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TextHypothermia Center Building Safety Challenges
When a building is used as a temporary hypothermia center, the Virginia building code requires a higher level of safety that is equivalent to overnight housing. The following are a list of challenges that have been identified while visiting hypothermia sites throughout Fairfax County.
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A carbon monoxide detector is required in sleeping areas in
buildings served by appliances fuled by gas, propane or oil.
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Interconnected smoke detectors are required in the sleeping areas
and corridors.
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Exit signs shall be illuminated or photo-luminescent (glows in the
dark) in the sleeping areas.
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Panic hardware (push bars) are required on exit doors of sleeping
areas with an occupant load greater than 49.
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If a sleeping area and associated exits are not sprinklered, the
room must have an exit directly to the outside and is limited to
two weeks of use as a hypothermia shelter during the hypothermia
season.
Contact
Ellen
Eggerton
County Ombudsman for Religious and Community Groups
703-324-1861, TTY 711
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