| (a) General (All Facilities).
(1) Site grades must provide for positive surface water
drainage so that there will be no ponding or standing water at or
near the building such as would present a hazard to health or provide
a breeding site or harborage for disease vectors.
(2) Outdoor activity, recreational, and sitting spaces
must be provided and be accessible to all residents.
(3) Each facility must have parking space to satisfy
the needs of residents, employees, staff, and visitors.
(4) Protection must be provided for resident safety
on facility grounds using appropriate methods, such as fences, hedges,
retaining walls, railings, or other landscaping. Such protection must
not inhibit the free emergency egress to a safe distance away from
the building.
(5) All outside areas, grounds, and adjacent buildings
on the site must be maintained in good condition and kept free of
rubbish, garbage, untended growth, and other conditions which may
constitute a fire or health hazard.
(b) Additional site conditions (large facilities only).
(1) Auxiliary buildings located on the site within
20 feet of the main licensed structure and which contain hazardous
operations or contents, such as laundries or storage buildings, must
meet the same code requirements for safety as the main licensed structure,
or the building must be moved to be 20 feet or farther away from the
main building.
(2) Other buildings on the site must meet the appropriate
occupancy section or separation requirements of NFPA 101.
(3) A new building (or addition) must be set back at
least ten feet from the property lines except as otherwise approved
by HHSC.
(4) Exit doors from the building must not open directly
onto a drive for vehicular traffic but must be set back at least six
feet from the edge of such drive (measured from the end of building
wall in the case of a recessed door) to prevent accidents due to lack
of visual warning. These doors are to have automatic or self-closures.
(5) Walks must be provided from all exits and must
be of non-slip surfaces free of hazards. Walks must be at least 48
inches wide except as otherwise approved. Ramps must be used in lieu
of steps where grade change is 21 inches or less, and where possible,
for persons with physical disabilities or mobility impairment, and
to facilitate bed or wheelchair removal in an emergency.
(6) Open or enclosed courts with resident rooms or
living areas opening upon them must not be less than 20 feet in the
smallest dimension unless otherwise approved by HHSC.
(7) There must be at least one approved readily accessible
fire hydrant located within 300 feet of the building. The hydrant
must be on a minimum six-inch service line, or else there must be
an approved equivalent (such as a storage tank). The hydrant, its
location, and service line, or equivalent must be approved by the
local fire department and HHSC.
(8) The building must have suitable fire lanes for
access as required by local fire authorities and HHSC.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §551.62 adopted to be effective July 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 5328; transferred effective May 1, 2019, as published in the Texas Register April 12, 2019, 44 TexReg 1883; amended to be effective February 24, 2022, 47 TexReg 787 |
