Washington Administrative Code › Title 246 - Health, Department of › FACILITY STANDARDS AND LICENSING › Chapter 246-335 - In-home services agencies › Part 6 - Physical Environment Requirements › Section 246-335-730 - Design, construction review and approval of plans

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Drawings and specifications for new
				  construction, excluding minor alterations, must be prepared by or under the
				  direction of, an architect registered under chapter 18.08 RCW. The services of
				  a consulting engineer registered under chapter 18.43 RCW may be used for the
				  various branches of work where appropriate. The services of a registered
				  engineer may be used in lieu of the services of an architect if the scope of
				  work is primarily engineering in nature.
(2) A hospice care center applicant or
				  licensee will meet the following requirements:
(a) Preconstruction. Request and attend a
				  presubmission conference with the department for projects with a construction
				  value of two hundred fifty thousand dollars or more. The presubmission
				  conference must be scheduled to occur for the review of construction documents
				  that are no less than fifty percent complete;
(b) Construction document review. Submit
				  construction documents for proposed new construction to the department for
				  review within ten days of submission to the local authorities. Compliance with
				  these standards and regulations does not relieve the hospice care center of the
				  need to comply with applicable state and local building and zoning codes. The
				  construction documents must include:
(i) A
				  written program containing the following:
(A)
				  Information concerning services to be provided and operational methods to be
				  used;
(B) An interim life safety
				  measures plan to ensure the health and safety of occupants during construction
				  and installation of finishes; and
(C) An infection control risk assessment
				  indicating appropriate infection control measures, keeping the surrounding area
				  free of dust and fumes, and ensuring rooms or areas are well ventilated,
				  unoccupied, and unavailable for use until free of volatile fumes and
				  odors;
(ii) Drawings and
				  specifications to include coordinated architectural, mechanical, and electrical
				  work. Each room, area, and item of fixed equipment and major movable equipment
				  must be identified on all drawings to demonstrate that the required facilities
				  for each function are provided;
(iii) A floor plan of the existing building
				  showing the alterations and additions, and indicating location of any service
				  or support areas;
(iv) Required
				  paths of exit serving the alterations or additions; and
(v) Verification that the capacities and
				  loads of infrastructure systems will accommodate planned load.
(c) Resubmittals. The hospice care
				  center or licensee will respond in writing when the department requests
				  additional or corrected construction documents;
(d) Construction. Comply with the following
				  requirements during the construction phase:
(i) The hospice care center applicant or
				  licensee will not begin construction until all of the following items are
				  complete:
(A) The department has approved the
				  construction documents or granted authorization to begin
				  construction;
(B) The local
				  jurisdictions have issued a building permit; and
(C) The hospice care center applicant or
				  licensee has notified the department in writing when construction will
				  commence;
(ii) The
				  department will issue an "authorization to begin construction" when the
				  construction documents have been conditionally approved or when all of the
				  following items have been reviewed and approved:
(A) A signed form acknowledging the risks if
				  starting construction before the plan review has been completed. The
				  acknowledgment of risks form shall be signed by the:
(I) Architect;
(II) Hospice chief executive officer, chief
				  operations officer, or designee; and
(III) Hospice facilities director.
(B) The infection control risk
				  assessment;
(C) The interim life
				  safety plan; and
(D) A
				  presubmission conference has occurred;
(iii) Submit to the department for review any
				  addenda or modifications to the construction documents;
(iv) Ensure construction is completed in
				  compliance with the final department approved documents;
(v) The hospice care center applicant or
				  licensee will allow any necessary inspections for the verification of
				  compliance with the construction documents, addenda, and
				  modifications.
(e)
				  Project closeout. The hospice will not use any new or remodeled areas until:
(i) The department has approved construction
				  documents;
(ii) The local
				  jurisdictions have completed all required inspections and approvals, when
				  applicable or given approval to occupy; and
(iii) The facility notifies the department in
				  writing when construction is completed and includes a copy of the local
				  jurisdiction's approval for occupancy.