Critical care ?

[mtlogcabin]

907.10.2 Audible alarms.

Audible alarm notification appliances shall be provided and sound a distinctive sound that is not to be used for any purpose other than that of a fire alarm. ....

Exception: Visible alarm notification appliances shall be allowed in lieu of audible alarm notification appliances in critical care areas of Group I-2 occupancies.

What is the definition of a critical care unit?

 

[permitguy]

The commentary speaks about this.

Basically, it's anywhere that the notification appliances would needlessly disrupt patients who aren't capable of self-preservation, such as intensive care units. These areas are intended to be staffed at all times, and staff could appropriately react to the visible alarms. The section could also apply to operating rooms where the alarm could startle a surgeon in the middle of a procedure.

 

[Dr. J]

The NFPA documents are always a good resource for Healthcare.

NFPA 99 has the following definition: "3.3.138.1* Critical Care Areas. Those special care units, intensive care units, coronary care units, angiography laboratories, cardiac catheterization laboratories, delivery rooms, operating rooms, postanesthesia recovery rooms, emergency departments, and similar areas in which patients are intended to be subjected to invasive procedures and connected to line-operated, patient-care–related electrical appliances." and the annex notes: "A.3.3.138.1 Critical Care Areas. For the purpose of this standard, the use of intravenous needles or catheters used to administer fluids and/or medications, endoscopes, colonscopes, sigmoidscopes, and urinary catheters are not considered invasive." NFPA 70's is similar.

 

[north star]

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"A.3.3.138.1 Critical Care Areas.....For the purpose of this standard, the use of intravenousneedles or catheters used to administer fluids and/or medications, endoscopes, colonscopes,

sigmoidscopes, and urinary catheters are not considered invasive." NFPA 70's is similar.

Actually, the colonoscopy, flexible & rigid sigmoidscope and endoscope exams are considered tobe "minimally" invasive......Some on here who have experienced the pleasures of a rigid

sigmoidscope exam might say that they are "VERY" invasive!

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