| (xvii) Hand washing facilities. Location and arrangement of fittings for hand washing facilities shall permit their proper use and operation. Hand washing fixtures with hands-free operable controls shall be provided within each workroom, examination, and treatment room. Hands-free includes blade-type handles, and foot, knee, or sensor operated controls. Particular care shall be given to the clearances required for blade-type operating handles. Lavatories and hand washing facilities shall be securely anchored to withstand an applied vertical load of not less than 250 pounds on the front of the fixture. In addition to the specific areas noted, hand washing facilities shall be provided and conveniently located for staff use throughout the hospital where patient care contact occurs and services are provided. (xviii) Soap dispensers. A liquid or foam soap dispenser shall be located at each hand washing facility. (xix) Alcohol-based hand rubs. Alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) are considered flammable. When used, the ABHRs shall meet the following requirements: (I) The dispensers may be installed in a corridor so long as the corridor width is six feet or greater. The dispensers shall be installed at least four feet apart. (II) The maximum individual dispenser fluid capacity is 1.2 liters for dispensers in rooms, corridors, and areas open to corridors, and 2.0 liters for dispensers in suites of rooms. (III) The dispensers shall not be installed over or directly adjacent to electrical outlets and switches. (IV) Dispensers installed directly over carpeted surfaces shall be permitted only in sprinklered smoke compartments. (V) Each smoke compartment may contain a maximum aggregate of 10 gallons of ABHR solution in dispensers and a maximum of five gallons in storage. (xx) Hand drying. Provisions for hand drying shall be included at all hand washing facilities except scrub sinks. There shall be hot air dryers or individual paper or cloth units enclosed in such a way as to provide protection against dust or soil and ensure single-unit dispensing. (xxi) Mirrors. Mirrors shall not be installed at hand washing fixtures where asepsis control and sanitation requirements would be lessened by hair combing. Mirrors may be installed in patient rooms, patient toilet rooms, lockers, and public toilet rooms. (xxii) Ceiling heights. The minimum ceiling height shall be seven feet six inches with the following exceptions. (I) Boiler rooms. Boiler rooms shall have ceiling clearances not less than two feet six inches above the main boiler header and connecting piping. (II) Rooms with ceiling-mounted equipment. Rooms containing ceiling-mounted equipment shall have the ceiling height clearance increased to accommodate the equipment or fixtures. (III) Overhead clearance. Suspended tracks, rails, pipes, signs, lights, door closers, exit signs, and other fixtures that protrude into the path of normal traffic shall not be less than six feet eight inches above the finished floor. (xxiii) Areas producing impact noises. Recreation rooms, exercise rooms, and similar spaces where impact noises may be generated shall not be located directly over patient bed area or operating rooms unless special provisions are made to minimize noise. (xxiv) Noise reduction. Noise reduction criteria in accordance with the Table 1 in §133.169(a) of this title (relating to Tables) shall apply to partitions, floor, and ceiling construction in patient areas. (xxv) Rooms with heat-producing equipment. Rooms containing heat-producing equipment such as heater rooms, laundries, etc. shall be insulated and ventilated to prevent any occupied floor surface above from exceeding a temperature differential of 10 degrees Fahrenheit above the ambient room temperature. (xxvi) Chutes. Linen and refuse chutes shall comply with the requirements of National Fire Protection Association 82, Standard on Incinerators, Waste and Linen Handling Systems and Equipment, 2004 edition, and NFPA 101, §18.5.4. (xxvii) Thresholds and expansion joint covers. Thresholds and expansion joint covers shall be flush or not more than one-half inch above the floor surface to facilitate the use of wheelchairs and carts. Expansion and seismic joints shall be constructed to restrict the passage of smoke and fire and shall be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. (xxviii) Housekeeping room. (I) In addition to the housekeeping room(s) required in certain departments, sufficient housekeeping rooms shall be provided throughout the hospital as required to maintain a clean and sanitary environment. (II) Each housekeeping room shall contain a floor receptor or service sink and storage space for housekeeping equipment and supplies. (B) General finish requirements. (i) Cubicle curtains and draperies. (I) Cubicle curtains, draperies and other hanging fabrics shall be noncombustible or flame retardant and shall pass both the small scale and the large-scale tests of National Fire Protection Association 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame-Resistant Textiles and Films, 1999 edition. Copies of laboratory test reports for installed materials shall be submitted to the department at the time of the final construction inspection. (II) Cubicle curtains shall be provided to assure patient privacy. (ii) Flame spread, smoke development and noxious gases. Flame spread and smoke developed limitations of interior finishes shall comply with Table 2 of §133.169(b) of this title and NFPA 101, §10.2. The use of materials known to produce large or concentrated amounts of noxious or toxic gases shall not be used in exit accesses or in patient areas. Copies of laboratory test reports for installed materials tested in accordance with National Fire Protection Association 255, Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, 2000 edition, and National Fire Protection Association 258, Standard Research Test Method for Determining Smoke Generation of Solid Materials, 2001 edition, shall be provided. (iii) Floor finishes. Flooring shall be easy to clean and have wear resistance appropriate for the location involved. Floors that are subject to traffic while wet (such as shower and bath areas, kitchens, and similar work areas) shall have a nonslip surface. In all areas frequently subject to wet cleaning methods, floor materials shall not be physically affected by germicidal and cleaning solutions. The following are acceptable floor finishes: (I) painted concrete; (II) vinyl and vinyl composition tiles and sheets; (III) monolithic or seamless flooring. Where required, seamless flooring shall be impervious to water, coved and installed integral with the base, tightly sealed to the wall, and without voids that can harbor insects or retain dirt particles. The base shall not be less then six inches in height. Welded joint flooring is acceptable; (IV) ceramic and quarry tile; (V) wood floors. Wood floors subject to frequent cleaning methods shall be avoided. When wood floors are used, the floor shall be tightly sealed, without voids and the joints shall be impervious to water; (VI) carpet flooring. Carpeting installed in intensive care units, nurseries, patient rooms and similar patient care areas shall be treated to prevent bacterial and fungal growth; (VII) terrazzo; and (VIII) poured in place floors. (iv) Wall finishes. Wall finishes shall be smooth, washable, moisture resistant, and cleanable by standard housekeeping practices. Wall finishes shall comply with requirements contained in Table 2 of §133.169(b) of this title, and NFPA 101, §18.3.3. (I) Wall finishes shall be water-resistant in the immediate area of plumbing fixtures. (II) Wall finishes subject to frequent wet cleaning methods shall be impervious to water, tightly sealed and without voids. (v) Floor, wall and ceiling penetrations. Floor, wall and ceiling penetrations by pipes, ducts, and conduits or any direct openings shall be tightly sealed to minimize entry of dirt particles, rodents and insects. Joints of structural elements shall be similarly sealed. (vi) Ceiling types. Ceilings which are a part of a rated roof/ceiling assembly or a floor/ceiling assembly shall be constructed of listed components and installed in accordance with the listing. Three types of ceilings that are required in various areas of the hospital are: (I) Ordinary ceilings. Ceilings such as acoustical tiles installed in a metal grid which are dry cleanable with equipment used in daily housekeeping activities such as dusters and vacuum cleaners. (II) Washable ceilings. Ceilings that are made of washable, smooth, moisture impervious materials such as painted lay-in gypsum wallboard or vinyl faced acoustic tile in a metal grid. Cont'd... |
