| new flooring shall meet the requirements of §131.143(f)(3)(A)(iii) of this title (relating to Construction Requirements for a New Facility). (C) Thresholds at doorways shall not exceed 3/4 inch in height for exterior sliding doors or 1/2 inch for other type doors. Raised thresholds and floor level changes at accessible doorways shall be beveled with a slope no greater than 1:2. Expansion joint covers shall not exceed 1/2 inch in height and shall have beveled edges with a slope no greater than 1:2. (3) Wall finishes. Wall finishes shall be washable, moisture resistant, and cleanable by standard housekeeping practices. (A) Wall finishes shall be water-resistant in the immediate area of plumbing fixtures. (B) Wall finishes in areas subject to frequent, wet cleaning methods shall be impervious to water, tightly sealed, and without voids. (4) Ceiling finishes. All occupied rooms and spaces shall be provided with finished ceilings, unless otherwise noted. 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. (5) 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. (6) Material finishes. Materials known to produce noxious gases when burned shall not be used for mattresses, upholstery, and wall finishes. (g) General mechanical requirements. Mechanical systems, air conditioning, heating, and ventilating systems shall meet the requirements of the local building codes, ordinances and this section. (1) Equipment location. Mechanical equipment may be located indoors, outdoors in a weatherproof enclosure, or in a separate building(s). (2) Vibration isolation. Mechanical equipment shall be mounted on vibration isolators to prevent unacceptable structure-borne vibration. Ducts, pipes, etc. connected to mechanical equipment which is a source of vibration shall be isolated from the equipment with vibration isolators. (3) Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. (A) All central HVAC systems shall comply with and shall be installed in accordance with required building codes, ordinances and NFPA 90A, Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems, 2002 Edition, or NFPA 90B, Standard for the Installation of Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Systems, 2002 Edition, as applicable, and the requirements contained in this paragraph. Air handling units serving two or more rooms are considered to be central units. (B) Noncentral air handling systems, i.e., individual room units that are used for heating and cooling purposes (e.g., fan-coil units, heat pump units, and packaged terminal air conditioning units) shall be equipped with permanent (cleanable) or replaceable filters. The filters shall have an average efficiency of 25 - 30% and an average arrestance of 85% based on American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Inc., Standard 52.2, 1999 edition, Method of Testing General Ventilation Air Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size. These units shall be used as air recirculating units only. (C) General ventilation requirements. All rooms and areas in the facility shall have provision for positive ventilation. (i) All toilet exhaust ventilation shall be exhausted. (ii) Air distribution devices. Design shall consider turbulence and other factors of air movement to minimize airborne particulate matter. (I) All supply diffusers grilles shall be located on the ceiling or on a wall within four inches from the ceiling. (II) Air supply for the treatment rooms/areas, exam rooms/areas, and trauma rooms/areas shall be from ceiling outlets. (iii) Air handling units shall be equipped with filters having efficiencies of 25 - 30% and an average arrestance of 85% or greater based on American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Inc., Standard 52.2, 1999 edition, Method of Testing General Ventilation Air Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size. All joints between filter segments, and between filter segments and the enclosing ductwork, shall have gaskets and seals to provide a positive seal against air leakage. (iv) Existing return air plenums in pre-existing facility may continue to be used as long as the following conditions are provided. (I) Final filters providing 90% efficiency shall be located downstream of the supply air blowers, cooling and heating coils. (II) The facility shall at all times have constant air changes throughout the facility and meet the ventilation requirements of Table 2 of §131.148(b) of this title (relating to Tables) during operational hours. (III) Provide Ultraviolet (UV) lighting apparatus in the central air handling unit. (D) Ray protection. Ducts which penetrate construction intended for X-ray or other ray protection shall not impair the effectiveness of the protection. (E) Fire damper requirements. Fire dampers shall be located and installed in all ducts at the point of penetration of a required two-hour or higher fire-rated wall or floor in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 101, §18.5.2. (h) Piping systems and plumbing fixture requirements. All piping systems and plumbing fixtures shall meet the requirements of the local building codes, ordinances and this subchapter. (1) Piping systems. (A) Water supply piping systems. Piping systems shall be designed to supply water at sufficient pressure to operate all fixtures and equipment during maximum demand. (i) Each water service main, branch main, riser, and branch to a group of fixtures shall be equipped with accessible and readily identifiable shutoff valves. Stop valves shall be provided at each fixture. (ii) Backflow preventers (vacuum breakers) shall be installed on hose bibs, laboratory sinks, janitor sinks, bedpan flushing attachments, and all other fixtures to which hoses or tubing can be attached. Connections to high hazard sources, e.g., X-ray film processors, shall be from a cold water hose bib through a reduced pressure principle type backflow preventer (RPBFP). (iii) Flush valves installed on plumbing fixtures shall be a quiet operating type, equipped with silencers. (iv) Water heating equipment shall have sufficient capacity to supply water for all clinical needs based on accepted engineering practices using actual number and type of fixtures and for heating, when applicable. (v) Water temperatures shall be measured at hot water point of use or at the inlet to processing equipment. Hot water temperature at point of use for patients, staff, and visitors shall be in the range of 105 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. (vi) Dead-end piping (risers with no flow, branches with no fixture) shall not be allowed. (B) Fire sprinkler systems. When provided, fire sprinkler systems shall comply with the requirements of NFPA 101, §9.7, Automatic Sprinklers and Other Extinguishing Equipment, and the requirements of this subparagraph. All fire sprinkler systems shall be designed, installed, and maintained in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2002 Edition, and shall be certified as required by §131.147(c)(1)(C) of this title (relating to Construction, Inspection, and Approval of Project). (C) Piped nonflammable medical gas and clinical vacuum systems. Existing piped nonflammable medical gas and clinical vacuum systems shall be in accordance with NFPA 99, §5.1 for Level 1 Piped Systems. (D) Main storage of medical gases may be outside or inside the facility in accordance with NFPA 99, §5.1. Provision shall be made for additional separate storage of reserve gas cylinders necessary to complete at least one day's procedures. (2) Building sewers shall discharge into a community sewage system. Where such a system is not available, a facility providing sewage treatment shall conform to applicable local and state regulations. (3) Plumbing fixtures. Plumbing fixtures shall be made of nonabsorptive, acid-resistant materials and shall comply with the requirements of the National Standard Plumbing Code, and this paragraph. (A) Sink and lavatory controls. All lavatories used by medical and nursing staff and by patients shall be trimmed with valves or electronic controls which can be operated without the use of hands. Blade handles used for this purpose shall not be less than four inches in length. Single lever or wrist blade devices may also be used. Cont'd... |
