What corridor wall rating is required for ambulatory health care occupancy?

In ambulatory health care occupancy, the requirement for corridor wall ratings is influenced by the purpose and nature of the occupancy itself. For this type of facility, which typically does not house patients overnight and is classified under specific codes such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) or the International Building Code (IBC), a corridor wall rating of no rating required is applicable.

This means that the walls separating the corridors from the health care spaces do not need to be fire-rated, reflecting the lower risk associated with these facilities compared to inpatient care settings where 1-hour fire ratings are often mandated. The understanding here is that ambulatory health care facilities are designed for outpatient services where occupants are present for limited periods, thereby adjusting the fire safety requirements accordingly.

In contrast, for more vulnerable facilities, such as those accommodating patients overnight, stricter fire safety ratings would indeed be necessary to mitigate risk and ensure occupant safety. This distinction helps to tailor fire safety standards appropriately to the specific use and occupancy characteristics of the health care facility.