| (3) Building design and construction requirements.
Every building and every portion thereof shall be designed and constructed
to sustain all dead and live loads in accordance with accepted engineering
practices and standards and local governing building codes. Where
there is no local governing building code, the International Building
Code (IBC), 2000 edition, or the International Residential Code (IRC)
shall govern: The IBC and IRC are published by the International Code
Council, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 600, Falls Church, VA 22041, telephone
(703) 931-4533.
(A) General architectural requirements. All new construction,
including conversion of an existing building to a SCF or establishing
a separately licensed SCF within another existing building, shall
comply with NFPA 101, Chapter 32, New Residential Board and Care
Occupancies, or Chapter 18, New Health Care Occupancies, and this
subchapter.
(i) Construction types for multiple building occupancy.
(I) Mixed occupancies. When a SCF is part of another
occupancy, the SCF shall be separated from the other occupancy with
a minimum of 2-hour fire rated construction, in accordance with NFPA
101, §18.1.2.3, and §32.1.2.
(II) Small facility. When a SCF is classified as a
small facility for residential board and care occupancy, the SCF shall
comply with NFPA 101, §32.2.1.3, Minimum Construction Requirements.
(III) Large facility. When a SCF is classified as a
large facility for residential board and care occupancy, the SCF
shall comply with NFPA 101, §32.3.1.3, Minimum Construction Requirements.
(IV) Multistory buildings. When a SCF is located in
a multistory building of two or more stories, the entire building
shall meet the construction requirements of NFPA 101, §32.3.1.3,
or §18.1.6.2. A SCF shall not be located in a multistory building
that does not comply with the minimum construction requirements of
NFPA 101, §18.1.6.2. or §32.3.1.3.
(V) Single story buildings. When a SCF is part of a
one-story building that does not comply with the construction requirements
of NFPA 101, §§18.1.6.1, 32.2.1.3, or 32.3.1.3. The SCF
must be separated from the remainder of the building with a 2-hour
fire rated construction. The designated SCF portion shall have the
construction type upgraded to comply with NFPA 101, §§18.1.6.1,
32.2.1.3, or 32.3.3.1.3, as applicable.
(ii) Special design provisions. Special provisions
shall be made in the design of a facility if located in a region where
local experience shows loss of life or extensive damage to buildings
resulting from hurricanes, tornadoes, or floods.
(iii) Foundations. Foundations shall rest on natural
solid bearing if satisfactory bearing is available. Proper soil-bearing
values shall be established in accordance with nationally recognized
requirements. If solid bearing is not encountered at practical depths,
the structure shall be supported on driven piles or drilled piers
designed to support the intended load without detrimental settlement,
except that one-story buildings may rest on a fill designed by a soils
engineer. When engineered fill is used, site preparation and placement
of fill shall be done under the direct full-time supervision of the
soils engineer. The soils engineer shall issue a final report on the
compacted fill operation and certification of compliance with the
job specifications.
(iv) Physical environment. A physical environment that
protects the health and safety of resident, personnel, and the public
shall be provided in each facility. The physical premises of the facility
and those areas of the facility's physical structure that are used
by the residents (including all stairwells, corridors, and passageways)
shall meet the local building and fire safety codes and the requirements
of this chapter.
(v) Handicapped requirements. Special considerations
that benefit handicapped residents, staff, and visitors shall be provided.
Each SCF shall comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
of 1990, Public Law 101-336, 42 United States Code, Chapter 126, and
Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter XI, Part 1191, Appendix
A, Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities.
(vi) Other regulations. Certain projects may be subject
to other regulations, including those of federal, state, and local
authorities. The more stringent standard or requirement shall apply
when a difference in requirements exists.
(vii) Exceeding minimum requirements. Nothing in these
sections shall be construed to prohibit a better type of building
construction or otherwise safer conditions than the minimum requirements
specified in these sections.
(viii) Equivalency. Nothing in these sections is intended
to prevent the use of systems, methods, or devices of equivalent or
superior quality, strength, fire resistance, effectiveness, durability,
performance and safety to those prescribed by these sections, provided
technical documentation which demonstrates equivalency is submitted
to the department for approval.
(ix) Separate freestanding buildings (not for resident
use). Separate freestanding buildings for non-patient use which are
located at least 20 feet from the SCF building such as the heating
plant, boiler plant, repair workshops, or general storage may be designed
and constructed in accordance with other applicable occupancy classification
requirements listed in NFPA 101.
(B) General detail requirements.
(i) Corridors. The minimum clear and unobstructed width
of a public corridor shall be at least four feet in a RBCF. In a LCF,
the minimum clear and unobstructed width of public corridor shall
be at least eight feet.
(ii) Doors and windows.
(I) Door types. Doors at all openings between corridors
and rooms or spaces subject to occupancy shall be swing type. Elevator
doors are excluded from this requirement.
(II) Door swing. Doors, except doors to spaces such
as small closets that are not subject to occupancy, shall not swing
into corridors in a manner that might obstruct traffic flow or reduce
the required corridor width. Large walk-in type closets are considered
as occupied spaces.
(III) Labeled doors. Labeled fire doors shall be listed
by an independent testing laboratory and shall meet the construction
requirement for fire doors in NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and
Fire Windows, 1999 edition. Reference to a labeled door shall be construed
to include labeled frame and hardware.
(IV) Glazing. Glass doors, sidelights, borrowed lights,
and windows located within 12 inches of a door jamb or with a bottom-frame
height of less than 18 inches above the finished floor shall be glazed
with safety glass or plastic glazing material that will resist breaking
and will not create dangerous cutting edges when broken. Similar materials
shall be used for wall openings unless otherwise required for fire
safety. Safety glass, tempered glass, or plastic glazing materials
shall be used for shower doors, bath enclosures, interior windows,
and doors (which have glazing).
(V) Operable windows. All operable windows shall be
insect screened.
(iii) Ceiling heights. The minimum ceiling height shall
be eight feet with the following exceptions. Ceilings in storage rooms,
toilet rooms, and other minor rooms not meant for resident of public
use shall be not less than seven feet six inches.
(iv) Toilet room accessories. Grab bars shall be provided
at resident showers and tubs. The bars shall be one and one-half inches
in diameter, shall have one and one-half inches clearance to walls,
and shall have sufficient strength and anchorage to sustain a concentrated
vertical or horizontal load of 250 pounds. Grab bars intended for
use by the disabled shall also comply with ADA requirements.
(v) Hand drying. Provisions for hand drying shall be
included at all hand washing facilities. Hot air dryers or individual
paper units shall be provided and must be enclosed in such a way as
to provide protection against dust or soil.
(vi) Rooms with heat producing equipment. Rooms containing
heat producing equipment such as mechanical and electrical equipment
and laundry rooms shall be insulated and ventilated to prevent floors
of any occupied room located above it from exceeding a temperature
differential of 10 degrees Fahrenheit above the ambient room temperature.
(C) General finish requirements.
(i) Floor finishes.
(I) General. Floor materials shall be easily cleanable,
wear resistant, and appropriate for the location involved. In areas
subject to frequent wet cleaning methods, floor materials shall not
be physically affected by germicidal and cleaning solutions. Floors
that are subject to traffic while wet, such as shower areas, shall
have non-slip surfaces.
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