At the option of the applicant, HHSC will review plans for
a new building, an addition to a building, a conversion of a building
not licensed by HHSC, or rehabilitation of an existing licensed facility.
HHSC will, within 30 days, inform the applicant in writing of the
results of the review. If the plans comply with HHSC’s architectural
requirements, HHSC may not subsequently change the architectural requirement
applicable to the project unless the change is required by federal
law or the applicant fails to complete the project within two years.
HHSC may grant a waiver of this two-year period for delays due to
unusual circumstances. There is no time limit to complete a project,
only a time limit for completing a project using requirements that
have been revised after the project was reviewed.
(1) Submittal of plans.
(A) For review of plans, submit one copy of contract
documents described in paragraph (2) of this subsection before construction
begins. Documents must be in sufficient detail to demonstrate compliance
with this subchapter and ensure proper construction. Documents must
be prepared according to accepted architectural practice and must
include general construction, special conditions, and schedules.
(B) Final copies of plans must include a title block
that shows name of facility, person, or organization preparing the
sheet, sheet numbers, facility address, and drawing date. Sheets and
sections covering structural, electrical, mechanical, and sanitary
engineering final plans, designs, and specifications must bear the
seal of a licensed professional engineer approved by the Texas Board
of Professional Engineers to operate in Texas. Contract documents
for additions, rehabilitation of, or construction of an entirely new
facility must be prepared by an architect licensed by the Texas Board
of Architectural Examiners. Drawings must bear the seal of the architect.
(C) A final plan for a major addition to a facility
must include a basic layout to scale of the entire building onto which
the addition will connect. North direction must be shown. The entire
basic layout may be to a scale such as 1/16 inch per foot or 1/32
inch per foot for very large buildings.
(D) Plans and specifications for the conversion of
a building not licensed by HHSC or rehabilitation of an existing building
must be complete for all parts and features involved.
(E) The facility is responsible for employing qualified
personnel to prepare the contract documents for construction. If the
contract documents contain errors or omissions to the extent that
conformance with standards cannot be reasonably ensured or determined,
HHSC may request a revised set of documents for review.
(F) The review of plans and specifications by HHSC
is based on general utility, the minimum licensing standards, and
conformance with NFPA 101. This review must not to be construed as
an all-inclusive approval of the structural, electrical, or mechanical
components, nor does it constitute the review of required building
plans for compliance with TAS as administered and enforced by the
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
(G) Fees for plan review will be required according
to §19.219 of this chapter (relating to Plan Review Fees).
(2) Contract documents.
(A) Code compliance documents must include:
(i) A life safety floor plan that includes the following
information:
(I) a building layout, depicted at an identified drawing
scale;
(II) the location of any changes in construction type;
(III) occupant loads, according to NFPA 101;
(IV) egress capacity, according to NFPA 101;
(V) egress routes from spaces in the building to the
public way, including travel distances;
(VI) areas in buildings which use provisions for suites,
per NFPA 101;
(VII) provisions for the protection of vertical openings;
(VIII) the locations of doors that use special locking
arrangements;
(IX) the relationship of the subject building to any
adjacent buildings on the same property, including dimensions between
buildings;
(X) the size and location of smoke compartments, and
the tested fire resistance-rated assemblies proposed for the construction
of smoke barriers defining the compartments;
(XI) the location of any fire barriers or fire walls,
and the tested fire resistance-rated assemblies proposed for the construction
of those barriers or walls; and
(XII) the location of egress signage.
(ii) documentation, published by a nationally recognized
testing laboratory, describing any proposed fire resistance-rated
assemblies, including the following:
(I) fire resistance-rated wall assemblies;
(II) fire resistance-rated floor-ceiling assemblies;
(III) fire resistance-rated roof-ceiling assemblies;
(IV) fire resistance-rated joint systems;
(V) fire resistance-rated systems for protection of
penetrations into or through other fire resistance-rated construction
and assemblies; and
(VI) fire resistance-rated assemblies for protection
of structural columns and beams.
(iii) for projects involving building rehabilitation,
provide a diagram outlining each area undergoing rehabilitation identifying
the classification of the rehabilitation work according to §19.350
of this subchapter (relating to Building Rehabilitation), and identifying
the total floor area of each rehabilitation work area by rehabilitation
classification.
(B) Site plan documents must include:
(i) grade contours;
(ii) streets with names;
(iii) a north arrow;
(iv) fire hydrant locations;
(v) fire lanes;
(vi) utilities, public or private;
(vii) fences; and
(viii) unusual site conditions, such as
(I) ditches;
(II) low water levels;
(III) other buildings on-site; and
(IV) indications of buildings located five feet or
less beyond site property lines.
(C) Foundation plan documents must include the general
foundation design and details.
(D) Floor plan documents must include:
(i) room names, numbers, and usages;
(ii) numbered doors, including swing;
(iii) windows;
(iv) a legend or clarification of wall types;
(v) dimensions;
(vi) fixed equipment;
(vii) plumbing fixtures;
(viii) kitchen basic layout; and
(ix) identification of all smoke barrier walls and
fire walls, outside wall to outside wall.
(E) For new construction, additions to or rehabilitation
of an existing building, an overall plan of the entire building must
be drawn or reduced to fit on an 8 1/2-inch by 11-inch sheet.
(F) Schedules must include:
(i) door materials, sizes, and types;
(ii) window materials, sizes, and types;
(iii) room finishes; and
(iv) special hardware.
(G) Elevations must include:
(i) exterior elevations with material note; and
(ii) interior elevations, where needed for special
conditions.
(H) Roof plans must include:
(i) any roof top equipment;
(ii) roof slopes;
(iii) drain locations; and
(iv) gas pipes.
(I) Details must include:
(i) wall sections as needed, especially for special
conditions;
(ii) cabinets and built-in work, basic design only;
(iii) cross sections through buildings as needed; and
(iv) miscellaneous details and enlargements as needed.
(J) Building structure documents must include:
(i) structural framing layouts and details;
(ii) roof framing layout, when this cannot be adequately
shown on cross section;
(iii) cross sections in quantity and detail to show
sufficient structural design; and
(iv) structural details as necessary to ensure adequate
structural design.
(K) Electrical documents must include:
(i) electrical layout, including lights, convenience
outlets, equipment outlets, switches, and other electrical outlets
and devices;
(ii) service, circuiting, distribution, and panel diagrams;
(iii) exit signs and emergency egress lighting;
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