SURANCE DIVISION
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION BUREAU
PROVIDER INFORMATION NOTICE - #101507

Christmas Trees and Holiday Decorations:
As the holiday season approaches, the Division receives a number of inquiries regarding the use
of Christmas trees and holiday decoration in health care facilities. The Life Safety Code
considers Christmas trees a highly flammable decoration. The Certification and Licensing
Bureaus provides the following guidelines and precautions for their use in healthcare facilities:
LIVE TREES:
A live tree must be flocked with a fire retardant.
A staff person must be designated to water the tree. Logs must be maintained to
indicate the date and time the tree was watered and by whom.
Lights are not permitted on flocked or aluminum/metal trees. If lighting is desired,
indirect flood lights may be used.
The live tree must be located in a room that can be closed from corridors, (e.g. a
dining room or lounge) and closely supervised by staff.
Live trees must be limited to one per building.
The live tree should be located near sprinkler heads or smoke detectors, if possible.

ARTIFICIAL TREES:
Lights may be used on UL or FM approved artificial trees in accordance with
manufacturer's directions.
Artificial trees, factory wired with lights are acceptable if UL or FM tested.
Lights on artificial trees should be unplugged at night.
All lights used on trees must be UL or FM listed.
No limit is placed on the number or type of artificial tress in the building as long
as they are UL or FM tested and approved.
The use of lamp cord extension cords is prohibited. Only UL or FM approved
multi-plug adaptors with surge/circuit breaker protection are acceptable.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS:

UL approved lights may be installed on the exterior of the building and on outside
trees and shrubs. Exterior lighting circuits must have ground fault circuit
interrupter (GFCI) protection.
Only UL approved multi-plug adaptors with surge/circuit breaker protection are
acceptable.
HOLIDAY DECORATIONS:

The use of live greens for decoration inside the building is prohibited.
Wrapping paper is very combustible and must not be used to decorate doors and
wall surfaces.
All open flames and/or candle use is prohibited.
We wish you a safe and happy holiday season. If you have any questions regarding Fire
Safety please contact Glenn Davis at the Certification Bureau - (406) 444-4170, or Joe
Merrill at the Licensing Bureau - (406) 444-6794 or you may email the Bureau at
MTSSAD@mt.gov
.



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