26 Tex. Admin. Code § 509.146 - Preparation, Submittal, Review and Approval of Plans, and Retention of Records
(a) General.
(1) Facility owners or operators shall not
begin construction of a new building, additions to, or renovations, or
conversions of existing buildings until the department approves final
construction documents.
(2) Plans
and specifications describing the construction of new buildings, and additions
to, or renovations, and conversions of existing buildings shall be prepared by
registered architects and/or licensed professional engineers and meet the
requirements of this subchapter.
(3) The names of spaces used in the
functional program narrative, preliminary documents, final construction
documents, and specifications shall be consistent with the names of the spaces
used in this chapter.
(4) The
department shall notify the facility owner or operator of the result of its
review of each type of submission discussed in this section.
(5) The facility owner or operator shall
respond to all department requests for additional information, including
providing a plan of correction for deficiencies cited by the
department.
(6) Once final
construction documents are approved, the facility owner or operator shall
request inspections in accordance with § 131.147 of this title (relating
to Construction, Inspection, and Approval of Project).
(7) When construction is delayed or put on
hold for longer than one year from the plan approval or self-certification
approval date, construction documents shall be resubmitted to the department
for review and approval. The plans shall be accompanied by a new application
for plan review and functional program narrative.
(8) The facility owner or operator shall
provide written notification to the department when a project has been placed
on hold, canceled, or abandoned.
(9) The department may close a project file
after one year of assigning an application number to a project if the project
has been placed on hold.
(b) Submission of projects and assignment of
application number.
(1) The facility owner,
operator, or representative shall submit the following items to the department
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 calling the department or by visiting the department's website at
www.dshs.state.tx.us/hfp;
(B) a
functional program narrative in accordance with subsection (d) of this section;
and
(C) final construction
documents in accordance with subsection (f) of this section.
(2) The cost of submitting
documents/plans and specifications shall be borne by the sender.
(3) Once the department has determined that
the submission required in paragraph (1) of this subsection is complete, the
department shall assign an application number to the project that shall be
referenced on all documents and correspondence related to the project. Final
construction documents shall be reviewed in the chronological order
received.
(4) All deficiencies
noted in the final plan review shall be satisfactorily resolved before approval
of project for construction will be granted.
(5) Construction shall not begin until the
facility owner or operator of the facility receives written notification from
the department that the final construction documents have been
approved.
(c) A facility
owner, operator, or representative may request a feasibility conference. A
feasibility conference is an informal meeting between a member of the
department's architectural review group staff and the facility owner, 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) A facility owner, operator, or
representative may schedule a feasibility conference by calling the
department.
(3) The facility owner,
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 facility owner, operator, or
representative is responsible for recording conference notes and shall submit
the notes to the department.
(d) The facility owner or operator shall
submit a functional program narrative to the department with each new project
in accordance with subsection (b)(1)(B) of this section. The functional program
narrative shall be presented on facility letterhead, signed by facility
administration, include the functional description of each space, and the
following:
(1) departmental relationships,
number of patient stations, and other basic information relating to the
fulfillment of the facility'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 §20.1.6 of National Fire Protection Association
101, Life Safety Code, 2003 Edition (NFPA 101), published by the National Fire
Protection Association. All documents published by the NFPA as referenced in
this section may be obtained by writing or calling the NFPA at the following
address and telephone number: 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts
02169-7471, (800) 344-3555.
(e) The department may request preliminary
documents. If requested by the department, 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, and the usage of all
spaces, areas, and rooms on every floor level.
(f) Final construction documents and
specifications shall be submitted to the department for review and approval
before the start of construction. All final documents and specifications shall
be appropriately sealed and signed by the project registered architect and
professional engineer(s) licensed by the State of Texas.
(1) The facility owner or operator shall
submit to the department 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) Construction documents shall be
well-prepared so that clear and distinct prints may be obtained, shall be
accurately and adequately dimensioned, 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, 1999 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 1/8-inch equals 1 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 drawings shall include the
following:
(i) a map of the area within a 500
foot radius of the facility site shall be provided and any hazardous and
undesirable location noted in § 131.143(a) of this title (relating to
Construction Requirements for a New Facility) shall be identified;
(ii) 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 which 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) plan of each floor and roof to include
fire and smoke separation, means of egress, and identification of all
spaces;
(iv) schedules of doors,
windows, and finishes;
(v)
elevations of each facade;
(vi)
sections through building; and
(vii) scaled details as necessary.
