Chapter DHS 134

DHS 134.83(1) (1) Maintenance. The building shall be maintained in good repair and kept free of hazards, including hazards created by any damaged or defective building equipment. Floors shall be maintained in a safe condition.

DHS 134.83(2) (2) Corridors.

DHS 134.83(2)(a) (a) In all facilities having plans approved on or after March 17, 1974, except in small facilities, all corridors in resident use areas shall be at least 6 feet wide.

DHS 134.83(2)(b) (b) In all facilities having plans approved before March 17, 1974, except in small facilities, all corridors in resident use areas shall be at least 4 feet wide.

DHS 134.83(2)(c) (c) In small facilities all corridors in resident use areas shall be at least 3 feet wide.

DHS 134.83(3) (3) Doors.

DHS 134.83(3)(a) (a) Size.

DHS 134.83(3)(a)1. 1. In existing small facilities exit doors, stair doors and resident room doors shall be at least 28 inches wide and in newly constructed small facilities exit doors, stair doors and resident room doors shall be at least 36 inches wide.

DHS 134.83(3)(a)2. 2. In type I facilities with over 16 beds, exit doors, stair doors and resident room doors shall be at least 28 inches wide.

DHS 134.83(3)(a)3. 3. In type II facilities with over 16 beds, exit doors, stair doors and resident room doors shall be at least 36 inches wide and 80 inches high and shall have a fire rating of at least 20 minutes or equivalent, except that in facilities having plans approved on or after March 17, 1974 exit doors and resident room doors shall be at least 44 inches wide.

DHS 134.83(3)(b) (b) Latches. Each exit door shall have fastenings or hardware to permit the door to be opened from the inside by pushing against a single bar or plate or by turning a single knob or handle.

DHS 134.83(3)(c) (c) Locks.

DHS 134.83(3)(c)1. 1. Exit doors from the building and from nursing areas and resident living areas may not be hooked or locked to prevent exiting from the inside, except as provided under s. DHS 134.33 (3).

DHS 134.83 Note Note: See rules adopted under chs. SPS 361 to 365 for other restrictions on locking of exits.

DHS 134.83(3)(c)2. 2. No lock may be installed on the door of a resident’s room, unless:

DHS 134.83(3)(c)2.a. a. The lock is operable from inside the room with a simple one-hand, one-motion operation without the use of a key unless the resident is confined in accordance with s. DHS 134.33 (3);

DHS 134.83(3)(c)2.b. b. All staff regularly assigned to work in the resident care area have in their possession a master-key for the rooms in that area;

DHS 134.83(3)(c)2.c. c. A master-key is available to emergency personnel such as the fire department; and

DHS 134.83(3)(c)2.d. d. The resident is capable of following directions and taking appropriate action for self-preservation under emergency conditions.

DHS 134.83(3)(d) (d) Toilet room doors.

DHS 134.83(3)(d)1. 1. In new construction, toilet room doors shall be at least 36 inches wide.

DHS 134.83(3)(d)2. 2. In facilities converted from another use that are approved after the effective date of these rules, toilet room doors shall be at least 32 inches wide.

DHS 134.83(3)(d)3. 3. In type II facilities, except for new construction, toilet room doors shall be at least 30 inches wide.

DHS 134.83(3)(d)4. 4. Toilet room doors under this paragraph may not swing into the toilet room unless they are provided with 2-way hardware.

DHS 134.83(4) (4) Emergency power.

DHS 134.83(4)(a) (a) If a facility houses more than 16 residents, it shall have an emergency electrical service with an independent power source which covers lighting at living unit stations, telephone switchboards, exit and corridor lights, boiler room, fire alarm systems and medical records when solely electronically based. The service may be battery-operated if effective for at least 4 hours.

DHS 134.83(4)(b) (b) In small facilities flashlights shall be readily available to staff on duty in the event that there is an electrical power interruption.

DHS 134.83(5) (5) Fire protection.

DHS 134.83(5)(a) (a) Carpeting. Carpeting may not be installed in rooms used primarily for food preparation and storage, dish and utensil washing, cleaning of linen and utensils, storage of janitor supplies, laundry processing, hydro-therapy, toileting and bathing, resident isolation or resident examination.

DHS 134.83(5)(e) (e) Vertical exit stairwells.

DHS 134.83(5)(e)1. 1. In all multi-story facilities there shall be at least one enclosed exit stairway for all floors, except that if floors are divided into fire sections there shall be at least one enclosed exit stairway for each fire section. This exit stairway shall provide an enclosed protected path of at least one-hour fire-rated construction for occupants to proceed with safety to the exterior of the facility.

DHS 134.83(5)(e)2. 2. Sprinkler heads shall be provided at the top of each linen or trash chute and also in the room in which a chute terminates.

DHS 134.83(5)(f) (f) Fire escapes.

