What is a life safety assessment?
A Life Safety Assessment is a review of the existing Life Safety aspects of a facility (of any occupancy, but usually done for healthcare facilities) and the development of Life Safety Master Plans to determine if all Life Safety related requirements are being properly identified, applied, and maintained. An assessment reviews the following Life Safety aspects:
- Construction Type
- Occupancy Classifications
- Separated and Non-Separated Mixed Occupancies
- Fire Barriers
- Vertical Openings
- Means of Egress
- Protection of Hazards
- Interior Finish
- Detection, Alarm, and Communication
- Extinguishment
- Corridor Protection
- Smoke Barriers
- Fire Protection/Life Safety System Inspection/Testing/Maintenance
An assessment must be completed on site. It cannot be properly conducted by viewing a set of plans. The information must be verified, and additional information collected, to ensure other areas of concern are covered. The survey includes both an above ceiling and a below ceiling survey.
Upon completion of the assessment, Life Safety Master Plans are developed from the gathered information. These plans are a graphical representation of the Code requirements that apply to the facility. These plans are used by many different entities, including CMS, deemed status authorities, local authorities having jurisdiction, insurance companies, and the fire department, to understand the safety features of a facility. These plans cannot be prepared without a proper assessment of the facility.