Foster Home Inspection Instructions (Page 2 of 5) in pdf

according to manufacturer’s instructions. The smoke detectors must be tested in the same

manner as described above.

5. In multi-story homes, the smoke detector that covers the upper floor(s), in addition to those

required in sleeping rooms, should usually be located at the top of the stairs. The detector(s)

should be mounted according to manufacturer’s instructions. The smoke detectors must be tested

in the same manner as described above.

6. Every sleeping room and every living and dining area shall be provided with access to a

secondary means of escape to the outside of the home in addition to the front or back doors. The

purpose of the secondary means of escape is to provide an occupant with an alternate escape

route when fire or other emergency blocks the primary exit from the Foster Home.

Three types of secondary means of escape that are permitted:

(A) A door that opens to the outside.

(B) The use of an readily operable window in the sleeping rooms and living areas of the home that

provides an opening of not less than 5.7 sq. ft. in area, minimum of 20 inches wide and 24 inches

high, and the bottom of the opening no higher than 44 inches above the floor, located within 20 ft.

of grade accessible to fire department apparatus.

or B above), has a passage, other than the hallway, to another room that has a means of escape

as described in A or B above. The passage must not have any doors that can be locked. An

example would be two bedrooms or living areas directly connected with a passage or door. A

shared bathroom connecting two living area or sleeping rooms usually will not be acceptable

because one or both of the doors could be locked, preventing passage from one room to the

other.

Note: There are two exceptions to the requirement for secondary means of escape from each

bedroom or living area: (1) if the bedroom or living area has a door opening directly to the outside

of the building, or (2) where the Foster Home is protected throughout by an approved automatic

fire sprinkler system.

7. No Foster Home may have any interior door used in a path of escape that can be locked.

8. Primary exit doors and secondary means of escape, such as windows, and security bars that

require a key, opening tool or special knowledge (security code, combination) are prohibited.

Several multiple-death fires have occurred when a door lock could not be released because the

key could not be found. The prohibition on these types of locks applies only to those doors or

windows that are part of the required primary and secondary exits.

9. The requirement for a child being able to open a closet door from the inside is to ensure that the

child cannot accidentally become locked inside.

Foster Home Inspection Instructions Page 2