SLCR Life Safety Code Information Series

The Section for Long-Term Care Regulation will be releasing a series of Life Safety Code Information. You may also view the entire Life Safety Code document for reference.

Today’s subject is:

Can residents have a microwave in their room?

K324 – Cooking is not allowed in resident rooms. NFPA 19.3.2.5.3 and 19.3.2.5.4
K925 – Cooking appliances cannot be within 15 feet of an area of administration in a resident room.

NFPA 101, 2012 edition:
18/19.3.2.5.2* Where residential cooking equipment is used for food warming or limited cooking, the equipment shall not be required to be protected in accordance with 9.2.3, and the presence of the equipment shall not require the area to be protected as a hazardous area.
18/19.3.2.5.4* Within a smoke compartment, residential or commercial cooking equipment that is used to prepare meals for 30 or fewer persons shall be permitted, provided that the cooking facility complies with all of the following conditions:

(1) The space containing the cooking equipment is not a sleeping room.
(2) The space containing the cooking equipment shall be separated from the corridor by partitions complying with 19.3.6.2 through 19.3.6.5.
(3) The requirements of 19.3.2.5.3(1) through (10) and (13) are met.