El Paso Senior AdvisorBy El Paso Senior Advisor Care Team · October 30, 2026
El Paso's assisted living TULIP records list 125 Life Safety Code findings against 70 health findings. The most common involve fire drills, sprinkler and alarm maintenance and smoke detector testing. In Type B facilities, where residents may need help to evacuate, those findings deserve close attention.
The most common findings
| Life Safety Code finding | Times cited |
|---|---|
| The facility failed to conduct required fire drills and document fire drills on the required form. | 10 |
| The facility failed to inspect, test, and maintain fire sprinkler system components. | 9 |
| The facility failed to have a program to inspect, test, and maintain the fire sprinkler system and keep records of inspection, testing, and maintenance of the fire sprinkler system. | 8 |
| The facility failed to ensure the sensitivity of smoke detectors was checked according to NFPA 72. | 6 |
| The facility failed to store oxygen provided by the facility in a safe and sanitary manner. | 6 |
| The facility failed to obtain an inspection by the fire marshal every year and to keep documentation showing the outcome of the last inspection. | 5 |
Why fire safety matters more in Type B
Type B residents may need staff help to evacuate and may not follow directions in an emergency. Texas requires enough staff to evacuate everyone safely, and HHSC has fined El Paso facilities for falling short. A missed fire drill or an untested alarm matters more when residents depend on staff to get out.
What to ask on a tour
Ask to see the fire drill log, including night drills, and how long evacuation took. Ask when the sprinkler and alarm systems were last inspected and by whom, and whether the fire marshal's annual inspection is on file. Ask how oxygen is stored.
Reading a finding fairly
Many Life Safety Code findings are paperwork or maintenance issues fixed quickly. Others, like smoke compartmentation, involve the building itself. Ask the facility what was corrected and whether HHSC verified it.
How the building itself matters
Some findings concern construction: smoke compartments that keep fire and smoke from spreading, fire-rated doors that close properly, and exits that open easily. These are harder to fix than paperwork and may require construction. Small homes converted from houses can struggle with these requirements, which is one reason their records sometimes show more fire safety findings.
Ask whether any building-related finding has been fully corrected and whether HHSC returned to verify it.
Oxygen, heating and kitchens
Findings about oxygen storage, gas heating checks before winter, and kitchen safety reflect daily risks. Oxygen should be stored securely away from heat, with signs posted. Gas heaters need inspection before the heating season, which in El Paso arrives with cold desert nights. Ask how the facility handles residents who use oxygen.
Staffing and evacuation at night
Night staffing is where fire safety and care meet. Texas requires enough staff to evacuate every resident safely, and HHSC has fined El Paso facilities for failing that test. Ask how many staff are on duty overnight, how many residents need help to evacuate, and the result of the last night drill.
How families can follow up
After move-in, ask periodically about drills and inspections, and read the TULIP record once or twice a year. If you see a safety problem, such as blocked exits or disabled alarms, report it to HHSC at 1-800-458-9858.
Why records matter as much as equipment
Several common findings are about records: fire drills not documented on the required form, sprinkler and alarm inspections without proof, or no record of the fire marshal's annual inspection. Records are how a facility proves that equipment works and staff know what to do. A facility that cannot produce them may not be testing at all, and inspectors treat missing proof as a failure.
When you tour, asking to see the latest drill record and alarm inspection report tells you quickly whether the facility keeps its paperwork in order. A well-run facility can find them in minutes.
The bigger picture
Fire safety findings do not mean a building is about to burn. Most are corrected through a plan of correction and never lead to a penalty. But in assisted living, where residents may be frail, confused or asleep when an alarm sounds, the basics of drills, alarms and staffing are worth checking yourself. Read the record, ask the questions above, and trust what you see.
Where to read the findings
Every finding mentioned here comes from HHSC's TULIP records, which our facility pages reproduce with dates for each licensed El Paso facility.
Fire safety in small homes
Small converted houses face the same Life Safety Code standards as larger buildings, scaled to their size. Ask a small home how its alarm system is monitored and who responds at night if it sounds.
Emergency plans and 2-1-1 registration
Texas requires an emergency preparedness plan covering evacuation and sheltering, and registration with 2-1-1 Texas so the state can help residents in a disaster. Several El Paso findings cite these items; ask the facility to show its plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Life Safety Code inspection?
An inspection of fire alarms, sprinklers, exits, drills and emergency plans.
Are fire safety findings common?
Yes; El Paso's records list 125 of them across licensed assisted living facilities.
Where can I see a facility's findings?
On HHSC's TULIP site or our facility pages.
