(a) General considerations.

1. (1) The requirements set forth herein:

   1. (A) Have been established by the Department of Health; and
   2. (B) Constitute minimum requirements for the design, construction, renovation, and repair of facilities requiring licensure under this part.

2. (2)

   1. (A) Facilities shall be accessible to the public, staff, and patients with physical disabilities.
   2. (B) Minimum requirements shall be those set forth by Title 22, Subchapter B, Building Authority Minimum Standards and Criteria, Part 111 Design Review Section, Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities Standards, 22 CAR § 111-1001 et seq.

3. (3)

   1. (A) Projects involving renovation and additions to existing facilities shall be programmed and phased to minimize disruption of the existing functions.
   2. (B) Access, exits, and fire protection shall be maintained for the occupants’ and the facility’s safety.

4. (4) Codes and standards.

   1. (A) Nothing stated herein shall relieve the owner from compliance with building codes, ordinances, and regulations that are enforced by city, county, or other state jurisdictions.
   2. (B) Where such codes, ordinances, and regulations are not in effect, the owner shall consult the state building codes for all components of the building type that are not specifically covered by these minimum requirements.
   3. (C) In locations where there is a history of tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, or other regional disasters, planning and design shall consider the need to protect the occupants and the facility.

(b) Occupancy. Each licensed facility or portion of a licensed facility shall be classified as indicated below:

1. (1)

   1. (A) General hospital.
   2. (B) A facility or portion of a facility licensed by the Department of Health as a general hospital that provides:

(i) For patient care, treatment, or diagnosis on a twenty-four-hour basis; and

1. (ii) Treatment or anesthesia for patients that renders the patients incapable of taking action for self-preservation under emergency conditions without the assistance of others;

2. (2)

   1. (A) Mobile, transportable, and relocatable unit.
   2. (B) A portion of a facility licensed by the Department of Health that meets the definitions provided in 20 CAR § 43-153 for mobile, transportable, and relocatable units;

3. (3)

   1. (A) Outpatient care facility.

   2. (B)

      1. (i) A portion of a facility licensed by the Department of Health that:

(b) (b) Does not provide treatment or anesthesia for patients that renders the patients incapable of taking action for self-preservation under emergency conditions without the assistance of others.

1. (ii) Outpatient care facilities may be utilized on occasion by hospital inpatients provided that such use is limited to a less-than-twenty-four-hour basis;

2. (4)

   1. (A) Rehabilitation facility.
   2. (B) A facility or portion of a facility licensed by the Department of Health as a rehabilitation facility; and

3. (5)

   1. (A) Nonhealthcare occupancy.

   2. (B) A portion of a licensed facility that does not contain:

      1. (i) Areas intended for patient care, treatment, or diagnosis; and
      2. (ii) Equipment (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, communication, fire alarm, etc.) that serves areas intended for patient:

(b) (b) Treatment; or

1. (c) (c) Diagnosis.

   1. (c) Multiple occupancy. Facilities may contain more than one (1) occupancy as described above provided each different occupancy is separated from all other occupancies by a two-hour fire-resistive-rated smoke barrier.

      1. (d) Construction projects. Each construction project shall be classified as indicated below:

2. (1)

   1. (A) Addition.
   2. (B) A project that increases the floor area of a licensed facility;

3. (2)

   1. (A) Repair.
   2. (B) A project that provides for the repair or renewal of a licensed facility or portion of a licensed facility solely for the purpose of its maintenance; and

4. (3)

   1. (A) Simple renovation.

   2. (B) A project other than repair that meets all of the criteria listed below:

      1. (i) The project does not increase the floor area of a licensed facility;
      2. (ii) The project does not change the occupancy of a:

(b) (b) Portion of a licensed facility;

1. (iii) The project does not involve more than two (2) smoke compartments; and

   1. (iv) The smoke compartments affected by the project were completely protected by an automatic sprinkler system prior to the project or the project provides for the installation of a complete automatic sprinkler system in all smoke compartments that are affected by the project.

(e) Applicable requirements based upon occupancy.

1. (1) Existing facilities. Existing facilities that do not comply with this part shall be permitted to continue in service, provided the lack of conformity with this part does not present a serious hazard to the occupants as determined by:

   1. (A) The Division of Health Facilities Services; or
   2. (B) Other authorities having jurisdiction.

2. (2) General hospital. Facilities or portions of facilities classified as a general hospital occupancy shall be designed, constructed, and renovated in accordance with the sections of this part listed below and all publications and appendices referenced by these sections:

   1. (A) 20 CAR § 43-141;
   2. (B) This section;
   3. (C) 20 CAR §§ 43-143 – 43-152; and
   4. (D) 20 CAR §§ 43-153 – 43-175.

