AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

November 17, 1998

BH #98-005
USE OF LIQUID OXYGEN IN BOARDING HOMES

Dear Boarding Home Administrator:

The use of liquid oxygen in boarding homes has increased greatly over the past few years. The Office of the State Fire Marshall has identified the potential for fire, explosion, or resident/staff injury from the unsafe handling of liquid oxygen. Enclosed are the Fire Protection Bureau code interpretations related to liquid oxygen and information on how the deputies have been instructed to enforce this interpretation.

Although Code Interpretation NO. 98-01 - Liquid Oxygen, references Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 388-97 for nursing homes, it also applies to all other licensed health care facilities.

Revised Code of Washington 18.20.130 and WAC 388-78A-030(3)(b) identify the Chief of the Washington State Patrol, through the Director of Fire Protection, as being responsible for the establishing and enforcing fire protection standards in boarding homes.

Please work closely with your Deputy Fire Marshall on development and implementation of your facility policies for the use of liquid oxygen. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Patricia K. Lashway, Director
Residential Care Services

Enclosure

cc: Les Townzen, Chief Deputy State Fire Marshall
Janyce Thomson, Administrator, Boarding Home Transition Project
Mindy Schaffner, Acting Administrator, Quality Assurance
Area managers
Roxie English, CSQA Training Coordinator
Pat Bossert, CSQA Training Coordinator
John Gaskell, Chief, Consumer Services