DHS 134.83(5)(f)1. 1. An outside fire escape is permitted in an existing facility as one of the required means of exiting the facility if it meets all of the following requirements:

DHS 134.83(5)(f)1.a. a. Iron, steel, concrete or other noncombustible material shall be used in the construction and support of the fire escape;

DHS 134.83(5)(f)1.b. b. No part of the path of exit from the facility may be across a roof or other part of the facility that is made of combustible materials;

DHS 134.83(5)(f)1.c. c. To protect against fire in the facility, the walls directly under the stairway and for a distance of 6 feet in all other directions shall be blank or closed walls. A window is permitted within this area if it is stationary or of steel sash construction and is glazed with wire glass of not less than 1/4-inch thickness. The size of the wire glass part of the window may not exceed 1296 square inches and not more than 54 inches in either length or width;

DHS 134.83(5)(f)1.d. d. The fire escape shall be protected by a roof and at least partial sidewalls to prevent the accumulation of snow and ice;

DHS 134.83(5)(f)1.e. e. The bottom riser shall terminate at ground level, with the last riser not more than the spacing of the riser above; and

DHS 134.83(5)(f)1.f. f. It is not a tubular or spiral slide-type fire escape.

DHS 134.83(5)(f)2. 2. Small facilities shall meet either the requirements of subd. 1. or the provisions of the lodgings and rooming house section of the applicable life safety code.

DHS 134.83(5)(g) (g) Conditions for housing certain residents above the street level floor. Residents who are blind, non-ambulatory or physically disabled may not be housed above the street level floor in an existing facility of 2 or more stories that is not at least 2-hour fire-resistive construction unless the facility is one-hour protected noncombustible construction as defined in standard 220 of the NFPA’s National Fire Code, 1979 edition, fully sprinklered one-hour protected ordinary construction or fully sprinklered one-hour protected wood frame construction.

DHS 134.83(5)(h) (h) Storage of oxygen. Oxygen tanks when not in use shall be stored in a ventilated closet designated for that purpose or stored outside the facility building in an enclosed and secured area.

DHS 134.83 Note Note: The 1978 and 1979 editions of NFPA’s National Fire Code referenced in pars. (b) and (g) can be obtained from the National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269. Copies are kept on file in the offices of the Department’s Division of Quality Assurance and the Legislative Reference Bureau.

DHS 134.83(6) (6) Sprinklers for fire protection.

DHS 134.83(6)(a) (a) Existing facilities. All existing facilities shall have automatic sprinkler protection throughout all buildings unless all walls, partitions, piers, columns, floors, ceilings, roof and stairs are built of noncombustible material and all metallic structural members are protected by a noncombustible fire-resistive covering.

DHS 134.83(6)(b) (b) Certification. Certification that the sprinkler system is in proper operating condition shall be obtained annually from a licensed sprinkler contractor. A copy of the certification document shall be kept on file in the facility.

DHS 134.83(6)(c) (c) New construction and conversions. All newly constructed facilities, additions and buildings to be converted shall have automatic sprinkler protection throughout. In the event of an addition to or remodeling of an existing facility, the facility shall have automatic sprinkler protection throughout the building unless there is a 2-hour fire-rated partition wall between the old and new construction, in which case only the new addition or remodeled area shall be sprinklered. Facilities with more than 16 beds shall meet the automatic sprinkler protection standard 13 of NFPA’s national fire code, 1985 edition. Facilities with 16 or fewer beds shall meet either standard 13 of that edition of the code or standard 13D of NFPA’s national fire code, 1984 edition.

DHS 134.83 Note Note: The 1984 and 1985 editions of NFPA’s National Fire Code can be obtained from the National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269. Copies are kept on file in the office of the Department’s Division of Quality Assurance and the Legislative Reference Bureau.

DHS 134.83(6)(d) (d) Sprinkler plans. All sprinkler plans shall be submitted to the department’s bureau of quality compliance for review and approval before installation of the sprinkler system.

DHS 134.83 Note Note: The bureau of quality assurance was renamed the division of quality assurance.

DHS 134.83(7) (7) Smoke detectors for fire protection in small facilities.

DHS 134.83(7)(a) (a) A small facility shall provide a low-voltage interconnected smoke detection system to protect the entire facility so that, if any detector is activated, either alarms are triggered throughout the building or a centrally located alarm is triggered, except that a facility with 8 or fewer residents may use a radio-transmitting smoke detection system that triggers an audible alarm in a central area of the facility.

DHS 134.83(7)(b) (b) No facility may install a smoke detection system that fails to receive the approval of the department or of the department of industry,labor and human relations. At least one smoke detector shall be located at each of the following locations:

DHS 134.83(7)(b)1. 1. At the head of every open stairway;

DHS 134.83(7)(b)2. 2. At the door leading to every enclosed stairway on each floor level;

DHS 134.83(7)(b)3. 3. In every corridor, spaced not more than 30 feet apart and not further than 15 feet from any wall;

DHS 134.83(7)(b)4. 4. In each common use room, including living rooms, dining rooms, family rooms, lounges and recreation rooms but not including kitchens; and

DHS 134.83(7)(b)5. 5. In each sleeping room in which smoking is allowed.

