Iowa Admin. Code r. 481-61.2 - General requirements
Nursing facilities licensed under this chapter shall be built in accordance with the following construction standards:
(1) Construction shall be in conformance with
661-Chapter 205, Fire Safety Requirements for Hospitals and Health Care
Facilities. Projects required to meet the provisions of the state building code
shall be deemed to be in compliance with the fire safety requirements of the
state building code if the project is in compliance with the provisions of
661-Chapter 205.
(2) Construction
shall be in conformance with 661-Chapter 301, State Building Code- General
Provisions. Projects meeting the local building code shall be deemed to be in
compliance with the state building code provided that the local jurisdiction
has established a building department, has adopted a building code by ordinance
and enforces the local code through a system which includes both plan review
and inspection.
(3) Construction
shall be in accordance with the standards set forth in the Guidelines for
Design and Construction of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities,
2018 edition, published by the Facility Guidelines Institute.
(4) Nothing in these rules shall relieve a
nursing facility from compliance with fire and building codes, ordinances and
regulations which are enforced by city, county, state or federal
jurisdictions.
(5) New equipment.
Any alteration or installation of new equipment shall be accomplished as nearly
as practical in conformance with all applicable codes, ordinances, regulations
and standards required for new construction. Alteration or installation of new
equipment shall not diminish the level of compliance with any codes,
ordinances, regulations or standards below that which existed prior to the
alteration. Any feature that does not meet the requirement for new buildings
but exceeds the requirement for existing buildings shall not be further
diminished. Features that exceed requirements for new construction need not be
maintained. In no case shall any feature be less than that required for
existing buildings. (Ill)
(6)
Existing nursing facilities built in compliance with prior versions of this
chapter will be deemed in compliance, with the exception of any renovations,
additions, functional alterations, changes of space utilization, or conversions
to existing facilities for which construction documents are submitted pursuant
to rule 481-61.3 (135C) on or after July
1, 2013, which shall meet the standards specified in this chapter. Conversion
of a building or any of the parts not currently licensed as a nursing facility
must meet the rules governing construction of new facilities, except as
provided in Life Safety Code, 2000 edition, sections 18.1.1.4.4 and
19.1.1.4.4.
(7) Final plan approval
and final occupancy shall be given by the state fire marshal's
office.
Notes
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