DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND INDUSTRY SERVICES  
DIVISION OF ADULT FOSTER CARE LICENSING  
ADULT FOSTER CARE FACILITIES  
(By authority conferred on the department of social services by section 9 of Act No.  
380 of the Public Acts of 1965, as amended, and sections 10 and 13 of Act No. 218 of the  
Public Acts of 1979, as amended, being SS16.109, 400.710, and 400.713 of the  
Michigan Compiled Laws)  
PART 2. FAMILY HOMES, FIRE SAFETY  
R 400.2201 Scope.  
Rule 201. This part applies only to family homes which were licensed effective  
March 27, 1980, and which meet the requirements of section 21 of the act.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS.  
R 400.2202 - R 400.2224 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS.  
R 400.2231 Home environment.  
Rule 231. All occupied rooms shall be of standard lath and plaster construction  
or equivalent.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS.  
R 400.2232 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS.  
R 400.2233 Bedrooms.  
Rule 233. A room shall not be used as a bedroom where more than 1/2 of the  
room height is below grade except, where the ceiling of such portion of a building is  
located 5 feet or more above grade for more than 25% of the perimeter measurement of  
the building. Such acceptable bedrooms shall be provided with 2 acceptable means of  
egress.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS.  
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R 400.2234 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS.  
R 400.2241 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS.  
R 400.2242 Interior finishes and materials.  
Rule 242. Paper, cardboard, asphalt paper, or other highly flammable material  
shall not be used for the interior finish of a building.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS.  
R 400.2243 Exits.  
Rule 243. (1) A means of egress shall be considered the entire way and method  
of passage to free and safe ground outside a building. Means of egress shall be  
maintained in unobstructed, easily traveled condition at all times. Where basements  
are regularly utilized for resident activities, there shall be 2 acceptable means of egress.  
Doors which form a part of a required means of egress shall be equipped with  
positive-latching, non-locking-against-egress hardware and shall be not less than 36  
inches in width in new construction and not less than 30 inches in width in  
existing facilities and shall insure adequate egress for residents requiring  
wheelchairs, including ramps where necessary.  
(2) The first floor of a family home shall have not less than 2 separate and  
independent means of egress leading to the outside.  
(3) In new or remodeled family homes, corridors shall lead directly to the outside  
or to required stairways having egress directly outside at grade level.  
(4) Occupied room and exterior door hardware shall be positive latching and  
nonlocking against egress.  
(5) New and existing family homes accommodating residents who regularly  
require wheelchairs shall be equipped with ramps located at primary and secondary  
means of egress. A ramp shall not exceed 1 foot of rise in 12 feet of run.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS.  
R 400.2244 Heating.  
Rule 244. (1) Except as provided herein, a family home shall be heated by an  
approved heating plant. If the heating plant is located in the basement of a family  
home, standard building material is sufficient for the floor separation which shall  
include at least 1 3/4-inch solid wood core door or equivalent to create a floor  
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separation between the basement and the first floor. If the heating plant is on the same  
level with the residents, the furnace room shall be separated from the remainder of  
the building with materials that will afford a minimum 1 hour protected enclosure.  
A permanent outside vent which cannot be closed shall be incorporated in the  
design of heating plant rooms so that adequate air for proper combustion is assured.  
Space heaters are prohibited.  
(2) Factory mutual and underwriters' laboratories approved permanent, fixed-  
type electrical heating, such as recognized panel or baseboard fixed-type may be  
utilized in any location. In existing homes where an American gas association  
approved sealed combustion wall heater has been installed in accordance with both  
the AGA and the manufacturer's recommendations, approval will be given if the  
unit is located on an outside wall, obtains combustion air directly from the outside  
and vents products of combustion directly to the outside.  
(3) Flame-producing water heaters or incinerators shall be installed with the  
same protection as a heating plant.  
(4) Storage of combustible materials is prohibited in rooms containing the  
heating plant, water heater, or incinerator.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 400.2245 Fire extinguishers.  
Rule 245. A minimum of one 5-pound multi-purpose fire extinguisher or  
equivalent shall be provided for use in a family home on each occupied floor and in  
the basement.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 400.2246 Electrical service.  
Rule 246. Electrical service shall be maintained in  
a
safe condition.Where  
conditions indicate a need for inspection, and on all new or remodeled projects,  
the electrical service shall be inspected by a qualified electrical inspection service  
and a copy of the inspection report shall be submitted to the department.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 400.2247 Safety generally.  
Rule 247. (1) Stairways shall have sturdy and securely fastened handrails,  
not less than 30 inches nor more than 34 inches above the upper surface of the tread.  
Exterior stairways and porches shall have handrails on the open sides.  
(2) Scatter or throw rugs on hard finished floors shall have a nonskid backing.  
(3) Handrails and nonskid surfacing or strips shall be installed in showers and  
bath areas.  
(4) Sidewalks, fire escape routes, and entrances shall be kept free of any hazards  
such as ice, snow and debris.  
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(5) A yard area shall be kept free from all hazards, nuisances, refuse, and litter.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 400.2248 - R 400.2257 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS.  
R 400.2261 Emergency preparedness.  
Rule 261. (1) A family home shall have a telephone. A family home shall have a  
written procedure to be followed in the case of fire or medical emergency.  
Responsible foster family members or employees shall be familiar with emergency  
planning and their responsibilities. Responsible persons shall be capable of using the  
telephone to summon appropriate assistance and carry out an evacuation plan.  
(2) An emergency plan shall specify persons to be notified, locations of alarm  
signals and fire extinguishers, evacuation routes, procedures for evacuating residents  
of limited mobility and visitors, and provide for at least 4 fire drills per year.  
Emergency telephone numbers shall be immediately available.  
(3) Residents, insofar as possible, adult members of the foster family and  
responsible persons shall be familiar with emergency procedures.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 400.2271 - R 400.2274 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS.  
R 400.2275 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS.  
PART 3. GROUP HOMES  
R 400.2301 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS; 1994 AACS.  
R 400.2302 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS; 1994 AACS.  
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R 400.2303 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS; 1994 AACS.  
R 400.2304- R 400.2324 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS; 1994 AACS.  
R 400.2331 - R 400.2334 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS; 1994 AACS.  
R 400.2341 - R 400.2347 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS; 1994 AACS.  
R 400.2348 - R 400.2357 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS; 1994 AACS.  
R 400.2361 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS; 1994 AACS.  
R 400.2371 - R 400.2375 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 1984 AACS; 1994 AACS.  
R 400.2376 Smoke detection equipment.  
Rule 376. (1) At least 1 single station smoke detector shall be installed at the  
following locations:  
(a) Between the sleeping areas and the rest of the home. In homes with more than  
1 sleeping area, a smoke detector shall be installed to protect each separate sleeping  
area.  
(b) On each occupied floor, in the basement, and in areas of the home which  
contain flame- or heat-producing equipment.  
(2) Approved heat detectors may be installed in the kitchen and in other areas of  
the home containing flame- or heat-producing equipment in lieu of smoke detectors.  
(3) If batteries are used as a source of energy, they shall be replaced in accordance  
with the recommendations of the alarm equipment manufacturer.  
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(4) Detectors shall be tested and examined as recommended by the  
manufacturer.  
(5) This rule does not apply to the following:  
(a) Adult foster care small group homes which are licensed effective March 27,  
1980, and which meet the requirements of section 21 of Act No. 218 of the Public  
Acts of 1979, as amended, being S400.721 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.  
(b) Adult foster care small group homes licensed or proposed to be licensed for  
more than 6 adults.  
History: 1982 AACS.  
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;