Question: Are designated smoking areas outside a health care facility required to comply with the 2000 Life Safety Code?
Answer: Yes.
Discussion: The requirements in the Life Safety Code for smoking are intended to prevent accidental fire and to provide for the safety the patients. For example, the requirements are intended to insure that patients using oxygen do not smoke and patients do not ignite their clothing. It is the intent of the Code that patients are safe from harm in designated smoking areas whether the areas are inside or outside the building. It is not the intent of the Code to regulate smoking in areas outside the building that are not designated smoking areas. It is recommended that the facility’s operational plan only permit smoking by patients, staff and visitors in designated smoking areas inside and/or outside the building.