3. (3) Mobile, transportable, and relocatable unit. Facilities or portions of facilities classified as a mobile, transportable, and relocatable unit occupancy shall be designed, constructed, and renovated in accordance with the sections of this part listed below and all publications and appendices referenced by these sections:

   1. (A) 20 CAR § 43-141;
   2. (B) This section; and
   3. (C) 20 CAR § 43-153.

4. (4) Outpatient care facility. Facilities or portions of facilities classified as an outpatient care facility occupancy shall be designed, constructed, and renovated in accordance with the sections of this part listed below and all publications and appendices referenced by these sections:

   1. (A) 20 CAR § 43-141;
   2. (B) This section; and
   3. (C) 20 CAR § 43-174.

5. (5) Rehabilitation facility. Facilities or portions of facilities classified as an outpatient care facility occupancy shall be designed, constructed, and renovated in accordance with the sections of this part listed below and all publications and appendices referenced by these sections:

   1. (A) 20 CAR § 43-141;
   2. (B) This section; and
   3. (C) 20 CAR § 43-175.

6. (6) Nonhealthcare occupancy facilities. Portions of facilities classified as a nonhealthcare occupancy shall be designed, constructed, and renovated in accordance with the sections of this part listed below and all publications and appendices referenced by these sections:

   1. (A) 20 CAR § 43-141; and
   2. (B) This section.

(f) Applicable requirements based upon the type of project.

1. (1) General.

   1. (A)

      1. (i) Where renovation work is done within an existing facility, all new work or additions or both shall comply insofar as practical with applicable sections of this part and appropriate sections of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code covering new occupancies.
      2. (ii) Where major structural elements make total compliance impractical or impossible, exceptions will be considered.

   2. (B)

      1. (i) In renovation projects and projects involving additions to existing facilities, only that portion of the total facility affected by the project shall comply with applicable sections of this part and with appropriate parts of NFPA 101 covering new occupancies.
      2. (ii) Existing portions of the facility that are not included in the project but essential to the functioning of a complete facility shall comply at a minimum with the appropriate sections of NFPA 101 covering existing occupancies.
      3. (iii) Existing portions of the facility that receive less than substantial amounts of new work shall also comply at a minimum with the appropriate sections of NFPA 101 covering existing occupancies.

   3. (C) Facilities or portions of facilities shall be permitted to be occupied during construction, renovation, and repair only where:

      1. (i) Required means of egress and required fire protection features are in place and continuously maintained for the portion occupied; or
      2. (ii) Alternate life safety measures acceptable to the Division of Health Facilities Services and other authorities having jurisdiction are in place.

2. (2) Addition, simple renovation, and complex renovation shall be designed, constructed, and renovated in accordance with:

   1. (A) The applicable sections of this part; and
   2. (B) All appendices and publications referenced by these sections.
3. (3) Repair projects shall be designed and constructed in a manner that does not diminish the safety level that existed prior to the start of the work.

(g) Project review and approval process.

1. (1) Coordination. The Division of Health Facilities Services of the Department of Health will coordinate the review and approval process for all offices of the Department of Health.

2. (2) Addition or complex renovation projects shall be reviewed and approved by the Division of Health Facilities Services as indicated below.

   1. (A) Drawing review and approval process.

      1. (i) Submission of plan review fee.

(b) (b) The plan review fee check is to be made payable to the Department of Health.

1. (c) (c) A detailed estimate shall accompany the plans unless the maximum fee of five hundred dollars ($500) is paid.

   1. (ii) Submission of functional program. Refer to subsection (h) of this section.

      1. (iii) Submission of site location. Refer to subsection (i) of this section.
      2. (iv) Submission of preliminary plans. Refer to subsection (j) of this section.
      3. (v) Review of functional program, site location, and preliminary plans. The Division of Health Facilities Services shall review the functional program, site location, and preliminary plans and forward a written response with comments to the facility.
      4. (vi) Submission of final construction documents. Refer to subsection (k) of this section.
      5. (vii) Review and approval of final construction documents.

(a) (a) The Division of Health Facilities Services shall:

1. (1) (1) Review the final construction documents; and
2. (2) (2) Forward a written response with comments to the facility and the design professional.

(b) (b) The Division of Health Facilities Services shall have a minimum of six (6) weeks to review final construction documents.

1. (c) (c) The written response shall indicate whether or not the final construction documents are approved.

   1. (d) (d) If the final construction documents are not approved, the written response shall indicate the design modifications required to secure approval.

