# 26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.113: 26 TAC § 553.113. Means of Escape Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility, DIVISION 4. EXISTING SMALL TYPE A ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES > Texas · Regulations · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_113 ## Section - **Citation:** 26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.113 - **Heading:** 26 TAC § 553.113. Means of Escape Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility, DIVISION 4. EXISTING SMALL TYPE A ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES - **Jurisdiction:** Texas - **Kind:** Regulations - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Texas Administrative Code / Title 26 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES / Part 1 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION / Chapter 553 LICENSING STANDARDS FOR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES / 26 TAC § 553.113 ## Text (a) The provisions of NFPA 101, Chapter 7, Means of Egress, do not apply to an existing small Type A assisted living facility unless explicitly referenced by this section or by NFPA 101, Chapter 33, Existing Residential Board and Care Occupancies. (b) An existing small Type A assisted living facility must meet the requirements of 33.2.2, Means of Escape, in NFPA 101, Chapter 33, Existing Residential Board and Care Occupancies, except as described in this section. (c) An existing small Type A assisted living facility must ensure doors meet the requirements of 33.2.2.5, Doors, in NFPA 101, Chapter 33, Existing Residential Board and Care Occupancies, and the additional requirements of this section. (1) A resident room door in an existing small Type A assisted living facility not protected throughout by an approved automatic fire sprinkler system complying with the requirements of §553.115 of this division (relating to Fire Protection Systems Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility) must meet one of the following options. A resident room door is not otherwise required to meet the requirements for doors in 33.2.3.6, Construction of Corridor Walls, in NFPA 101, Chapter 33, Existing Residential Board and Care Occupancies. (A) The door must be a solid core wood door at least 1-3/4 inches thick or have a 20-minute opening protection rating and must latch in its frame to resist the passage of smoke; or (B) The door must be self-closing or automatic-closing and must latch in its frame to resist the passage of smoke. (2) A resident room door in an existing small Type A assisted living facility protected throughout by an approved automatic fire sprinkler system complying with the requirements of §553.115 of this division must latch in its frame to resist the passage of smoke. (3) In an existing small Type A assisted living facility comprised of buildings that contain living units with independent cooking equipment within the living unit, a door between the living unit and a corridor or hallway must: (A) be self-closing or automatic-closing; and (B) latch in its frame to resist the passage of smoke. (4) A resident room door or living unit door must not be arranged to prevent the occupant from closing the door. (d) An existing small Type A assisted living facility providing a bedroom window used as a secondary means of escape must ensure the window meets the requirements for a bedroom window used as a secondary means of escape in §553.112 of this division (relating to Space Planning and Utilization Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility). (e) An existing small Type A assisted living facility providing spaces for use by residents on floors other than the ground floor must provide at least two separate approved stairs. (1) An existing stair may be continued in service, subject to approval by HHSC. (2) A stair used as means of escape must meet the requirements of 33.2.2.6, Stairs, in NFPA 101, Chapter 33, Existing Residential Board and Care Occupancies. (3) Each stair must be arranged and located so that it is not necessary to go through another room, including a bedroom or bathroom, to reach the stair. (4) Each stair must be provided with handrails. (5) Each stair must be provided with normal lighting according to the requirements of §553.118 of this division (relating to Electrical Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility). (6) A stair in an existing building that became an assisted living through conversion must meet the dimensional criteria for existing stairs in 7.2.2.2, Dimensional Criteria, in NFPA 101, Chapter 7, Means of Egress. (7) An existing stair, previously approved by HHSC, may be rebuilt to the same dimensions but must meet all other requirements for stairs in NFPA 101. ## Nearby sections - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.100 26 TAC § 553.100. General Requirements, DIVISION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_100.md) - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.101 26 TAC § 553.101. Definitions, DIVISION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_101.md) - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.103 26 TAC § 553.103. Site and Location for all Assisted Living Facilities, DIVISION 2. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL FACILITIES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_103.md) - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.104 26 TAC § 553.104. Safety Operations, DIVISION 2. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL FACILITIES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_104.md) - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.107 26 TAC § 553.107. Building Rehabilitation, DIVISION 3. BUILDING REHABILITATION](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_107.md) - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.110 26 TAC § 553.110. General Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility, DIVISION 4. EXISTING SMALL TYPE A ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_110.md) - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.111 26 TAC § 553.111. Construction Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility, DIVISION 4. EXISTING SMALL TYPE A ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_111.md) - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.112 26 TAC § 553.112. Space Planning and Utilization Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility, DIVISION 4. EXISTING SMALL TYPE A ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_112.md) - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.113 26 TAC § 553.113. Means of Escape Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility, DIVISION 4. EXISTING SMALL TYPE A ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_113.md) - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.115 26 TAC § 553.115. Fire Protection Systems Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility, DIVISION 4. EXISTING SMALL TYPE A ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_115.md) - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.116 26 TAC § 553.116. Hazardous Area Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility, DIVISION 4. EXISTING SMALL TYPE A ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_116.md) - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.117 26 TAC § 553.117. Mechanical Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility, DIVISION 4. EXISTING SMALL TYPE A ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_117.md) - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.118 26 TAC § 553.118. Electrical Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility, DIVISION 4. EXISTING SMALL TYPE A ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_118.md) - [26 Tex. Admin. Code § 553.119 26 TAC § 553.119. Miscellaneous Requirements for an Existing Small Type A Assisted Living Facility, DIVISION 4. EXISTING SMALL TYPE A ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_119.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_TAC_T26_P1_C553_S553_113. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.