No nursing, convalescent or old-age home, as defined in §
175-2 of this chapter, including those existing at the time of adoption of this chapter, shall be operated except under a license issued by the Fire Marshal. Such license shall be valid for one year from the date of issue and shall be revocable for cause after hearing. Application for license shall be made on the form provided for the purpose and, on initial application, shall include plans showing pertinent details of the construction, exit facilities and fire-protection equipment. No Borough license shall be issued until the provisions
of this chapter and other applicable laws have been complied with
and approval has been obtained from the Board of Health, Fire Marshal
and Building Inspector.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
APPROVED
Accepted by the enforcing official as a result of his investigation
and experience, or by reason of test, listing or approval by Underwriters'
Laboratories, Inc., the National Bureau of Standards, the American
Gas Association Laboratories or other nationally recognized testing
agencies.
NURSING, CONVALESCENT or OLD-AGE HOME
A building or buildings used for the lodging, boarding or
nursing care on a twenty-four-hour basis of four or more infants of
four years of age or under, or children 12 years of age or under,
convalescents or aged persons, but shall not include hospitals and
mental or correctional institutions.
PERSON
Includes a person, persons, children, infants, firm, corporation
or copartnership.
All buildings shall be completely fireproof.
Signs bearing the word "Exit" in plain legible
block letters shall be placed at each doorway, except at doors directly
from rooms to corridors or passageways, and except at doors leading
obviously to the outside from the entrance floor. Additional signs
shall be placed in corridors and passageways wherever necessary to
indicate the direction of exit. Letters of signs shall be at least
six inches high, except that the letters of internally illuminated
exit signs may not be less than 41/2 inches high. All exit and directional
signs shall be maintained clearly legible by electric illumination
or other acceptable means when natural light fails.
[Amended 9-14-1972]
Approved-type extinguishers shall be provided
on each floor so located that a person will not have to travel more
than 30 feet from any point to reach the nearest extinguisher. An
additional extinguisher shall be provided in, or adjacent to, each
kitchen or basement storage room. All cooking equipment shall have
extinguishing equipment and exhaust ducts installed in accordance
with National Fire Protection Association 96 or applicable standard.
[Amended 9-14-1972]
Every nursing, convalescent or old-age home
shall have at least one attendant on duty, awake and dressed therein
at all times, and in addition, one standby attendant within hearing
distance and available for emergency service. These attendants shall
be at least 18 years of age and capable of performing the required
duties of evacuation. No person other than the management or a person
under management control shall be considered as an attendant. The
number of said attendants shall be one for each wing, floor or section
of home or one for every 25 patients, whichever is greater.