The Joint Commission published in their April issue of EC News; a short article of significance that may go unnoticed. The article announces that effective immediately, their EC-LS surveyors will be surveying the aisle widths within your suites that exist within your health care occupancy spaces. The minimum width for these aisles is 36 inches per the National Fire Protection Association. However, aisle width is defined as the amount of clear space which must be a minimum of 36 inches so, although the hallway may be wider than 36 inches, once you store equipment in that space, 36 inches is no longer available for egress. Unfortunately, with the advent of new technology and equipment and the limited amount of storage space that was built into older buildings, organizations will often utilize these suite spaces to store additional equipment which creates an egress hazard.
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