Utah Admin. Code R432-4-14 - General Construction

(1) This section supersedes any conflicting design and construction requirements.

(2) The applicant or licensee shall locate yard equipment and supply storage areas so that equipment may be moved directly to the exterior without passing through building rooms or corridors.

(3) The applicant or licensee shall provide:

(a) sanitary storage and treatment areas for the disposal of each category of waste, including hazardous and infectious waste, using techniques acceptable to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality and the local health department;

(b) ADASAD-compliant grab bars in each patient bathtub and shower;

(c) ADASAD-compliant grab bars at the side of each public and patient toilet facility;

(d) a mirror for each patient handwashing fixture;

(e) ASASAD-compliant mirrors installed at appropriate heights for patient toilet and bathroom facilities required to be accessible to individuals using wheelchairs;

(f) if contained in showers or tubs, recessed soap dishes or shelves;

(g) cubicle curtains and draperies affixed to permanently mounted tracks or rods, except that portable curtains or visual barriers may not be used;

(h) homogenous and coved floors and bases for any kitchen, toilet room, bathroom, janitor's closet, and soiled workroom;

(i) coved bases that are tight fitting to the floor for any area subject to frequent wet cleaning;

(j) acoustical treatment for sound control where needed, including corridors in any patient area, nurse station, dayroom, recreation room, dining area, and waiting area;

(k) carpet and padding in each institutional occupancy patient area, except a public lobby and office, that is stretched taut and free of loose edges to prevent tripping; and

(l)

(i) rooms intended for 24-hour occupancy with a window to the exterior or to a courtyard open to the sky.

(ii) If a window in a 24-hour occupancy room is operable, the applicant or licensee shall ensure:

(A) it is equipped with an insect screen;

(B) the operation is restricted to a maximum opening of six inches to prevent escape or suicide; and

(C) any opening is restricted regardless of the method of operation or the use of any tool or key.

(4) Any trash chute, laundry chute, dumb waiter, elevator shaft, or other similar system may not pump contaminated air into any clean area.

(5) The applicant or licensee shall provide signage for:

(a) general and circulation directions in any corridor;

(b) identification on or by the side of each door; and

(c) directional emergency evacuation.

(6) The applicant or licensee shall ensure any elevator intended for patient transport:

(a) is able to accommodate a gurney with an attendant;

(b) has minimum inside cab dimensions of five feet, eight inches wide by eight feet, five inches deep; and

(c) has a minimum clear door width of three feet, eight inches.

(7) The licensee shall ensure any room and occupied area in the facility provides for ventilation through:

(a) natural window openings that may be used for ventilation of non-sensitive areas and patient rooms when weather conditions permit;

(b) mechanical ventilation provided during periods of temperature extremes;

(c) bottoms of ventilation openings that are located at least three inches above the floor; and

(d) ducted supply and return systems.

(8) Common returns using corridors or attic spaces may not be used as plenums to recycle air.

(9) Plenum returns for recycling heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems shall serve only non-patient care areas.

(10) Evaporative cooling where the airstream is exposed to a wet coil, a mat, or an open reservoir, may not be used, except for any laundry processing area and kitchen hood that provides 100% exhaust air.

(11) Except in a general hospital, specialty hospital, and nursing care facility, the applicant or licensee may omit hot water recirculation if the linear distance along the supply pipe from the water heater to the fixture does not exceed 50 feet.

(12) The applicant or licensee may omit bedpan washing devices from an inpatient toilet room when a separate and specific soiled utility room is located within the unit that includes bedpan washing capability.

(13)

(a) The applicant or licensee shall ensure building sewers discharge into a community sewer system.

(b) If a community system is not available, the applicant or licensee shall treat its sewage in accordance with local requirements and Utah Department of Environmental Quality requirements.

(14) The applicant or licensee shall ensure any dishwasher and other kitchen food storage and cooking appliance is National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) approved and has the NSF seal affixed.

(15) The applicant or licensee shall ensure:

(a) an approach to any building and space within a building occupied by people, machinery, or equipment has fixtures for lighting;

(b) any receptacle and receptacle cover plate on the electrical emergency system is red;

(c) the activating device for a nurse call station is of a contrasting color to the adjacent floor and wall surfaces to make it easily visible in an emergency;

(d) the fuel storage capacity of the emergency generator permits continuous operation of the facility for 48 hours;

(e) building electrical services connected to the emergency electrical source comply with the specific rules for each licensure category; and

(f) at least one wheelchair-accessible drinking fountain, toilet, and handwashing facility is available on each floor.

Notes

Utah Admin. Code R432-4-14

Adopted by Utah State Bulletin Number 2025-07, effective 3/14/2025