posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 2:13 PM
by
klehan
MO Lawmakers Reject Mandatory Smokes in Care Facilities
Health officials say new fire rules for Missouri’s long-term care facilities likely won’t mandate smoke detectors in every room.
A deadly fire at a southwest Missouri group home in 2006 prompted lawmakers to require most assisted living, skilled nursing and residential care facilities to install sprinklers by the end of 2012. That law also requires complete fire alarm systems this year.
State officials are drafting rules to implement that law. The state fire marshal wanted to require smoke detectors in each bedroom.
But last week lawmakers rejected that proposal, saying it went beyond the law.
Now health officials must rewrite the rules regarding what makes a complete fire alarm system.