CMS proposes adoption of 2012 Life Safety Code®

CMS yesterday announced a proposed rule on the adoption of the 2012 editions of the Life Safety Code® (LSC) and the Health Care Facilities Code. Currently, CMS enforces the 2000 edition of the LSC, which sets out fire safety requirements for new and existing buildings. The Joint Commission, which requires its accredited organizations to comply the LSC, is expected to follow suit once the 2012 edition of the Code is adopted.

The new code adoption has been a long time coming, and it will likely be close to a year before it becomes official. The proposed rule will be published in the April 16 Federal Register; the deadline to submit comments is June 16. It could be another nine to 12 months before the final rule is published. CMS first proposed to adopt the 2012 LSC in October 2011.