Flammable versus combustible—they are not the same!
Though lately I’ve seen a lot of survey findings in which they are used interchangeably.
Anyone who’s followed this Space for any length of time knows I am rather fond of the twists and turns of language, but only when those twists and turns reflect a fair degree of precision. Those twists and turns come to a screeching halt in the face of words that are treated as synonyms, and the example that I seem to be encountering a lot lately is that of the substitution of “flammable” for “combustible,” particularly when it comes to such things as bulletin boards, paper signs, and decorations (‘tis the season). While I suppose they occupy adjacent territories, if you will, they really aren’t the same and need to be managed differently in the environment (for a refresher, you could do worse than Wikipedia).
One of the defining characteristics of the management of Life Safety Code® (LSC) compliance in the environment revolves around managing combustible loads. It’s pretty much why storage rooms and soiled utility rooms, etc. have certain design and construction requirements. Admittedly, there is some grey area (as there always is), for example spaces that are “used for storage of combustible supplies and equipment in quantities deemed hazardous by the authority having jurisdiction.” Clearly there is some wiggle room, but I think the folks who manage compliance have a pretty good handle on what is—or is not—allowed when it comes to storage (recognizing that there is always the specter of the unauthorized field modification in which a storage space is “created” from a space that was not designed or constructed to support a greater than normal combustible load).
Where things get tricky (and again, this time of year really brings it out) is when it comes to combustible decorations. And, of course, the opening gambit in the LSC is that “combustible decorations shall be prohibited in any health care occupancy,” and, for some reason, a lot of folks seem to stop at that point (we’ve discussed the notion of absolutes being the easiest thing to police), but the Code goes on to describe the circumstances under which combustible decorations would be permitted. I won’t belabor the details, but if you look at the sections of the Code referenced in this Joint Commission FAQ, you can easily retrace your steps to the applicable section and help your organization develop and implement a decoration policy that rests solidly in compliance with the LSC, but offers the means for a thoughtful approach to seasonal decorating (there is clearly a therapeutic value to having the place look cheerful during the holidays—Scrooge or Grinch be darned).
Unfortunately, this whole notion can be buffeted by surveyors that identify combustible materials as flammable. It conjures up images of holiday decorations and bulletin boards bursting into flames, which shouldn’t happen (I won’t go so far as to say “couldn’t happen”) under normal circumstances. I suspect that has a lot to do with why the LSC refers to allowances for combustible decorations; there are things about which you have to be mindful, but as long as at least one of the outlined conditions is met, then you can have them.
At any rate, I will use this opportunity to wish each of you a safe, festive, and Code-compliant decorating season. It’s a moral imperative!
About the Author: Steve MacArthur is a safety consultant with The Chartis Group. He brings more than 30 years of healthcare management and consulting experience to his work with hospitals, physician offices, and ambulatory care facilities across the country. He is the author of HCPro's Hospital Safety Director's Handbook and is an advisory board member for Accreditation and Quality Compliance Center. Contact Steve at stevemacsafetyspace@gmail.com.