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TITLE 26HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
PART 1HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
CHAPTER 510PRIVATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS AND CRISIS STABILIZATION UNITS
SUBCHAPTER GPHYSICAL PLANT AND CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
RULE §510.123Spatial Requirements for New Construction

      (ii) Wall bases in food preparation, food assembly, soiled and clean ware cleaning and other areas which are frequently subject to wet cleaning methods shall be made integral and coved with the floor, tightly sealed to the wall, constructed without voids that can harbor insects, retain dirt particles, and be impervious to water.

      (iii) In the dietary and food preparation areas, the wall construction, finishes, and trim, including the joints between the walls and the floors, shall be free of voids, cracks, and crevices.

      (iv) The ceiling in food preparation and food assembly areas shall be washable as required by §134.122(d)(2)(B)(vi)(II).

      (v) The ceiling in the food storage room, and soiled and clean ware cleaning area shall be of the monolithic type as required by §134.122(d)(2)(B)(vi)(III).

  (3) Mechanical Requirements. Mechanical requirements shall be in accordance with §134.122(d)(3) of this title and this paragraph.

    (A) Exhaust hoods handling grease-laden vapors in food preparation centers shall comply with National Fire Protection Association 96, Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations, 1998 edition. All hoods over cooking ranges shall be equipped with grease filters, fire extinguishing systems, and heat-actuated fan controls. Clean out openings shall be provided every 20 feet and at any changes in direction in the horizontal exhaust duct systems serving these hoods. (Horizontal runs of ducts serving range hoods should be kept to a minimum.)

    (B) When air change standards in Table 3 of §134.131(c) of this title do not provide sufficient air for proper operation of exhaust hoods (when in use), supplementary filtered makeup air shall be provided in these rooms to maintain the required airflow direction and exhaust velocity. Makeup systems for hoods shall be arranged to minimize "short circuiting" of air and to avoid reduction in air velocity at the point of contaminant capture.

    (C) Air handling units serving the dietary suite shall be equipped with filters having efficiencies equal to, or greater than specified in Table 4 of §134.131(d) of this title.

  (4) Piping systems and plumbing fixtures. Piping systems and plumbing fixtures shall be in accordance with §134.122(d)(4) of this title and this paragraph.

    (A) The kitchen grease traps shall be located and arranged to permit easy access without the need to enter food preparation or storage areas. Grease traps shall be of capacity required and shall be accessible from outside of the building without need to interrupt any services.

    (B) Grease traps or grease interceptors shall be located outside the food preparation area and shall comply with the requirements in the National Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC), National Standard Plumbing Code, 2000 edition. This publication may be obtained from the National Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors, 180 South Washington Street, Falls Church, VA 22046; telephone (703) 237-8100.

    (C) The material used for plumbing fixtures shall be non-absorptive and acid-resistant.

    (D) Water spouts used at lavatories and sinks shall have clearances adequate to avoid contaminating utensils and containers.

    (E) Hand washing fixtures used by food handlers shall be trimmed with valves that can be operated without hands. Single lever or wrist blade devices may be used. Blade handles used for this purpose shall not be less than four inches in length.

    (F) Drainage and waste piping shall not be installed in the space above the ceiling or installed in an exposed location in food preparation centers, food serving facilities and food storage areas unless special precautions are taken to protect the space below from leakage and condensation from necessary overhead piping.

    (G) No plumbing lines may be exposed overhead or on walls where possible leaks would create a potential for food contamination.

  (5) Electrical requirements. Electrical requirements shall be in accordance with §134.122(d)(5) of this title and this paragraph.

    (A) Exhaust hoods shall have an indicator light indicating that the exhaust fan is in operation.

    (B) The electrical circuit(s) to equipment in wet areas shall be provided with five milliampere GFCI.

(e) Emergency treatment room.

  (1) Architectural requirements.

    (A) Emergency treatment room. As a minimum requirement, a facility shall provide at least one emergency treatment room to handle emergencies. The emergency treatment room may be located anywhere in the facility and shall meet the following requirements.

      (i) The emergency treatment room shall have a minimum clear area of 120 square feet clear floor area exclusive of fixed and movable cabinets and shelves. The minimum clear room dimension exclusive of fixed cabinets and built-in shelves shall be 10 feet. The emergency treatment room shall contain cabinets, medication storage, work counter, examination light, and hand washing fixtures with hands-free operable controls. Exception: Crisis stabilization units are not required to have medication storage in the emergency treatment room.

      (ii) Storage space shall be provided within the room or on an emergency cart and be under staff control for general medical emergency supplies and medications. Adequate space shall be provided for emergency equipment.

    (B) Secured holding room. When provided, this room shall be constructed to allow for security, patient and staff safety, patient observation, and sound proofing.

    (C) Service areas. The following service areas shall be provided.

      (i) Soiled workroom. The workroom shall contain a work counter, a clinical sink or equivalent flushing type fixture, hand washing fixture with hands-free operable controls, waste receptacles, and soiled linen receptacles. The soiled workroom in the nursing suite may be shared with the emergency treatment room if it is located conveniently nearby.

      (ii) Housekeeping room. The housekeeping room shall be located nearby.

      (iii) Patient toilet(s). A toilet room shall be provided and located nearby.

  (2) Details and finishes. Details and finishes shall be in accordance with §134.122(d)(2) of this title and this paragraph.

    (A) Flooring used in the treatment room, secure holding area, and soiled workroom shall be of the seamless type as required by §134.122(d)(2)(B)(iii)(III) of this title.

