facility requirements.
This section shall be applicable to existing facilities that do not have fire sprinkler protection and smoke compartmentation on floors in which residents reside.
(1) Resident evacuation capability levels.
(a) Evacuation capability is the ability of the resident of a facility licensed by the department of social and health services under chapter 18.20 RCW to respond to an emergency situation and either evacuate or move to a point of safety.
(b) Residents shall be classified by the facility administration in one of the following evacuation capabilities:
(i) Ambulatory - Persons physically and cognitively capable of walking or traversing a normal pathway to safety, including the ascent and descent of stairs, and capable of self-preservation, without the physical assistance of another person.
(ii) Semiambulatory - Persons physically and cognitively capable of traversing a normal path to safety with the use of mobility aids, but unable to ascend or descend stairs without the physical assistance of another person.
(iii) Nonambulatory - Persons physically or cognitively unable to walk or traverse a normal path to safety without the physical assistance of another person.
(2) Residents with evacuation capabilities of semiambulatory or nonambulatory must reside on the grade level floor unless the facility receives written approval by the director of fire protection to house these residents on other floor levels.
(3) The facility must not admit or retain more than two residents with evacuation capabilities of semiambulatory or nonambulatory unless:
(a) The facility receives written approval by the director of fire protection to care for more than two residents with evacuation capabilities of semiambulatory or nonambulatory; and
(b) The facility is divided into at least two smoke barrier compartments on each floor; and
(c) The facility has an operational automatic sprinkler system throughout the facility, unless the facility was initially licensed prior to July 1, 2007, and is licensed for six or fewer residents.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.130, 18.46.110, 18.51.140, 43.43.939, 70.41.080, 70.97.210, 71.12.485, 74.15.050 and chapter 43.44 RCW. WSR 20-20-062, § 212-12-020, filed 10/1/20, effective 11/1/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.130, 18.46.110, 18.51.140, 41.12.485, 48.48.030, 48.48.045, 70.62.290, 74.15.050. WSR 08-06-050, § 212-12-020, filed 2/28/08, effective 3/30/08. Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.27 RCW. WSR 02-16-023, § 212-12-020, filed 7/29/02, effective 8/29/02. Statutory Authority: Chapters 43.63A and 48.48 RCW. WSR 93-05-032 (Order 93-02), § 212-12-020, filed 2/16/93, effective 3/19/93.]