DHS 134.83(8) (8) Mechanical systems.

DHS 134.83(8)(a) (a) Water supply.

DHS 134.83(8)(a)1. 1. A potable water supply shall be maintained at all times. If a public water supply is available, it shall be used. If a public water supply is not available, the well or wells shall comply with ch. NR 812.

DHS 134.83(8)(a)2. 2. An adequate supply of hot water shall be available at all times. The temperature of hot water at a plumbing fixture used by residents may not exceed the range of 110° - 115° F.

DHS 134.83(8)(b) (b) Sewage disposal. All sewage shall be discharged into a municipal sewage system, if one is available. Otherwise the sewage shall be collected, treated and disposed of by means of an independent sewage system approved by the department of industry, labor and human relations under applicable state law and by the local authority.

DHS 134.83(8)(c) (c) Plumbing. Plumbing for potable water and for drainage for the disposal of excreta, infectious discharge and wastes shall comply with ch. SPS 382.

DHS 134.83(8)(d) (d) Heating and air conditioning.

DHS 134.83(8)(d)1. 1. The heating and air conditioning systems shall be capable of maintaining adequate temperatures and providing freedom from drafts.

DHS 134.83(8)(d)2. 2. Minimum temperatures of 72°F. (22° C.) shall be maintained during the day and 70° F. (21°C.) during the night in all bedrooms and in all areas used by the residents.

DHS 134.83(8)(e) (e) Telephone. There shall be at least one operational non-pay telephone on the premises and as many additional telephones as are judged necessary in an emergency.

DHS 134.83(8)(f) (f) Incineration.

DHS 134.83(8)(f)1. 1. Facilities for the incineration of soiled dressings and similar wastes, as well as garbage and refuse, shall be provided when other methods of disposal are not available.

DHS 134.83(8)(f)2. 2. An incinerator may not be flue-fed nor shall any upper floor charging chute be connected with the combustion chamber.

DHS 134.83(8)(g) (g) General lighting. Adequate lighting shall be provided in all areas of the facility. Lighting shall be of a type that does not produce discomfort due to high brightness, glare or reflecting surfaces. No candles, oil lanterns or other open-flame method of illumination may be used.

DHS 134.83(8)(h) (h) Ventilation.

DHS 134.83(8)(h)1. 1. The facility shall be well-ventilated through the use of windows or mechanical ventilation or a combination of both. No room may be used for living or sleeping purposes that does not have at least one openable window leading to the outside and direct outside ventilation by means of windows, louvers, or air conditioning or other mechanical ventilation. Other rooms and areas which do not have outside windows and which are used by residents or staff shall be provided with functioning mechanical ventilation to change the air on a basis commensurate with the type of use.

DHS 134.83(8)(h)2. 2. Kitchens, bathrooms, janitor closets and soiled linen rooms shall be ventilated.

DHS 134.83(8)(h)3. 3. In type II facilities:

DHS 134.83(8)(h)3.a. a. When mechanical ventilation is provided, the resident area corridors and the lounge, dining, living and recreation areas shall be under positive pressure; and

DHS 134.83(8)(h)3.b. b. No transom, louver or grill may be in or above a resident room door exiting to a corridor.

DHS 134.83(8)(i) (i) Electrical.

DHS 134.83(8)(i)1. 1. In all facilities nonconductive wall plates shall be provided for electrical outlets if the system is not properly grounded.

DHS 134.83(8)(i)2. 2. In newly constructed facilities at least 2 duplex-type wall outlets shall be provided in close proximity to each resident bed.

DHS 134.83 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1988, No. 390, eff. 7-1-88; correction in (8) (a) 1. made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, August, 1995, No. 476; correction in (8) (c) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, April, 2000, No. 532; CR 04-053: am. (4) (a) and (8) (a) 2., r. (5) (b), (c) and (d) Register October 2004 No. 586, eff. 11-1-04; corrections in (5) (e) 1. and (6) (a) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register October 2007 No. 622; correction in (8) (c) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2012 No. 673; CR 20-068: am. (5) (g) Register December 2021 No. 792, eff. 1-1-22.

DHS 134.84 DHS 134.84 Design.

DHS 134.84(1) (1) Submission of plans and specifications.

DHS 134.84(1)(a) (a) For all new construction:

DHS 134.84(1)(a)1. 1. One copy of the schematic and preliminary plans shall be submitted to the department for review and approval of the functional layout; and

DHS 134.84(1)(a)2. 2. One copy of the working plans and specifications shall be submitted to the department for review and approval before construction is begun. The department shall notify the facility in writing of any divergence in the plans and specifications, as submitted, from the rules in this chapter.

DHS 134.84(1)(b) (b) The plans and specifications required under par. (a) shall show the general arrangement of the building, including a room schedule, fixed equipment for each room and room numbers, together with other pertinent information. Plans submitted shall be drawn to scale.