    (B) Ceilings in soiled workrooms and secure holding rooms shall be of the monolithic type as required by §134.122(d)(2)(B)(vi)(III) of this title.

  (3) Mechanical requirements. Mechanical requirements shall be in accordance with §134.122(d)(3) of this title and this paragraph. Duct linings exposed to air movement shall not be used in ducts serving any treatment rooms and secure holding rooms. This requirement shall not apply to mixing boxes and acoustical traps that have special coverings over such lining.

  (4) Piping systems and plumbing fixtures. Piping systems and plumbing fixtures shall be in accordance with §134.122(d)(4) of this title. When provided, medical gas systems shall be in accordance with §134.122(d)(4)(A)(iii) of this title.

  (5) Electrical requirements. Electrical requirements shall be in accordance with §134.122(d)(5) of this title and this paragraph.

    (A) General.

      (i) Each treatment room shall have a minimum of six duplex electrical receptacles. Two duplex electrical receptacles shall be located convenient to the head of the bed.

      (ii) Each work counter and table shall have access to two duplex receptacles connected to the critical branch of the emergency electrical system and be labeled with panel and circuit number.

    (B) Nurses calling systems. A nurses regular calling system shall be provided for the treatment room in accordance with §134.122(d)(5)(K)(i) of this title.

(f) Employees suite. Lockers, lounges, toilets and other amenities as determined by the facility shall be provided throughout the facility for employees and volunteers. These amenities are in addition to, and separate from, those required for the medical staff and the public.

(g) Engineering suite and equipment areas.

  (1) General. The following areas or rooms shall be provided:

    (A) an engineer's office with file space and provisions for protected storage of facility drawings, records, manuals, etc.;

    (B) a general maintenance shop(s) for repair and maintenance;

    (C) a separate room(s) for building maintenance supplies and equipment. Storage of bulk solvents and flammable liquids shall be in a separate building and not within the facility building;

    (D) a medical equipment room which includes provisions for the storage, repair, and testing of electronic and other medical equipment;

    (E) a separate room or building for yard maintenance equipment and supplies. When a separate room is within the physical plant the room shall be located so that equipment may be moved directly to the exterior. Yard equipment or vehicles using flammable liquid fuels shall not be stored or housed within the facility building; and

    (F) sufficient space in all mechanical and electrical equipment rooms for proper maintenance of equipment. Provisions shall also be made for removal and replacement of equipment.

  (2) Additional areas or room(s). Additional areas or room(s) for mechanical, and electrical equipment shall be provided within the physical plant or installed in separate buildings or weatherproof enclosures with the following exceptions.

    (A) An area shall be provided for cooling towers and heat rejection equipment when such equipment is used.

    (B) An area for the medical gas park and equipment shall be provided. For smaller medical gas systems, the equipment may be housed in a room within the physical plant in accordance with National Fire Protection Association 99, Standard for Health Care Facilities, 1999 edition (NFPA 99), Chapters 4 and 8.

    (C) When provided, compactors, dumpsters, and incinerators shall be located in an area remote from public entrances.

(h) General stores.

  (1) General. In addition to storage rooms in individual departments, a central storage room shall also be provided. General stores may be located in a separate building on-site with provisions for protection against inclement weather during transfer of supplies.

  (2) Receiving. Central storage areas shall be provided with an off-street unloading and receiving area protected from inclement weather.

  (3) General storage room. General storage room with a total area of not less than 12 square feet per inpatient bed shall be provided. The storage room may be within the facility, or separate building on-site. A portion of the storage may be provided off-site.

  (4) Outpatient suite storage room. A storage room for the outpatient services shall be provided at least equal to 5.0% of the total area of the outpatient suite. This required storage room area may be combined with general stores.

(i) Geriatric, Alzheimer, and other dementia nursing suites. When geriatric, Alzheimer, or other dementia nursing suites are provided, the nursing suite shall comply with the requirements in subsection (o) of this section with the following exceptions.

  (1) A patient bedroom suite shall be 120 square feet in a single patient bedroom suite and 200 square feet in multiple-bed room suites.

  (2) Each patient bedroom shall have storage for extra blankets, pillows, and linen.

  (3) Patient bedroom doors shall be a minimum of three feet eight inches in width.

  (4) Patients shall have access to at least one bathtub in each nursing suite.

  (5) A minimum of two separate social spaces, one appropriate for noisy activities and the other for quiet activities, shall be provided. The combined total area shall be not less than 30 square feet per bed space with not less than 140 square feet for each of the two spaces, whichever is greater. This space may be shared with the dining area or room.

  (6) Storage space for wheelchairs shall be provided in the nursing unit.

(j) Imaging suite.

  (1) Architectural requirements.

    (A) General. When diagnostic imaging services are provided, the minimum the facility shall provide is a diagnostic radiographic (X-ray) room.

      (i) Diagnostic radiographic (x-ray) room size(s) shall be in compliance with manufacturer's recommendation. When portable x-ray equipment is used, the portable unit shall be stored in a secured room.

      (ii) When radiation protection is required for any diagnostic imaging room, a medical physicist licensed under the Texas Medical Physics Practice Act, Occupations Code, Chapter 602, shall specify the type, location, and amount of radiation protection to be installed for the layout and equipment selections.

      (iii) Each X-ray room shall include a shielded control alcove. The control alcove shall be provided with a view window designed to permit full view of the examination table and the patient at all times.

Cont'd...

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