Section DHS 83.59 - Exits and passagewaysIn this section, "exit" means standard exit doors opening to passageways or grade, exit passageways, fire escapes, and stairways as specified in ch. SPS 361.
(1) EXITS. All habitable floors shall have at least 2 exits providing unobstructed travel to the outside. Small class AA CBRFs licensed on or before April 1, 2009, with no more than 2 habitable floors may have one exit from the second floor. (a) Class AS, class ANA, class CS and class CNA CBRFs shall have at least 2 grade level or ramped exits to grade.(b) A CBRF may use horizontal evacuation as defined under ch. SPS 361. The CBRF shall have approval from the department before including horizontal evacuation in the emergency and disaster plan under s. DHS 83.47(2).(c) Exit doors and doors in exit passageways shall have a clear opening of at least 32 inches in width and 76 inches in height.(d) Exit passageways, stairways and doors in class AA facilities shall be at least 30 inches clear opening in width. Class AA facilities licensed on or before April 1, 2009, shall have a minimum width of 28 inches clear opening for existing passageways, stairways and doors.(e) No exit passageway may be through areas such as a resident room, bath or toilet room, closet or furnace rooms.(f) Exit passageways and stairways to outside exits shall be at least 36 inches in width and maintained clear and unobstructed at all times. Exit passageways and stairways to outside exits shall be at least 32 inches in width in facilities licensed on or before April 1, 2009. In existing large facilities, the minimum corridor width shall be at least 4 feet.(g) Exits, sidewalks and driveways used for exiting shall be kept free of ice, snow, and obstructions. For facilities serving only ambulatory residents, the CBRF shall maintain a cleared pathway from all exterior doors to be used in an emergency to a public way or safe distance away from the building. For facilities serving semi-ambulatory and non-ambulatory residents, a CBRF shall maintain a cleared, hard surface, barrier-free walkway to a public way or safe distance away from the building for at least 2 primary exits from the building. All other required exits shall have at least a cleared pathway maintained to a public way or safe distance from the building. An exit door or walkway to a cleared driveway leading away from the CBRF also meets this requirement.(h) The exit path from the CBRF through the garage to the outside shall be clear, safe and unobstructed.(2) DOORS. (a) All doors shall have latching hardware to permit opening from the inside with a one-hand, one-motion operation without the use of a key or special tool.(b) A solid core wood door or an equivalent fire resistive door shall be provided at any interior stair between the basement and the first floor. The door shall have a positive latch and an automatic closing device and normally shall be kept closed. Enclosed furnace and laundry areas with self-closing doors in a split level home may substitute for the self-closing door between the first and second levels. Enclosed furnace and laundry areas shall have self closing solid core wood doors or an equivalent fire resistive door when located on a common level with resident bedrooms.(c) All interior doors equipped with locks shall be designed to unlock from either side in case of emergency.(d) Levered handles shall be provided on all doors used by residents with manual strength or dexterity limitations.(f) The staff member in charge on each work shift shall have a means of opening all locks or security devices on all doors in the CBRF.(3) PATIO DOORS. A patio door may be used as a supplementary exit in an emergency in addition to the required primary exits and shall comply with all of the following: (a) Factory installed door fastenings or hardware on sliding glass patio doors is acceptable. The use of bolt locks on sliding glass patio doors is prohibited.(b) All door fastenings or hardware on hinged, swing-type patio doors shall be operable from the inside with one hand and one motion without the use of a key or special tool.(c) Furniture and other obstacles shall not be placed in front of the patio door.(d) A clear and unobstructed pathway shall be maintained to a safe distance away from the building.(4) DELAYED EGRESS. Delayed egress door locks are permitted with department approval only in facilities with a supervised automatic fire sprinkler system and a supervised interconnected automatic fire detection system and shall comply with all of the following: (a) No more than one device shall be present in a means of egress.(b) A sign shall be posted adjacent to the locking device indicating how the door may be opened.(c) The doors shall unlock upon activation of the sprinkler system or fire detection system. The doors shall unlock upon loss of power controlling the lock or locking mechanism.(d) The door locks shall have the capability of being unlocked by a signal from the CBRF's fire command center.(e) An irreversible process will occur which will release the latch in not more than 15 seconds when a force of not more than 15 pounds is applied for 3 seconds to the release device. Initiation of the irreversible process shall activate an audible signal in the vicinity of the door. Once the door lock has been released by the application of force to the releasing device, re-locking shall be by manual means only.(f) To obtain department approval, the CBRF shall demonstrate that delayed egress equipment is necessary to ensure the safety of residents served by the CBRF, specifically persons at risk of elopement due to behavioral concerns, cognitive impairments or dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.(5) STAIRS AND SHAFTS. (a) All required interior and exterior exit stairways shall be in compliance with ch. SPS 361. For small CBRFs, all required interior and exterior exit stairways shall be in compliance with the Uniform Dwelling Code.(b) One or more handrails shall be provided on all stairways in accordance with ch. SPS 361. For small CBRFs, handrails shall be in compliance with s. SPS 321.04. Handrails shall be provided on the open sides of stairways and platforms. CBRFs licensed before January 1, 1997, shall have handrails at least 29 inches above the nose of the tread.(c) Winders in stairways shall be provided with handrails on both sides, at least 29 inches above the nose of the tread.(d) Winders in stairways used as required exits shall have treads of at least 7 inches in width at a point one foot from the narrow end of the tread.(e) Spiral stairs are prohibited for use as required exit stairs.(f) Any shaft such as a dumbwaiter or laundry chute leading to the basement, as defined in ch. SPS 361, shall be provided with a door on each level above the lowest floor. The door shall have a positive latch and an automatic closing device and shall normally be kept closed. A spring of sufficient strength to close the door and activate the door latch is acceptable for meeting the automatic closing device portion of this requirement.(6) RAMP REQUIREMENTS. (a)Slope. In existing buildings, all exterior ramps shall have a slope of not more than one foot of rise in 12 feet of run. In existing buildings, an existing interior ramp with a slope of one foot of rise in 8 feet may be retained to overcome a total height not greater than 2 feet when the floor area does not permit a 1:12 ramp. The ramps shall have a slip-resistant surface and shall have no side slope.(b)Width. Ramps shall be at least 4 feet wide, of which not more than 4 inches on each side may be occupied by a handrail.(c)Handrails.1. Ramps in CBRFs initially licensed on or after January 1, 1997, shall have a handrail on each side which shall be mounted between 34 inches and 38 inches above the ramp surface. CBRFs licensed before January 1, 1997, shall have handrails mounted at least 30 inches above the ramp surface.2. Handrails on unenclosed ramps shall include an intermediate parallel rail at mid-height.(d)Clearance. Where ramps are provided to doorways, the ramp on each side of the doorway shall be level for 5 feet from the door.(e)Platforms. Ramps having a 1:12 slope shall have a level platform at 30-foot intervals. All ramps shall have level platforms at least 5 feet long where they turn and at least 5 feet by 5 feet level landing at the bottom of the ramp.(7) EMERGENCY LIGHTING. (a) All exit passageways and stairways shall be provided with emergency egress lighting with a stand-by power source.(b) All required exit signs shall be lighted at all times.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Health Services § DHS 83.59
CR 07-095: cr. Register January 2009 No. 637, eff. 4-1-09; CR 10-091: r. (2) (e) Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11; correction in (intro.), (1) (b), (5) (a), (b), (f) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.