Citation

Chapman RE. Fire Safety J. 1985; 9(2): 221-231.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The identification of cost-effective levels of fire safety in health care facilities is a major concern to hospital administrators, fire safety engineers, and public policy-makers. Rising construction and operating costs coupled with more stringent building codes and continuing advances in medical and building technology have complicated the issue, forcing health care facility administrators to assess carefully the alternative means through which they can design, construct, or update their facilities. This paper illustrates how the use of a performance-based approach to fire safety can dramatically reduce the costs of code compliance without reducing the safety and well-being of those housed in health care facilities.