DHS 83.59DHS 83.59 Exits and passageways. In this section, “exit” means standard exit doors opening to passageways or grade, exit passageways, fire escapes, and stairways as specified in ch. SPS 361.

DHS 83.59(1)(1) Exits. All habitable floors shall have at least 2 exits providing unobstructed travel to the outside. Small class AA CBRFs licensed on or before April 1, 2009, with no more than 2 habitable floors may have one exit from the second floor.

DHS 83.59(1)(a)(a) Class AS, class ANA, class CS and class CNA CBRFs shall have at least 2 grade level or ramped exits to grade.

DHS 83.59(1)(b)(b) A CBRF may use horizontal evacuation as defined under ch. SPS 361. The CBRF shall have approval from the department before including horizontal evacuation in the emergency and disaster plan under s. DHS 83.47 (2).

DHS 83.59(1)(c)(c) Exit doors and doors in exit passageways shall have a clear opening of at least 32 inches in width and 76 inches in height.

DHS 83.59(1)(d)(d) Exit passageways, stairways and doors in class AA facilities shall be at least 30 inches clear opening in width. Class AA facilities licensed on or before April 1, 2009, shall have a minimum width of 28 inches clear opening for existing passageways, stairways and doors.

DHS 83.59(1)(e)(e) No exit passageway may be through areas such as a resident room, bath or toilet room, closet or furnace rooms.

DHS 83.59(1)(f)(f) Exit passageways and stairways to outside exits shall be at least 36 inches in width and maintained clear and unobstructed at all times. Exit passageways and stairways to outside exits shall be at least 32 inches in width in facilities licensed on or before April 1, 2009. In existing large facilities, the minimum corridor width shall be at least 4 feet.

DHS 83.59(1)(g)(g) Exits, sidewalks and driveways used for exiting shall be kept free of ice, snow, and obstructions. For facilities serving only ambulatory residents, the CBRF shall maintain a cleared pathway from all exterior doors to be used in an emergency to a public way or safe distance away from the building. For facilities serving semi-ambulatory and non-ambulatory residents, a CBRF shall maintain a cleared, hard surface, barrier-free walkway to a public way or safe distance away from the building for at least 2 primary exits from the building. All other required exits shall have at least a cleared pathway maintained to a public way or safe distance from the building. An exit door or walkway to a cleared driveway leading away from the CBRF also meets this requirement.

DHS 83.59(1)(h)(h) The exit path from the CBRF through the garage to the outside shall be clear, safe and unobstructed.

DHS 83.59(2)(a)(a) All doors shall have latching hardware to permit opening from the inside with a one-hand, one-motion operation without the use of a key or special tool.

DHS 83.59(2)(b)(b) A solid core wood door or an equivalent fire resistive door shall be provided at any interior stair between the basement and the first floor. The door shall have a positive latch and an automatic closing device and normally shall be kept closed. Enclosed furnace and laundry areas with self-closing doors in a split level home may substitute for the self-closing door between the first and second levels. Enclosed furnace and laundry areas shall have self closing solid core wood doors or an equivalent fire resistive door when located on a common level with resident bedrooms.

DHS 83.59(2)(c)(c) All interior doors equipped with locks shall be designed to unlock from either side in case of emergency.

DHS 83.59(2)(d)(d) Levered handles shall be provided on all doors used by residents with manual strength or dexterity limitations.

DHS 83.59(2)(f)(f) The staff member in charge on each work shift shall have a means of opening all locks or security devices on all doors in the CBRF.

DHS 83.59(3)(3) Patio doors. A patio door may be used as a supplementary exit in an emergency in addition to the required primary exits and shall comply with all of the following:

DHS 83.59(3)(a)(a) Factory installed door fastenings or hardware on sliding glass patio doors is acceptable. The use of bolt locks on sliding glass patio doors is prohibited.

DHS 83.59(3)(b)(b) All door fastenings or hardware on hinged, swing-type patio doors shall be operable from the inside with one hand and one motion without the use of a key or special tool.

DHS 83.59(3)(c)(c) Furniture and other obstacles shall not be placed in front of the patio door.

DHS 83.59(3)(d)(d) A clear and unobstructed pathway shall be maintained to a safe distance away from the building.

DHS 83.59(4)(4) Delayed egress. Delayed egress door locks are permitted with department approval only in facilities with a supervised automatic fire sprinkler system and a supervised interconnected automatic fire detection system and shall comply with all of the following:

DHS 83.59(4)(a)(a) No more than one device shall be present in a means of egress.

DHS 83.59(4)(b)(b) A sign shall be posted adjacent to the locking device indicating how the door may be opened.

DHS 83.59(4)(c)(c) The doors shall unlock upon activation of the sprinkler system or fire detection system. The doors shall unlock upon loss of power controlling the lock or locking mechanism.

DHS 83.59(4)(d)(d) The door locks shall have the capability of being unlocked by a signal from the CBRF’s fire command center.

DHS 83.59(4)(e)(e) An irreversible process will occur which will release the latch in not more than 15 seconds when a force of not more than 15 pounds is applied for 3 seconds to the release device. Initiation of the irreversible process shall activate an audible signal in the vicinity of the door. Once the door lock has been released by the application of force to the releasing device, re-locking shall be by manual means only.

DHS 83.59(4)(f)(f) To obtain department approval, the CBRF shall demonstrate that delayed egress equipment is necessary to ensure the safety of residents served by the CBRF, specifically persons at risk of elopement due to behavioral concerns, cognitive impairments or dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.