SEPARATION between Nursing Home and Hospital

[Vlab20]

I have a 3-story building Type 1B. It houses hospital (I-2) on floors 1 and 2 and Nursing Home (I-2) on the 3rd floor. We are downsizing the Nursing Home and are moving hospital space to a portion of the 3rd floor. I am trying to find if a SEPARATION is required between the two I-2 occupancies. There does NOT appear to be a fire separation from I-2 to I-2 but...when designing a ambulatory surgery center (Business occupancy) next to a medical clinic (Business Occupancy) NFPA 101 requires a 1-hour occupancy separation between the two. I am wondering if something similar is in place for a Nursing Home / Hospital.

The hospital and Nursing Home have 2 different CMS billing numbers. Thoughts???

 

[Coug Dad]

If you have two different CMS classifications, one being a health care occupancy, you may need a two hour separation per NFPA 101.

 

[Vlab20]

If you have two different CMS classifications, one being a health care occupancy, you may need a two hour separation per NFPA 101.

I may have two different CMS billing numbers but both designations are I-2 occupancies. I did find NFPA 101 Section 18.1.1.4.4

18.1.1.4.4 / 19.1.1.4.4 Changes of Occupancy

Changes of occupancy shall comply with 4.6.11. A change from one health care occupancy subclassification to another shall require compliance with the requirements for new construction.

Exception #1 A change from a hospital to a nursing home or from a nursing home to a hospital shall not be considered a change in occupancy or occupancy subclassification.

Exception #2 A change from a hospital or nursing home to a limited care facility shall not be considered a change in occupancy or occupancy subclassification.

That being said my building is existing it was built as a Type 1B. I am changing a portion of the current Nursing Home to a Hospital, The Exceptions tell me I don't have to meet the requirements of 4.6.11.

This is the only references I can find for separation issues between a Nursing Home and a Hospital.

 

[Vlab20]

I had a discussion with the State inspector of Nursing Homes and the State inspector of Hospitals and both agreed that a physical separation is not required but that a privacy separation may be adviseable.