(B) Fire safety plan drawings
shall be provided for all newly constructed buildings, conversions of existing
buildings for facilities, additions to existing licensed facilities, and
remodeled portions of existing buildings containing licensed facilities. Fire
safety plan drawings shall be of a sufficiently large-scale to clearly
illustrate the proposed design but not less than 1/16-sixteenth inch equals 1
foot and shall include the following information:
(i) separate fire safety plans (preferably
one floor plan per sheet) shall indicate location of fire protection rated
walls and partitions, location and fire-resistance rating of each fire damper,
and the required means of egress (corridors, stairs, exits, exit passageways);
(I) when a new building is to contain a
proposed facility, when an existing building is converted to a facility, or
when an addition is made to an existing facility building, plans of each floor
and roof shall be provided;
(II)
when a portion of a building is remodeled or when a new service is added, only
the plan of the floor where the remodeling will take place or new service will
be introduced, and the plan of the floor of discharge shall be
provided;
(ii) designated
smoke compartments with floor areas of each compartment, location and
fire-resistance rating (one or two-hour) of each smoke partition, location,
type and fire-resistance rating of each smoke damper;
(iii) location of all required fire alarm
devices, including all fire alarm control panels, manual pull stations, audible
and visual fire alarm signaling devices, smoke detectors (ceiling and
duct-mounted), fire alarm annunciators, fire alarm transmission devices, fire
sprinkler flow switches and control valve supervisory switches on each of the
floor plans; and
(iv) areas
protected with fire sprinkler systems (pendant, sidewall or upright, normal or
quick response, and temperature rating shall be indicated), stand pipe system
risers and sizes with valves and inside and outside fire department
connections, fire sprinkler risers and sizes, location and type of portable
fire extinguishers.
(C)
Equipment drawings shall include the following:
(i) all equipment necessary for the operation
of the facility as planned. The design shall indicate provisions for the
installation of large and special items of equipment and for service
accessibility;
(ii) fixed equipment
(equipment which is permanently affixed to the building or which shall be
permanently connected to a service distribution system designed and installed
during construction for the specific use of the equipment). The term fixed
equipment includes items such as laundry extractors, communication systems, and
built-in casework (cabinets);
(iii)
movable equipment (equipment not described in clause (ii) of this subparagraph
as fixed). The term moveable equipment includes wheeled equipment, plug-in type
monitoring equipment, and relocatable items; and
(iv) equipment which is not included in the
construction contract but which requires mechanical or electrical service
connections or construction modifications. The equipment described in this
clause shall be identified on the drawings to ensure its coordination with the
architectural, mechanical, and electrical phases of construction.
(D) Structural drawings shall
include:
(i) plans for foundations, floors,
roofs, and all intermediate levels;
(ii) a complete design with sizes, sections,
and the relative location of the various members;
(iii) a schedule of beams, girders, and
columns;
(iv) dimensioned floor
levels, column centers, and offsets;
(v) details of all special connections,
assemblies, and expansion joints; and
(vi) special openings and pipe sleeves
dimensioned or otherwise noted for easy reference.
(E) Mechanical drawings shall include:
(i) complete ventilation systems (supply,
return, exhaust), all fire and smoke partitions, locations of all dampers,
registers, and grilles, air volume flow at each device, and identification of
all spaces (e.g., corridor, patient room);
(ii) boilers, chillers, heating and cooling
piping systems (steam piping, hot water, chilled water), and associated
pumps;
(iii) cold and warm water
supply systems, water heaters, storage tanks, circulating pumps, plumbing
fixtures, emergency water storage tank(s) (if provided), and special piping
systems such as for deionized water;
(iv) nonflammable medical gas piping (oxygen,
compressed medical air, vacuum systems, nitrous oxide), emergency shutoff
valves, pressure gages, alarm modules, gas outlets;
(v) drain piping systems (waste and soiled
piping systems, laboratory drain systems, roof drain systems);
(vi) fire protection piping systems
(sprinkler piping systems, fire standpipe systems, water or chemical
extinguisher piping system for cooking equipment);
(vii) piping riser diagrams, equipment
schedules, control diagrams or narrative description of controls, filters, and
location of all duct-mounted smoke detectors; and
(viii) laboratory exhaust and safety
cabinets.
(F) Electrical
drawings shall include:
(i) electrical
service entrance with service switches, service feeders to the public service
feeders, and characteristics of the light and power current including
transformers and their connections;
(ii) location of all normal electrical system
and essential electrical system conduits, wiring, receptacles, light fixtures,
switches and equipment which require permanent electrical connections, on plans
of each building level:
(I) light fixtures
marked distinctly to indicate connection to critical or life safety branch
circuits or to normal lighting circuits; and
(II) outlets marked distinctly to indicate
connection to critical, life safety, or normal power circuits;
(iii) telephone and communication,
fixed computers, terminals, connections, outlets, and equipment;
(iv) nurses calling system showing all
stations, signals, and annunciators on the plans;
(v) in addition to electrical plans, single
line diagrams prepared for:
(I) complete
electrical system consisting of the normal electrical system and the essential
electrical system including the on-site generator(s), transfer switch(es),
emergency system, panels, subpanels, transformers, conduit, wire sizes, main
switchboard, power panels, light panels, and equipment for additions to
existing buildings, proposed new facilities, and remodeled portions of existing
facilities. Feeder and conduit sizes shall be shown with schedule of feeder
breakers or switches;
(II) complete
nurses calling system with all stations, signals, annunciators, etc. with room
number noted by each device and indicating the type of system (nurses emergency
calling system, or staff emergency assistance calling system);
(III) a single line diagram of the complete
fire alarm system showing all control panels, signaling and detection devices,
and the room number where each device is located; and
(vi) schedules of all panels indicating
connection to emergency system or normal system, and connected load at each
panel.
