In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about separation of different occupancies.
Q: There is an existing clinic classified as a business occupancy that leases space within a rehabilitation and nursing center. Does this need to be separated by a two-hour-rated partition? Does the egress corridor from the clinic to the exterior need to be rated?
A: It depends. If the rehabilitation center and nursing center are a different occupancy than the clinic (which you say is a business occupancy), then yes, the different occupancies must be separated by fire-rated barriers. The fire rating of these barriers depends on whether or not the occupancy (other than the business occupancy) is healthcare occupancy.
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