| (B) Wall finishes in areas subject to frequent wet cleaning methods shall be impervious to water, tightly sealed, and without voids. (5) 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. Three types of ceilings that are required in various areas of the facility are: (A) ordinary ceilings are required in all areas or rooms in the facility unless otherwise noted. This includes 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; (B) washable ceilings that dictate this type of cleaning or protection for these spaces (such as soil utility or soil workroom). The ceilings shall be made of washable, smooth, moisture impervious materials such as painted lay-in gypsum wallboard or vinyl faced acoustic tile in a metal grid; and (C) monolithic ceilings which are monolithic from wall to wall (painted solid gypsum wallboard), smooth and without fissures, open joints, or crevices, and with a washable and moisture impervious finish shall be provided in the airborne isolation rooms, soiled workrooms, trauma rooms, and sterilizing facilities when provided. (D) Nonfinished ceilings may be omitted in mechanical, electrical, communication rooms, shops, and similar spaces unless required for fire-resistive purposes. (6) 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. (7) Material finishes. Materials known to produce noxious gases when burned shall not be used for mattresses, upholstery, and wall finishes. (g) General mechanical requirements. This subsection contains requirements for mechanical systems; air conditioning, heating and ventilating systems; steam and hot and cold water systems; and thermal and acoustical insulation. (1) Cost. All mechanical systems shall be designed for overall efficiency and life cycle costing, including operational costs. Recognized engineering practices shall be followed to achieve the most economical and effective results except that in no case shall patient care or safety be sacrificed for conservation. (2) Equipment location. Mechanical equipment may be located indoors, outdoors when in a weatherproof enclosure, or in a separate building(s). (3) Vibration isolation. Mechanical equipment shall be mounted on vibration isolators as required 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. (4) Performance and acceptance. Prior to completion and acceptance of the facility to the owner/operator, all mechanical systems shall be tested, balanced, and operated to demonstrate to the design engineer or their representative that the installation and performance of these systems conform to the requirements of the plans and specifications. (A) Upon completion of the contract, the facility owner/operator shall obtain from the construction contractor parts lists and procurement information with numbers and descriptions for each piece of equipment. (B) Upon completion of the contract, the facility owner/operator shall obtain from the construction contractor instructions in the operational use and maintenance of systems and equipment as required. (5) Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. (A) All central HVAC systems shall comply with and shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of 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. All outdoor air requirements shall be met by a separate central air handling system with the proper filtration, as required in Table 1 of §131.148(a) of this title. (C) General ventilation requirements. All rooms and areas in the facility shall have provision for positive ventilation. Fans serving exhaust systems shall be located at the discharge end and shall be conveniently accessible for service. Exhaust systems may be combined, unless otherwise noted, for efficient use of recovery devices required for energy conservation. The ventilation rates shown in Table 1of §131.148(a) of this title shall be used only as minimum requirements, since they do not preclude the use of higher rates that may be appropriate. (i) To reduce utility costs, facility design may utilize energy conserving procedures including recovery devices, variable air volume, load shedding, systems shutdown, or reduction of ventilation rates (when specifically permitted) in certain areas when unoccupied. In no case shall patient care be jeopardized. (ii) Mechanical systems shall be arranged to take advantage of outside air conditions by using an economizer cycle when appropriate to reduce heating and cooling systems loads. Innovative design that provides for additional energy conservation while meeting the intent of this section for acceptable patient care may be presented to the department for consideration. (iii) Fully ducted supply, return and exhaust air for HVAC systems shall be provided for all patient care areas, storage rooms, and where required for fire safety purposes. Combination systems, utilizing both ducts and plenums for movement of air in these areas, shall not be permitted. All ductwork access panels shall be labeled. (iv) The designed capacity of the HVAC systems shall be capable of providing the ranges of temperatures and humidities as shown in Table 1 of §131.148(a) of this title. Where no values are noted or indicated, the indoor design temperature in all other areas shall be between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit with relative humidity of not less than 30%. (v) Each trauma room shall have temperature and humidity indicating devices mounted at eye level. (vi) Outside air intake locations. (I) Outside air intakes shall be located at least 25 feet from exhaust outlets of ventilating systems, combustion equipment stacks, medical-surgical vacuum system outlets, plumbing vents, or areas which may collect vehicular exhaust or other noxious fumes. (Prevailing winds and proximity to other structures may require other arrangements.) (II) Plumbing and vacuum vents that terminate 5 feet above the level of the top of the air intake may be located as close as 10 feet to the air intake. (III) The bottom of outside air intakes serving central systems shall be located as high as practical but at least 6 feet above ground level, or if installed above the roof, 3 feet above the roof level. (vii) Contaminated air exhaust outlets from areas (laboratory hoods, etc.) that exhaust contaminated air shall be above the roof and be arranged to exhaust upward unless the air has been treated by an appropriate means where sidewall exhaust will be allowed. (viii) All toilet exhaust ventilation shall be exhausted to the exterior. Exhaust systems may be combined, unless otherwise noted, for efficient use of recovery devices required for energy conservation. (ix) Directional air flow. Ventilation systems shall be designed and balanced to provide pressure relationships contained in Table 1 of §131.148(a) of this title. Provisions in Note 4 of Table 1 of §131.148(a) of this title shall be followed for the reductions and shut down of ventilation systems when a room is unoccupied. (x) Air distribution devices. Turbulence and other factors of air movement to minimize airborne particulate matter shall be considered in the design of air distribution devices. Where extraordinary procedures require special designs, the installation shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. (I) All supply diffusers grilles shall be located on the ceiling or on a wall within four inches from the ceiling. Cont'd... |
