Q: My question is in regards to alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) dispensers in a recovery area in our Cath lab. Does an open bay in the recovery area count as a patient room and not in the overall count of dispensers in a smoke compartment?

A: No. Open bays for recovery do not count as individual rooms in regards to the count of ABHR dispenser locations. The reason why is, those bays are located in one room, not in separate rooms. According to section 19.3.6.3.1 of the 2012 LSC, areas used for patient treatment or sleeping have to be separated from the corridor. So, they are either in a large room, or a suite (which is a large room as well). They cannot be open to the corridor, and if they are, you have other problems.