Washington Administrative Code › Title 246 - Health, Department of › FACILITY STANDARDS AND LICENSING › Chapter 246-320 - Hospital licensing regulations › PATIENT CARE › Section 246-320-505 - 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 hospital will meet the following
				  requirements:
(a) Preconstruction. Request
				  and attend a presubmission conference for projects with a construction value of
				  two hundred fifty thousand dollars or more. The presubmission conference shall
				  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 hospital of the need to
				  comply with applicable state and local building and zoning codes.
The construction documents must include:
(i) A written program containing, but not
				  limited to, 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;
(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; and
(iii) Floor plan of
				  the existing building showing the alterations and additions, and indicating
				  location of any service or support areas; and
(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 hospital 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 hospital will not begin construction
				  until all of the following items are complete:
(A) The department has approved construction
				  documents or granted authorization to begin construction; and
(B)The local jurisdictions have issued a
				  building permit; and
(C)The
				  hospital 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; and
(II) Hospital CEO, COO, or designee;
				  and
(III) Hospital facilities
				  director.
(B) The
				  infection control risk assessment;
(C) The interim life safety plan;
(D) A presubmission conference has
				  occurred.
(iii) Submit
				  to the department for review any addenda or modifications to the construction
				  documents;
(iv) Assure construction
				  is completed in compliance with the final "department approved" documents.
				  Compliance with these standards and regulations does not relieve the hospital
				  of the need to comply with applicable state and local building and zoning
				  codes. Where differences in interpretations occur, the hospital will follow the
				  most stringent requirement.
(v) The
				  hospital will allow any necessary inspections for the verification of
				  compliance with the construction documents, addenda, and
				  modifications.
(e)
				  Project closeout. The hospital will not use any new or remodeled areas until:
(i) The department has approved construction
				  documents ; and
(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.