Inspectors Citing Assisted Living Providers for Door Locks – Variance Available
We have learned in the last week that KSFM inspectors have been citing assisted living providers for having mag locks under “exit door locks” from the 2006 LSC, which is currently in effect. If/when an assisted living provider is cited they can complete a Variance request form and send it to: Doug Jorgensen, State Fire Marshal, 800 SW Jackson St #104, Topeka, KS 66612. A PDF of the letter can be emailed to prevention@ks.gov.
The variance request letter must:
- Explain the necessity for having the door locks
- Address each of the requirements below and how the facility has met each requirement to comply with the 2018 edition of NFPA 101, Life Safety Code
- Contain a code footprint or scaled drawing of the facility, with the location of each door included in the variance
- Include any other pertinent information
Requirements that must be met in order to apply for a variance:
- Staff can readily unlock the doors at all times
- Building is protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system
- Provisions shall be made for the rapid removal of occupants by one of the following means:
- Remote control of locks from within the locked building
- Keying of all locks to keys carried by staff at all times
- Other such reliable means available to staff at all times
- Only one locking device shall be permitted on each door
- Door lock automatically releases upon loss of power or activation of the fire alarm or sprinkler system
If you have questions, please contact The Fire marshal’s Office at 785-296-3401 and ask to speak with the Enforcement Officer assigned to your county.
Read The Trumpet – August 2022
Lots of Fire Marshal Personnel Changes (more details in the lates issue of The Trumpet)
- Tim Millspaugh joined KSFM’s Prevention Division as a Fire Prevention Inspector for Area 5, which covers Sedgwick County. He comes to OSFM from Avita Senior Living, where he was the Environmental Services Director. He is a retired fire marshal.
- Jay VanCoevern is now the Fire Prevention Inspector for Region 4, which covers Pottawatomie, Riley, Clay, Republic, Washington, and Marshall counties. He has four years of experience in the fire service and an associate degree in Fire
- Science.
- Jason Allison is the new Fire Prevention Inspector for the counties of Chautauqua, Cherokee, Labette, Neosho, Montgomery and Wilson. He brings over 30 years of fire and EMS experience, as well as 19 years of Emergency Management experience in Cherokee County.
- Melissia Johns also joined as a Fire Prevention Inspector. She will cover Chase, Dickinson, Geary, Lyon, Marion, Morris and Wabaunsee counties. She brings over 14 years of experience to the position.
- Damian Stos joined OSFM as a Fire Prevention Inspector for Region 3, which covers Barton, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Ford, Hodgeman, Kiowa, Pawnee, Rush and Stafford counties. He was previously the Sergeant of Safety and Security at Larned State Hospital.
