10A NCAC 13G .0317      BUILDING SERVICE EQUIPMENT

(a)  The building and all fire safety, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing equipment in a family care home shall be maintained in a safe and operating condition.

(b)  Built-in electric heaters, if used, shall be installed or protected so as to avoid burn hazards to residents and room furnishings. Unvented fuel burning room heaters and portable electric heaters are prohibited.

(c)  The facility shall have heating and cooling systems such that environmental temperature controls are capable of maintaining temperatures in the home at 75 degrees F minimum in the heating season, and not exceed 80 degrees F during the non-heating season.

(d)  Hot water shall be supplied to the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry. The hot water temperature shall be maintained at a minimum of 100 degrees F and shall not exceed 116 degrees F at all fixtures used by or accessible to residents. Notwithstanding the requirements of Rule .0301 of this Section, the requirements of this Paragraph shall apply to new and existing facilities.

(e)  All resident areas shall be well lighted for the safety and comfort of the residents. The minimum lighting required is:

(1)           30 foot-candles for reading; and

(2)           10 foot-candles for general lighting.

(f)  Where there is live-in staff in a family care home, a hard-wired, electrically operated call system meeting the following requirements shall be provided:

(1)           the call system shall connect residents' bedrooms to the live-in staff bedroom;

(2)           when activated, the resident call shall activate a visual and audible signal in the live-in staff bedroom;

(3)           a resident call system activator shall be in residents' bedrooms at the resident's bed;

(4)           the resident call system activator shall be within reach of a resident lying on the bed; and

(5)           the resident call system activator shall be such that it can be activated with a single action and remain on until deactivated by staff at point of origin.

(g)  Fireplaces, fireplace inserts, and wood stoves shall be designed and installed so as to avoid a burn hazard to residents. Fireplace inserts and wood stoves must be U.L. listed.

(h)  Gas logs may be installed if they are of the vented type, installed according to the manufacturers' installation instructions, approved through the local building department, and protected by a guard or screen to prevent residents and furnishings from burns.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 131D‑2.16; 143B‑165;

Eff. January 1, 1977;

Readopted Eff. October 31, 1977;

Amended Eff. April 1, 1987; April 1, 1984; July 1, 1982;

Temporary Amendment Eff. December 1, 1999;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2005; July 1, 2000;

Recodified from 10A NCAC 13G .0316 Eff. July 1, 2005;

Readopted Eff. April 1, 2025.