(a) All plumbing systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with the requirements of the latest edition of the:

1. (1) Arkansas Plumbing Code, 17 CAR pt. 65; and
2. (2) Department of Labor and Licensing’s Administrative Rules of the Boiler Inspection Division, 20 CAR pt. 880.

(b) Plumbing fixtures.

1. (1) The material used for plumbing fixtures shall be nonabsorbent acid-resistant material.
2. (2) The water supply spout for lavatories and sinks required in patient care areas, except patient rooms shall be mounted so that the discharge point is a minimum distance of five inches (5”) above the rim of the fixture.

3. (3)

   1. (A) All fixtures used by medical and nursing staff and all lavatories used by patients and food handlers shall be trimmed with valves that can be operated without the use of hands.
   2. (B) Where blade handles are used for this purpose, they shall not exceed four and one-half inches (4 1/2”) in length, except that handles on clinical sinks shall be not less than six inches (6”) long.
   3. (C) Automatic controls are acceptable.
   4. (D) Scrub sinks shall be trimmed with foot, knee, or ultrasonic controls.
4. (4) Clinical sinks shall have an integral trap in which the upper portion of the water trap provides a visible seal.
5. (5) Shower bases and tubs shall provide nonslip walking surfaces.

(c) Potable water supply systems.

1. (1) Systems shall be designed to supply water at sufficient pressure to operate all fixtures and equipment during maximum demand periods.

2. (2)

   1. (A) Each water service main, branch main, riser, and branch to a group of fixtures shall be valved.
   2. (B) Stop valves shall be provided at each fixture.
   3. (C) Appropriate panels for access shall be provided at all valves where required.

3. (3) Backflow preventers (vacuum breakers) shall be installed on:

   1. (A) Hose bibs;
   2. (B) Laboratory sinks;
   3. (C) Janitors’ sinks;
   4. (D) Bedpan flushing attachments;
   5. (E) Autopsy tables; and
   6. (F) All other fixtures to which hoses or tubing can be attached.

4. (4)

   1. (A) Bedpan flushing devices shall be provided in each inpatient toilet room.
   2. (B) Installation is optional in psychiatric and alcohol-abuse units where patients are ambulatory.

5. (5) The following standards shall apply to hot water systems:

   1. (A)

(i) The water-heating system shall have sufficient supply capacity at the temperatures and amounts indicated in Table 9 of Appendix A.

1. (ii) Water temperature is measured at the point of use or inlet to the equipment; and

   1. (B)

      1. (i) Hot-water distribution systems serving patient care areas shall be under constant recirculation to provide continuous hot water at each hot water outlet.
      2. (ii) The temperature of hot water for showers and bathing shall be appropriate for safe and comfortable use.
      3. (iii) See Table 9 of Appendix A.

2. (6)

   1. (A) Water distribution systems shall be arranged to provide hot water at each hot water outlet at all times.

   2. (B) See Table 9 of Appendix A.

      1. (c) Drainage systems. The following standards shall apply to drainage systems:
3. (1) Drain lines used for acid waste disposal shall be made of acid-resistant material;
4. (2) Drain lines serving some types of automatic blood-cell counters shall be of carefully selected material that will eliminate potential for undesirable chemical reactions and/or explosions between sodium oxide wastes and copper, lead, brass, and solder, etc.;

5. (3)

   1. (A) Drainage piping should not be installed within the ceiling or exposed in:

      1. (i) Operating and delivery rooms;
      2. (ii) Nurseries;
      3. (iii) Food preparation centers;
      4. (iv) Food serving facilities;
      5. (v) Food storage areas;
      6. (vi) Central services;
      7. (vii) Electronic data processing areas;
      8. (viii) Electric closets; and
      9. (ix) Other sensitive areas.

   2. (B) Where exposed overhead drain piping in these areas is unavoidable, special provisions shall be made to protect the space below from:

      1. (i) Leakage;
      2. (ii) Condensation; or
      3. (iii) Dust particles;
6. (4) Floor drains shall not be installed in operating and delivery rooms;

7. (5)

   1. (A) If a floor drain is installed in cystoscopy, it shall contain a nonsplash, horizontal-flow flushing bowl beneath the drain plate.

   2. (B) Note.

      1. (i) Floor drains in cystoscopy operating rooms have been shown to disseminate heavily contaminated spray during flushing.
      2. (ii) Unless regularly flushed with large amounts of fluid, the trap tends to dry out and permit passage of gases, vapors, odors, insects, and vermin directly into the operating room.
      3. (iii) For new construction, if a floor drain is insisted upon by the users, the drain plate should be located away from the operative, preferably with a closed system of drainage.
      4. (iv) Alternative methods include:

(b) (b) A closed system using portable collecting vessels.

1. (v) See NFPA 99;

2. (6) Drain systems for autopsy tables shall be designed:

   1. (A) To positively avoid splatter or overflow onto floors or back siphonage; and
   2. (B) For easy cleaning and trap flushing;

3. (7)

   1. (A) Building sewers shall discharge into community sewage.
   2. (B) Where such a system is not available, the facility shall treat sewage in accordance with local and state regulations;

4. (8)

   1. (A) Kitchen grease traps shall be located and arranged to permit easy access without the need to enter food preparation or storage areas.

   2. (B) Grease traps shall be:

      1. (i) Of capacity required; and
      2. (ii) Accessible from outside of the building without need to interrupt any services;
5. (9) Where plaster traps are used, provisions shall be made for appropriate access and cleaning; and

6. (10)

   1. (A) In dietary areas, floor drains and/or floor sinks shall be of a type that can be easily cleaned by removal of cover.

   2. (B) Provide floor drains or floor sinks:

      1. (i) At all “wet equipment” (i.e., ice machines); and
      2. (ii) As required for wet cleaning of floors.
   3. (C) Provide removable stainless steel mesh in addition to grilled drain cover to prevent entry of large particles of waste that might cause stoppages.

   4. (D) Location of floor drains and floor sinks shall be coordinated to avoid conditions where locations of equipment make removal of covers for cleaning difficult.

      1. (d)
7. (1) The installation, testing, and certification of nonflammable medical gas and air systems shall comply with the requirements of NFPA 99.
8. (2) See Table 11 of Appendix A for rooms that require station outlets.

(e)

1. (1) Clinical vacuum system installations shall be in accordance with NFPA 99.
2. (2) See Table 11 of Appendix A for rooms that require station outlets.

(f)

1. (1) All piping except control-line tubing shall be identified.
2. (2) All valves shall be tagged and a valve schedule shall be provided to the facility owner for permanent record and reference.

(h)

1. (1) Provide condensate drains for cooling coils of a type that may be cleaned as needed without disassembly.
2. (2) Provide air gap where condensate drains empty into floor drains.

3. (3) Provide heater elements for condensate lines in freezer or other areas where freezing may be a problem.

   1. (i) No plumbing lines may be exposed overhead or on walls where:
4. (1) Possible accumulation of dust or soil may create a cleaning problem; or
5. (2) Leaks would create a potential for food contamination.