The Kansas Fire Marshal has provided the following Q & A from CMS regarding electric fireplaces under the life safety code.
Q: Question on electric fireplaces. Is it permissible for a nursing home to have an electric fireplace in a resident room if the fireplace is affixed to the wall and hard wired? I would think it would need to be affixed and hard-wired or it would basically be a portable heater.
A: No. See 18/19.5.2 Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning; and even if they secure a portable electric unit, if it is operable, it is still considered a space heater.
