| (i) The owner/operator shall submit the items in subsection (b)(1)(A) - (D) of this section and a completed self-certification form, signed by the hospital owner/operator, architect of record, and engineer(s) of record attesting that the plans and specifications are based upon and comply with the requirements of this chapter. (ii) By signing and submitting the self-certification form, the hospital owner/operator accepts the following conditions. (I) The department retains the right to review the final construction documents, conduct inspections of the project, and withdraw its approval. (II) The hospital owner/operator has a continuing obligation to make any changes the department requires to comply with the licensing rules whether or not physical plant construction or alterations have been completed. (III) The hospital owner/operator is ultimately responsible for compliance with the Texas Hospital Licensing Law (Health and Safety Code, Chapter 241) and this chapter. (B) The department will review the request for self-certification and notify the hospital owner/operator if the request is approved or denied. If denied, the department will review the final construction documents in the chronological order in which the documents were received. Construction may not begin until the final construction documents have been reviewed and approved. (2) Fast-track project. At the discretion of the department, projects for new hospitals or major new additions may be allowed to submitted under the fast-track project in not more than three separate packages. A fast-track project shall be requested in writing on facility letterhead, signed by hospital administration, with a brief written description and narrative of the proposed project. Construction may not begin until the first package has been approved by the department. (A) First package. The first package shall include: (i) the items in subsection (b)(1)(A) - (C) of this section; (ii) a map showing the location of the proposed facility site and adjacent surrounding area at least two miles in radius identifying any hazardous and undesirable location noted in §133.162(a) of this title; (iii) preliminary architectural plans and a detailed building site plan showing all adjacent streets, site work, underslab mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work, and related specifications; and (iv) foundation and structural plans. (B) Second package. The second package shall include complete architectural plans and details with specifications and fire safety plans as described in subsection (f)(1) and (2)(A) - (D) of this section. (C) Third package. The third package shall include complete mechanical, electrical, equipment and furnishings, and plumbing plans and specifications, as described in subsection (f)(1) and (2)(E) and (F) of this section. Package three may be submitted with the second package. (3) Minor project. If a hospital owner/operator believes that a proposed project is a minor project as described in §133.161(a)(2)(C) of this title (relating to Requirements for Buildings in which Existing Licensed Hospitals are Located), the hospital owner/operator shall provide to the department a brief written description of the proposed project and floor plans of the areas of work. (A) If it is determined that the proposed project is a minor project, the department will notify the hospital owner/operator of the approval, and state the number of inspections that will be required. A minimum of one inspection will be conducted. (B) The department will notify the hospital owner/operator that a proposed project is not approved as a minor project if the project involves any of the following: (i) remodeling or alterations which involve alterations to load bearing members or partitions; (ii) a change in functional operation; (iii) affects fire safety (e.g. modifications to the fire, smoke, and corridor walls); (iv) adds beds or services for which the hospital is not currently licensed; and (v) significantly changes the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, or piped medical system. (C) The hospital owner/operator shall submit final construction documents in accordance with subsection (f) of this section if the department determines the project is not a minor project. (4) Fire sprinkler systems. (A) When the sole purpose of a project is installation of a sprinkler system, whether a partial or complete system, the hospital owner/operator shall submit to the department for approval the items in subsection (b)(1)(A) - (C) of this section and sprinkler documents. (B) Fire sprinkler systems shall comply with the requirements of National Fire Protection Association 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler systems, 2002 edition (NFPA 13), and shall be designed or reviewed by an engineer who is registered by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers in fire protection specialty or is experienced in hydraulic design and fire sprinkler system installation. A short resume shall be submitted if registration is not in fire protection specialty. (i) Fire sprinkler working plans, complete hydraulic calculations and water supply information shall be prepared in accordance with NFPA 13, §§14.1, 14.2 and 14.3, for new fire sprinkler systems, alterations of and additions to existing ones. (ii) One set of fire sprinkler working plans, calculations and water supply information shall be forwarded to the department together with the professional engineer's (P.E. licensed in the state of Texas) certification letter stating that the sprinkler system design complies with the requirements of NFPA 13. Certification of the fire sprinkler system shall be submitted prior to system installation. (iii) Upon completion of the fire sprinkler system installation and any required corrections, written certification by the engineer, stating that the fire sprinkler system is installed in accordance with NFPA 13 requirements, shall be submitted prior to or with the written request for the final construction inspection of the project. (h) Retention of drawings, manuals and design data. (1) As built drawings. Upon occupancy of the building or portion thereof, the owner shall retain as part of the hospital's permanent records, a complete set of legible architectural plans of each building level, fire safety plans as described in subsection (f)(2)(B) of this section for each floor reflecting fire safety requirements, and all single line diagrams described in subsection (f)(2)(F)(v) of this section, drawings for fixed equipment, and mechanical and electrical systems, as installed or built. (2) Manuals. Upon completion of the contract, the owner shall retain as part of the hospital's permanent records a complete set of manufacturers' operating, maintenance, and preventive maintenance instructions; parts lists; and procurement information with numbers and a description for each piece of equipment. Facility staff shall also be provided with instructions on how to properly operate systems and equipment. Required information shall include energy ratings as needed for future conservation calculations. (3) Design data. The owner shall retain in the hospital's permanent records complete design data for the facility. This shall include structural design loadings; summary of heat loss assumption and calculations; estimated water consumption; medical gas outlet listing; list of applicable codes; and electric power requirements of installed equipment. All such data shall be supplied to facilitate future alterations, additions, and changes, including, but not limited to, energy audits and retrofit for energy conservation. |
