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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 98-1759

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Application of Valley View Home for Exception to 28 Pa. Code § 203.1

[28 Pa.B. 5386]

   Under 28 Pa. Code § 51.33 (relating to requests for exceptions), the Department of Health (Department) hereby gives notice that Valley View Home, Altoona, PA has requested an exception to the requirements of 28 Pa. Code § 203.1, referencing the National Fire Protection Association's Life Safety Code (Code), NFPA 101, which requires special locking arrangements to conform to the requirements of section 5-2.1.6. The nursing home is requesting a waiver from the requirement of the Code to have three locked doors on the Behavioral Management Suite release automatically after 15 seconds of continuous pressure on the release device, as required. The locking arrangement will be installed on two exterior doors, and on the smoke barrier door to the suite. The locks will be controlled by a console at the nurses' station and keypads at each of the doors. The locks will automatically release upon activation of the fire alarm system, smoke detection system or automatic sprinkler system. The locks will be powered by the facility's emergency generator, and will therefore not release during a power failure. The Behavioral Management Suite will house 14 residents with behavioral problems such as aggressive, assaultive and socially inappropriate conduct, whose behavior would not be acceptable in any other nursing home, and these residents would most likely be relegated to the State mental hospital system. The proposed Behavioral Management Suite would provide these residents with greater freedom and more focused intervention, in the least restrictive environment.

   The request is on file with the Department. Persons may receive a copy of the request for exception by requesting a copy from: Division of Safety Inspection, Room 922 Health & Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120, (717) 787-1911, fax (717) 787-1491, E-Mail Address: PPETRESK@HEALTH.STATE.PA.US.

   Those persons who wish to comment on this exception request may do so by sending a letter by mail, e-mail or facsimile to the Division and address listed above.

   Comments received by the Department within 10 days after the date of publication of this notice will be reviewed by the Department before it decides whether to approve or disapprove the request for exception.

   Persons with a disability who wish to obtain a copy of the request and/or provide comments to the Department and require an auxiliary aide service or other accommodation to do so, should contact Peter P. Petresky at (717) 787-1911, V/TT: (717) 783-6514 for speech and/or hearing impaired persons or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 [TT].

DANIEL F. HOFFMANN,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-1759. Filed for public inspection October 23, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]


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