scope:

Section 1.1 includes the scope of each of the individual chapters within NFPA 99. NFPA 99 is intended to cover facilities that treat humans. Freestanding veterinary facilities present many of the same hazards as hospitals, but they are not addressed in NFPA 99. However, hyperbaric chambers used for animals located within health care facilities are addressed in Chapter 14. NFPA 150, Standard on Fire and Life Safety in Animal Housing Facilities, addresses the hazards to animals and staff.

Purpose. The purpose of this code is to provide minimum requirements for the installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, performance, and safe practices for facilities, material, equipment, and appliances, including other hazards associated with the primary hazards.

As with all NFPA documents, NFPA 99 is intended to provide only minimum requirements to protect occupants of health care facilities against the hazards it addresses. There are many options available to facility owners, designers, and other stakeholders that go above and beyond the minimum levels prescribed in this code. Providing this higher level might be the preference for some facilities but could be unnecessary or overly burdensome for other facilities and is therefore not required for all health care facilities. The minimum requirements are by no means a limitation to the level that can be provided, and the code should not be applied that way.