ASHE: American Society for Healthcare Engineering
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NFPA APPROVES NEW VERSION OF LIFE SAFETY CODE
The long awaited process toward adopting a new edition of NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code (LSC), took a large step forward in June after the NFPA membership approved a new version of the code.
The vote took place at the NFPA’s Technical Meeting, which was held after its 2011 Conference and Expo in Boston. The 2012 edition of the LSC is expected to be published officially in the next few months after the NFPA Standards Council votes in August to finalize it.
In addition, the NFPA approved the 2012 edition of NFPA 99, Standard for Health Care Facilities.
Once the 2012 editions are published by the NFPA, The Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services and The Joint Commission are expected to follow suit and adopt the 2012 editions. Currently, both require hospitals to comply with the 2000 edition of the LSC. The most recent edition of the LSC was published in 2009.
It could take up to 18 months before CMS adopts a new edition of the LSC. Once that happens, The Joint Commission, Det Norske Veritas, and the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program will also adopt it, and subsequently accredited hospitals must comply with the new requirements.