(3) Any
changes to the final construction documents which affect or change the
function, design, or designated use of an area shall be submitted to the
department for approval prior to authorization of the modifications.
(g) Special submittals.
(1) Self-certification.
(A) In an effort to shorten the plan review
and approval process, the facility owner, operator, or representative may
request approval of final construction documents under the self-certification
review process.
(i) The owner or operator
shall submit the items in subsection (b)(1)(A) - (C) of this section and a
completed self-certification form, signed by the facility owner or operator,
architect of record, and engineer(s) of record attesting that the plans and
specifications are based upon and comply with the requirements of this
chapter.
(ii) By signing and
submitting the self-certification form, the facility owner or operator accepts
the following conditions.
(I) The department
retains the right to review the final construction documents, conduct
inspections of the project, and withdraw its approval.
(II) The facility owner or operator has a
continuing obligation to make any changes the department requires to comply
with the licensing rules, whether or not physical plant construction or
alterations have been completed.
(III) The facility owner or operator is
ultimately responsible for compliance with the Act and this chapter.
(B) The department shall
review the request for self-certification and notify the facility owner or
operator if the request is approved or denied. If denied, the department shall
review the final construction documents in the chronological order in which the
documents were received. Construction shall not begin until the final
construction documents have been reviewed and approved.
(2) If a facility owner or operator believes
that a proposed project is a minor project, the facility owner or operator
shall provide to the department a brief written description of the proposed
project and floor plans of the areas of work. The minor project request shall
be mailed or faxed.
(A) If it is determined
that the proposed project is a minor project, the department shall notify the
facility owner or operator of the approval, and state the number of inspections
that shall be required. A minimum of one inspection shall be
conducted.
(B) The department shall
notify the facility owner or operator that a proposed project is not approved
as a minor project, if the project involves any of the following:
(i) remodeling or alterations which involve
alterations to load bearing members or partitions;
(ii) a change in functional
operation;
(iii) affects fire
safety (e.g., modifications to the fire, smoke, and corridor walls);
(iv) adds services for which the facility is
not currently licensed; and
(v)
significantly changes the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or fire
protection.
(C) The
facility owner or operator shall submit final construction documents in
accordance with subsection (f) of this section if the department determines the
project is not a minor project.
(3) Fire sprinkler systems.
(A) When the sole purpose of a project is
installation of a sprinkler system, whether a partial or complete system, the
facility owner or operator shall submit to the department for approval the
items in subsection (b)(1)(A) - (C) of this section and sprinkler
documents.
(B) Fire sprinkler
systems shall comply with the requirements of National Fire Protection
Association 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2002
Edition (NFPA 13), and shall be designed or reviewed by an engineer who is
registered by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers in fire protection
specialty or is experienced in hydraulic design and fire sprinkler system
installation. A short resume shall be submitted if registration is not in fire
protection specialty.
(i) Fire sprinkler
working plans, complete hydraulic calculations and water supply information
shall be prepared in accordance with NFPA 13, §§14.1, 14.2 and 14.3,
for new fire sprinkler systems, alterations of and additions to existing
ones.
(ii) One set of fire
sprinkler working plans, calculations, and water supply information shall be
forwarded to the department together with the professional engineer's (P.E.
licensed in the State of Texas) certification letter stating that the sprinkler
system design complies with the requirements of NFPA 13. Certification of the
fire sprinkler system shall be submitted prior to system
installation.
(iii) Upon completion
of the fire sprinkler system installation and any required corrections, written
certification by the engineer, stating that the fire sprinkler system is
installed in accordance with NFPA 13 requirements, shall be submitted prior to
or with the written request for the final construction inspection of the
project.
(h) Retention of drawings, manuals, and
design data.
(1) Upon occupancy of the
building or portion thereof, the owner shall retain as part of the facility's
permanent records, a complete set of legible architectural plans of each
building level, fire safety plans as described in subsection (f)(2)(B) of this
section for each floor reflecting fire safety requirements, and all single line
diagrams described in subsection (f)(2)(F)(v) of this section, drawings for
fixed equipment, and mechanical and electrical systems, as installed or
built.
(2) Upon completion of the
contract, the owner shall retain as part of the facility's permanent records a
complete set of manufacturers' operating, maintenance, and preventive
maintenance instructions; parts lists; and procurement information with numbers
and a description for each piece of equipment. Facility staff shal1 also be
provided with instructions on how to properly operate systems and equipment.
Required information shall include energy ratings as needed for future
conservation calculations.
(3) The
owner shall retain in the facility's permanent records complete design data for
the facility. This shall include structural design loadings; summary of heat
loss assumption and calculations; estimated water consumption; medical gas
outlet listing; list of applicable codes; and electric power requirements of
installed equipment. All such data shall be supplied to facilitate future
alterations, additions, and changes, including, but not limited to, energy
audits and retrofit for energy conservation.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.