Definitions for Fire Safety Rules

PURPOSE: This rule establishes definitions for the fire safety rules promulgated under this chapter. (1) The following terms shall mean: (A) Alterations, changes made to the structure or floor plan of the facility by removing or adding walls and doors or adding space; (B) Commercial range is any range or stovetop classified as commercial by the manufacturer or larger in size than a common residential range, equipped with four (4) or more burners/elements and may be equipped with a cooking grill or griddle surface; (C) Dead-end is a corridor or hallway with no exit at the end that causes occupants to retrace their path to reach an exit; (D) Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety is the state agency to which the department delegates its authority for fire safety inspections of on-site day habilitation programs and waiver group homes subject to rules promulgated under 9 CSR 45 Chapter 5; (E) Exit is the portion of a means of egress that is separated from all other areas of the building or structure by construction or equipment required to provide a protected way of travel to the exit discharge. Exits include exterior exit doors, exit passageways, horizontal exits, separated exit stairs, and separated exit ramps; (F) Exit access is the portion of a means of egress that leads to an exit; (G) Exit discharge is the portion of a means of egress between the termination of an exit and a public way; (H) Fire barrier is a structural element, either vertical or horizontal, such as a wall or floor assembly that is designed and constructed with a specified fire resistance rating to limit the spread of fire and restrict the movement of smoke. Such barriers may have protected openings; (I) Fire door is a combination of the fire door, frame, hardware and other accessories which together provide a specific degree of fire protection to the opening; (J) Fire resistance rating is the length of time in minutes or hours that materials or structural elements can withstand fire exposure; (K) Flame resistant material is the property of material or their structural elements that prevents or retards the passage of excessive heat, hot gases, or flames under the conditions in which they are used; (L) Flame retardant is a chemical applied to material or other substance that is designed to retard ignition or the spread of fire; (M) Home type range is a typical home type cooking stove; (N) Interior finish includes the interior wall and ceiling finish, and interior floor finish; (O) Level exit discharge is a horizontal plane that is located from the point at which an exit terminates and the exit discharge begins. The horizontal plane shall not vary more than two inches (2”) in rise or fall; (P) Level is the portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the ceiling above it, or any upper surface of a floor and the ceiling above it that is separated by more than five (5) steps on a stairway; (Q) Means of egress is a continuous and unobstructed way of travel from any point in a building or structure to a public way. A means of egress consists of three (3) distinct parts: the exit access, the exit, and the exit discharge; (R) Means of escape is a way out of a residential unit that does not conform to the strict definition of means of egress but does meet the intent of the definition by providing an alternative way out of a building; (S) Mixed occupancy is when a facility is located in the same building or structure as another occupancy. This may include a business or place of assembly; (T) Non-combustible material is a material that, in the form in which it is used and under the conditions anticipated, will not ignite, burn, support combustion, or release flammable vapors when subjected to fire or heat. Examples of such materials include steel, concrete, and masonry. (U) Public way is a street, alley, or other similar parcel of land essentially open to the outside air that is deeded, dedicated, or otherwise permanently appropriated to the public for public use and having a clear width and height of not less than ten feet (10'); (V) Remote exit or means of egress is when two (2) exits or two (2) exit access doors are required. Each exit or exit access door shall be placed at a distance apart equal to at least one-half (1/2) the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the building or area to be used; (W) Self-closing means to be equipped with an approved device that will ensure closing after having been opened; (X) Smoke barrier is a structural element, either vertical or horizontal, such as a wall, floor, or ceiling assembly that is designed and constructed to restrict the movement of smoke. A smoke barrier may or may not have a fire resistance rating; (Y) Supervised automatic sprinkler system is a system with the initiating devices monitored by the fire alarm control panel. This may include switches used to monitor the position of valves, a low air pressure switch, a water flow switch, and a tamper switch; and (Z) Waiver Group Home- a residential facility owned and operated by a provider that provides Medicaid waiver services. A certified group home is similar in appearance to a singlefamily dwelling and provides care, supervision, and skills training in activities of daily living, home management, and community integration. Group homes do not provide shared living or individualized supported living services. (2) In the context of rules promulgated under 9 CSR 45, the term department shall mean the Department of Mental Health (DMH). (3) Terms not defined in this rule shall be understood as defined in the fire safety code of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). AUTHORITY: section 630.655, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed Sept. 5, 2003, effective April 30, 2004. Amended: Filed March 20, 2018, effective Nov. 30, 2018. *Original authority: 630.655, RSMo 1980.