| (a) General.
(1) Facility owners or operators may not begin construction
of a new building or additions to or renovations or conversions of
existing buildings until final construction documents are reviewed
and approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
(2) Plans and specifications describing the construction
of new buildings and additions to or renovations and conversions of
existing buildings shall be prepared by registered architects, licensed
professional engineers, or both.
(3) Preliminary plans shall be prepared and submitted
in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
(4) Final plans and specifications shall be prepared
and submitted in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.
(b) Preliminary documents. Preliminary documents shall
consist of a functional program narrative, preliminary plans, and
outline specifications. These documents shall contain sufficient information
to establish the project scope, description of functions to be performed,
project location, required fire safety and exiting requirements, building
construction type, compartmentation showing fire and smoke barriers,
bed count and services, and the usage of all spaces, areas, and rooms
on every floor level.
(1) Preparation of preliminary plans. Preliminary plans
shall be of a sufficiently large scale to clearly illustrate the proposed
design but not less than one-eighth inch equals one foot. Preliminary
plans shall provide the following information.
(A) Floor area and bed distribution. The total floor
area on each level involved in construction, together with the proposed
bed distribution, shall be shown on the drawings.
(B) Floor plan. Each floor plan shall indicate and
identify all individual spaces, doors, windows and means of egress.
(C) Existing floor plan. An overall floor plan showing
existing spaces, smoke partitions, smoke compartments, and exits and
their relationship to the new construction shall be submitted on all
renovations or additions to an existing facility. Plans for remodeling
of spaces above or below the level of discharge shall include the
level of discharge floor plan, showing all exits at that level. When
there are two different levels of discharge, plans for both levels
shall be submitted.
(D) Construction type and fire rating. Building sections
shall be provided to illustrate construction type and fire protection
rating. Sections shall be drawn at a scale sufficiently large to clearly
present the proposed construction system.
(E) Area map. A map of the area within a two-mile radius
of the facility site shall be provided and any hazardous and undesirable
location noted in §510.122(a) of this subchapter (relating to
New Construction Requirements) shall be identified.
(F) Site plan. A site plan shall be submitted and shall
indicate the location of the proposed buildings in relation to property
lines, existing buildings or structures, access and approach roads,
and parking areas and drives. Any overhead or underground utilities
or service lines shall also be indicated.
(G) Outline specifications. Outline specifications
shall provide a general description of the construction, materials,
and finishes that are not shown on the drawings.
(2) Functional program narrative. The facility shall
provide a functional program narrative presented on facility letterhead
and signed by facility administration. The narrative program shall
be submitted to HHSC at the preliminary plan (stage 1) review and
be approved by HHSC. The narrative shall include the functional description
of each space and the following:
(A) departmental relationships, number of patient beds
in each category, and other basic information relating to the fulfillment
of the facility's objectives;
(B) a description of each function to be performed,
approximate space needed for these functions, occupants of the various
spaces, types of equipment required, interrelationship of various
functions and spaces;
(C) energy conservation measures, included in building,
mechanical, and electrical designs; and
(D) the type of construction (existing or proposed)
as stated in Table 18-1.6.2 of National Fire Protection Association
101, Code for Safety to Life from Fire in Buildings and Structures,
2000 edition (NFPA 101), published by the National Fire Protection
Association.
(3) Submission of preliminary plans. One set of preliminary
plans, outline specifications covering the construction of new buildings
or alterations, additions, conversions, modernizations, or renovations
to existing buildings, a functional program narrative, a completed
and signed Application for Plan Review, and the applicable plan review
fee in accordance with §510.26(c) of this chapter (relating to
Fees) shall be submitted to HHSC for review and approval. For convenience,
preliminary plans may be reduced for preliminary submittal. The cost
of submitting plans and specifications shall be borne by the sender.
(4) Preliminary plan review. All deficiencies noted
in the preliminary plan review shall be satisfactorily resolved. Written
HHSC approval of preliminary plans must be obtained prior to proceeding
with final plans and specifications. This requirement also applies
to fast-track projects.
(c) Construction documents. Construction documents
or final plans and specifications shall be submitted to HHSC for review
and approval prior to start of construction. All final plans and specifications
shall be appropriately sealed and signed by a registered architect
and a professional engineer licensed by the State of Texas.
(1) Preparation of construction documents. Construction
documents shall be well prepared so that clear and distinct prints
may be obtained, shall be accurately and adequately dimensioned, and
shall include all necessary explanatory notes, schedules, and legends
and shall be adequate for contract purposes. Compliance with model
building codes and this chapter shall be indicated. The type of construction,
as classified by National Fire Protection Association 220, Standard
on Types of Building Construction, 1999 edition, shall be provided
for existing and new facilities. Final plans shall be drawn to a sufficiently
large scale to clearly illustrate the proposed design but not less
than one-eighth inch equals one foot. All rooms shall be identified
by usage on all plans (architectural, fire safety, mechanical, electrical,
etc.) submitted. Separate drawings shall be prepared for each of the
following branches of work.
(A) Architectural plans. Architectural drawings shall
include the following:
(i) site plan showing all new topography, newly established
levels and grades, existing structures on the site (if any), new buildings
and structures, roadways, walks, and the extent of the areas to be
landscaped. All structures which are to be removed under the construction
contract and improvements shall be shown. A general description of
the immediate area surrounding the site shall be provided, which includes
a:
(ii) plan of each floor and roof to include fire and
smoke separation, means of egress, and identification of all spaces;
(iii) schedules of doors, windows, and finishes;
(iv) elevations of each facade;
(v) sections through building; and
(vi) scaled details as necessary.
(B) Fire safety plans. These drawings shall be provided
for all newly constructed buildings, conversions of existing buildings
for facilities, additions to existing licensed facilities, and remodeled
portions of existing buildings containing licensed facilities. Fire
safety plans shall be of a sufficiently large scale to clearly illustrate
the proposed design but not less than one-sixteenth inch equals one
foot and shall include the following information:
(i) separate fire safety plans (preferably one floor
plan per sheet) shall indicate location of fire protection rated walls
and partitions, location and fire resistance rating of each fire damper,
and the required means of egress (corridors, stairs, exits, exit passageways);
(I) when a new building is to contain a proposed facility,
when an existing building is converted to a facility, or when an addition
is made to an existing facility building, plans of each floor and
roof shall be provided; and
(II) when a portion of a building is remodeled or when
a new service is added, only the plan of the floor where the remodeling
will take place or new service will be introduced and the plan of
the floor of discharge shall be provided;
(ii) designated smoke compartments with floor areas
of each compartment, location and fire resistance rating (one or two
hour) of each smoke partition, location, type and fire resistance
rating of each smoke damper;
Cont'd... |
