Information for Applications to Extend the Due Date for the Installation of Automatic Sprinkler Systems in Existing Nursing Homes

• Sprinkler Requirement: On August 13, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule entitled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Fire Safety Requirements for Long Term Care Facilities, Automatic Sprinkler Systems.” This regulation required all long term care facilities to be equipped with a supervised automatic sprinkler system by August 13, 2013.
• Limited Extensions: On May 12, 2014, CMS also published a final rule (CMS-3267-F) to permit a very limited extension of the automatic sprinkler due date for a facility that is building a replacement facility or undergoing major modifications to unsprinklered living areas.
• Procedures to Request Time Extension: Attached are the procedures to apply for approval of a request for an extension of time by a qualifying long term care facility that has not met the August 13, 2013 deadline for the installation of a complete automatic sprinkler system throughout the facility.