NFPA opens standards for public input

NFPA opens standards for public input

Three National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards impacting health care are open for public input. The 2030 edition of NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, is open for input until June 2, 2027. Also open for public input until June 3, 2026, are the 2029 editions of NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems; and NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems.

CMS requiring fully sprinklered high-rises

Existing high-rise health care occupancies deemed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must be fully sprinklered by July 5, 2028. This includes high-rise buildings that contain health care and other types of occupancies. Leah Hummel, AIA, CHFM, CHC, CHOP, SASHE, senior associate director for regulatory affairs at the American Society for Health Care Engineering, urges that facilities start planning now, explaining that a project of this size requires significant investment in time, costs and personnel, taking months or even years to complete.

Agencies issue secure connectivity principles

Several United States-based and international agencies, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, released guidance on secure connectivity for operational technology (OT) environments. The guidance explains why organizations can face challenges prioritizing cybersecurity for OT due to constraints, such as dependence on legacy technologies ill-equipped for modern connectivity or security requirements. The guidance also outlines eight principles to be used as a framework to design, secure and manage OT environment connectivity.

CMS establishes Office of Rural Health Transformation

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced the establishment of the Office of Rural Health Transformation. The office will oversee a $50 billion initiative to strengthen rural health systems and expand sustainable access to care nationwide by guiding states in implementing their rural health transformation plans, providing technical assistance, coordinating federal and state partnerships and ensuring oversight over the five-year program. Projects that qualify for funds include upgrades and modifications to existing physical environments to help right-size facilities and align them with community needs.