By Brad Keyes / Special to Healthcare Facilities Today

Q: Would a sterile processing room be considered a hazardous area? There are not a lot of combustible supplies and the only flammable liquid is ethyl alcohol. There is glutaraldehyde which presents a health hazard. I’m not sure what type of protection the room would require.

A: Typically, hazardous areas in healthcare are identified by the quantity of combustible items stored in a given room or area. But according to section 3.3.21.4 of the 2012 LSC, a hazardous area is any area that poses a degree of hazard greater than that normal to the general occupancy of the building. So, technically, a room where glutaraldehyde (or other hazardous chemicals) is used could be considered a hazardous room. But that’s going to be a judgement call and not all surveyors will think alike on this subject.

My advice is to be very conservative and consider the room to be a hazardous room as long as you’re using hazardous chemicals. This would likely require the room to be built to one-hour fire rated construction, with ¾ hour fire rated doors that self-close and positively latch, and the room will need to be sprinklered.

Brad Keyes, CHSP, is the owner of KEYES Life Safety Compliance, and his expertise is in the management of the Life Safety Program, including the Environment of Care and Emergency Management programs.