26 Tex. Admin. Code § 511.167 - Preparation, Submittal, Review, and Approval of Plans, and Retention of Records
(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.
(iv)
Schedules of doors, windows, and finishes.
(v) Elevations of each
façade.
(vi) Sections
through building.
(vii) Scaled
details as necessary.
(B)
Fire safety plans. These 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 plans shall be of a sufficiently
large-scale to clearly illustrate the proposed design but not less than
one-sixteenth inch equals one 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; and
(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, and 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, and location and type of portable fire
extinguishers.
(C)
Equipment drawings. 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 that is permanently affixed to the building or that must 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, walk-in refrigerators,
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.
(iv) Equipment
that is not included in the construction contract but that 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. 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. 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, operating
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, and 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. 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 that 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 (life safety branch and critical branch), equipment 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 regular calling
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 life safety branch, critical branch, equipment
system or normal system, and connected load at each panel.
(3) Construction
document changes. Any changes to the final construction documents that affect
or change the function, design, or designated use of an area shall be submitted
to HHSC 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 LSRH owner or 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) - (D) of this section and a completed
self-certification form, signed by the LSRH owner or operator, architect of
record, and engineer 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 LSRH owner or operator accepts the following
conditions.
(I) HHSC retains the right to
review the final construction documents, conduct inspections of the project,
and withdraw its approval.
(II) The
LSRH owner or operator has a continuing obligation to make any changes HHSC
requires to comply with the licensing rules whether physical plant construction
or alterations have been completed.
(III) The LSRH owner or operator is
ultimately responsible for compliance with Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter
241 (relating to Hospitals) and this chapter.
(B) HHSC will review the request for
self-certification and notify the LSRH owner or operator if the request is
approved or denied. If denied, HHSC will review the final construction
documents in the chronological order in which the documents were received.
Construction may not begin until HHSC has reviewed and approved the final
construction documents.
(2) Minor project. If an LSRH owner or
operator believes that a proposed project is a minor project as described in
§
511.161(a)(2)(C)
of this subchapter (relating to Requirements for Buildings in Which Existing
Licensed Hospitals are Located), the LSRH owner or operator shall provide HHSC
a brief written description of the proposed project and floor plans of the
areas of work.
(A) If HHSC determines the
proposed project is a minor project, HHSC will notify the LSRH owner or
operator of the approval, and state the number of inspections that will be
required. HHSC will conduct a minimum of one inspection.
(B) HHSC will notify the LSRH 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 that 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 LSRH is not currently licensed; and
(v) significantly changes the mechanical,
electrical, plumbing, fire protection, or piped medical system.
(C) The LSRH owner or operator
shall submit final construction documents in accordance with subsection (f) of
this section if HHSC 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
LSRH owner or operator shall submit to HHSC 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, 2010 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 and alterations of and additions to existing ones.
(ii) One set of fire sprinkler working plans,
calculations and water supply information shall be forwarded to HHSC together
with the professional engineer's (professional engineer (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) As
built drawings. Upon occupancy of the building or portion thereof, the owner
shall retain as part of the LSRH'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)
Manuals. Upon completion of the contract, the owner shall retain as part of the
LSRH'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 shall 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) Design data. The owner shall retain in
the LSRH'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, energy audits and retrofit for energy
conservation.
Notes
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No prior version found.