| (a) General.
(1) A limited services rural hospital (LSRH) owner
or operator may not begin construction of a new building, additions
to or renovations, or conversions of existing buildings until the
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) approves final construction
documents.
(2) Plans and specifications describing the construction
of new buildings and additions or renovations and conversions of existing
buildings shall be prepared by a registered architect, a licensed
professional engineer, or both, and meet the requirements of this
subchapter.
(3) The names of spaces used in the LSRH's functional
program narrative, preliminary documents, final construction documents,
and specifications shall be consistent with the names of the spaces
used in this chapter.
(4) HHSC shall notify the LSRH's owner or operator
of the result of its review of each type of submission discussed in
this section.
(5) The LSRH owner or operator shall respond to all
HHSC requests for additional information, including providing a plan
of correction for deficiencies cited by HHSC.
(6) Once final construction documents are approved,
the LSRH owner or operator shall request inspections in accordance
with §511.168 of this subchapter (relating to Construction, Inspections,
and Approval of Project).
(7) When construction is delayed for longer than one
year from the plan approval or self-certification approval date, the
LSRH shall resubmit construction documents to HHSC for review and
approval. The plans shall be accompanied by a new Application for
Plan Review, plan review fee, and functional program narrative.
(8) The LSRH owner or operator shall provide written
notification to HHSC when a project has been placed on hold, canceled,
or abandoned.
(9) HHSC may close a project file after one year of
assigning an application number to a project if the LSRH has placed
the project on hold. Plan review fees are nonrefundable.
(b) Submission of projects and assignment of application
number.
(1) The LSRH owner or operator or representative shall
submit the following items to HHSC in care of the mailing or overnight
delivery address that appears on the Application for Plan Review.
(A) A completed and signed Application for Plan Review.
The Application for Plan Review may be obtained by contacting the
HHSC Health Care Regulation Department Architectural Review Unit (ARU)
using the contact information listed on the HHSC website.
(B) The applicable plan review fee in accordance with §511.17
of this chapter (relating to Fees).
(C) A functional program narrative in accordance with
subsection (d) of this section.
(D) Final construction documents in accordance with
subsection (f) of this section.
(2) The cost of submitting documents and plans and
specifications shall be borne by the sender.
(3) Once HHSC has determined that the submission required
in paragraph (1) of this subsection is complete, HHSC will assign
an application number to the project that must be referenced on all
documents and correspondence related to the project. HHSC will review
final construction documents in the chronological order received.
(4) The LSRH shall satisfactorily resolve all deficiencies
noted in the final plan review before HHSC will grant approval of
the project for construction.
(5) The LSRH shall not begin construction until the
LSRH owner or operator receives written notification from HHSC that
the final construction documents have been approved.
(c) Feasibility conference. An LSRH owner or operator
or representative may request a feasibility conference, which is an
informal meeting between a member of ARU staff and the LSRH owner
or operator or representative, to determine the feasibility of a project,
for consultation and informational purposes, and to facilitate and
establish understanding of compliance with the rules and codes.
(1) A feasibility conference is not a substitute for
plan review.
(2) An LSRH owner or operator or representative may
schedule a feasibility conference by contacting ARU using the contact
information listed on the HHSC website.
(3) The LSRH owner or operator or representative shall
provide at the feasibility conference the items in subsection (b)(1)(A)
- (C) of this section and a set of preliminary plans or final construction
documents.
(4) The LSRH owner or operator or representative is
responsible for recording conference notes and shall submit the notes
to HHSC.
(d) Functional program narrative. The LSRH owner or
operator or representative shall submit a functional program narrative
to HHSC with each new project in accordance with subsection (b)(1)(C)
of this section. The functional program narrative shall be presented
on facility letterhead, signed by LSRH administration, include the
functional description of each space, and the following:
(1) departmental relationships, number of patient stations
in each category, and other basic information relating to the fulfillment
of the LSRH's objectives;
(2) a description of each function to be performed,
approximate space needed for these functions, occupants of the various
spaces, projected occupant load, types of equipment required, interrelationship
of various functions and spaces, and any special design features;
(3) energy conservation measures, included in building,
mechanical and electrical designs;
(4) a description of the type of asepsis control in
diagnostic and treatment areas; and
(5) the type of construction (existing or proposed)
as stated in Table 18.1.6.2 of National Fire Protection Association
101, Life Safety Code, 2012 edition (NFPA 101).
(e) Preliminary documents. HHSC may request preliminary
documents. If requested by HHSC, the submission shall consist of the
items in subsection (b)(1)(A) - (C) of this section, preliminary plans,
and outline specifications. The documents shall contain sufficient
information to establish the project scope, description of functions
to be performed, project location, required fire safety and exiting
requirements, building construction type, compartmentation showing
fire and smoke barriers, patient station count and services, and the
usage of all spaces, areas, and rooms on every floor level.
(f) Final construction documents. Final construction
documents and specifications shall be submitted to HHSC for review
and approval prior to start of construction. All final documents and
specifications shall be appropriately sealed and signed by the project
registered architect and professional engineer licensed by the state
of Texas.
(1) Submission of final construction documents. The
LSRH owner or operator shall submit to HHSC for review and approval
the items in subsection (b)(1)(A) - (C) of this section (if not previously
submitted with preliminary documents) and one set of final construction
documents and specifications covering the construction of new buildings
or alterations, additions, conversions, modernizations, or renovations
to existing buildings.
(2) Preparation of final construction documents. Construction
documents shall be well-prepared so that clear and distinct prints
may be obtained, shall be accurately and adequately dimensioned, and
shall include all necessary explanatory notes, schedules, and legends
and shall be adequate for contract purposes. Compliance with model
building codes and this chapter shall be indicated. The type of construction,
as classified by National Fire Protection Association 220, Standard
on Types of Building Construction, 2012 edition, shall be provided
for existing and new facilities. Final plans shall be drawn to a sufficiently
large-scale to clearly illustrate the proposed design but not less
than one-eighth inch equals one foot. All spaces shall be identified
by usage (using the names of spaces used in this chapter) on all plans
(architectural, fire safety, mechanical, electrical, etc.) submitted.
Separate drawings shall be prepared for each of the following branches
of work.
(A) Architectural plans. Architectural drawings shall
include the following.
(i) A map of the area within a two-mile radius of the
facility site with any hazardous and undesirable location noted in §511.162(a)
of this subchapter (relating to General Construction Requirements)
identified.
(ii) A site plan showing all new topography, newly
established levels and grades, existing structures on the site (if
any), new buildings and structures, roadways, parking, walks, easement,
overhead or underground utilities or service lines, and the extent
of the areas to be landscaped. All structures that are to be removed
under the construction contract and improvements shall be shown. A
general description of the immediate area surrounding the site shall
be provided.
(iii) A plan of each floor and roof to include fire
and smoke separation, means of egress, and identification of all spaces.
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