      1. (viii) Plans may be certified by a licensed architect or professional engineer with respect to compliance with the applicable codes, rules, and standards.

   2. (B) Approval to begin construction. Facilities may proceed with addition and complex renovation projects after receiving:

      1. (i) A letter from the Division of Health Facilities Services stating that the final construction documents have been reviewed and approved; and
      2. (ii) Approval from other authorities having jurisdiction.
   3. (C) Site inspections during construction. Refer to subsection (l) of this section.
   4. (D) Final site inspection. Refer to subsection (m) of this section.
2. (3) Repair. Repair projects do not require review and approval by the Division of Health Facilities Services.

3. (4) Simple renovation projects submitted to the Division of Health Facilities Services shall be reviewed and approved by the Division of Health Facilities Services as indicated below:

   1. (A) Drawing review and approval process.

      1. (i) Submission of plan review fee.

(b) (b) The plan review fee check is to be made payable to the Department of Health.

1. (c) (c) A detailed estimate shall accompany the plans unless the maximum fee of five hundred dollars ($500) is paid.

   1. (ii) Submission of functional program. Refer to subsection (h) of this section.

      1. (iii) Submission of final construction documents. Refer to subsection (k) of this section.
      2. (iv) Review and approval of final construction documents.

(b) (b) The Division of Health Facilities Services shall have a minimum of six (6) weeks to review final construction documents.

1. (c) (c) The written response shall indicate whether or not the final construction documents are approved.

   1. (d) (d) If the final construction documents are not approved, the written response shall indicate the design modifications required to secure approval.

      1. (v) Plans may be certified by a licensed architect or professional engineer with respect to compliance with the applicable codes, rules, and standards;

   2. (B) Approval to begin construction. Facilities may proceed with simple renovation projects after receiving:

      1. (i) A letter from the Division of Health Facilities Services stating that the final construction documents have been reviewed and approved; and
      2. (ii) Approval from other authorities having jurisdiction;
   3. (C) Site inspections during construction. Refer to subsection (l) of this section; and
   4. (D) Final site inspection. Refer to subsection (m) of this section.

(h) Functional program. The facility shall supply for each project, other than a repair project, a functional program that:

1. (1) Describes the purpose of the project; and

2. (2) Indicates the estimated cost of construction.

   1. (i) Site location.

3. (1) Location.

   1. (A) The site of any medical facility should be easily accessible to:

      1. (i) The community; and
      2. (ii) Service vehicles such as fire protection apparatus.

   2. (B) Facilities should be located with due regard to the:

      1. (i) Accessibility by public transportation for:

(b) (b) Staff; and

1. (c) (c) Visitors; and

   1. (ii) Availability of competent medical and surgical consultation.

   2. (C)

      1. (i) The facility should have security measures for patients, personnel, and the public consistent with the conditions and risks inherent in the location of the facility.
      2. (ii) These measures shall include a program designed to protect human and capital resources.
   3. (D) The facility should be located to provide reliable utilities (water, natural gas, sewer, and electricity).
   4. (E) The site should afford good drainage and shall not be subject to flooding nor be located near insect breeding areas, excessive noise, nor other nuisance producing locations, nor near airports, railways, air pollution, penal institutions (except prison infirmaries), or a cemetery.

2. (2) Roads and parking.

   1. (A)

      1. (i) Paved roads and walks shall be provided within the lot lines to provide access to the main entrance and service entrance, including loading and unloading docks for delivery trucks.
      2. (ii) Hospitals having an organized emergency services department shall have the emergency entrance well-marked to facilitate entry from the public roads or streets serving the site.
      3. (iii) Access to the emergency entrance shall not conflict with other vehicular traffic or pedestrian traffic.
      4. (iv) Paved walkways shall be provided for necessary pedestrian traffic.

   2. (B)

      1. (i) Each facility shall have parking spaces to satisfy the minimum needs of:

(b) (b) Employees;

1. (c) (c) Staff; and

   1. (d) (d) Visitors.

      1. (ii) In the absence of a formal parking study, each facility shall provide not less than one (1) space for each day shift staff member and employee plus one (1) space for each patient bed.
      2. (iii) This ratio may be reduced in an area convenient to a public transportation system or to a public parking facility:

(b) (b) Provided that approval of any reduction is obtained from the Department of Health.

1. (iv) Additional parking shall be required to accommodate outpatient and other services when they are provided.

   1. (v) Space shall be provided for emergency and delivery vehicles.

2. (3) Subsoil investigation.

   1. (A) Subsoil investigation shall be made to determine the subsurface soil and water conditions.
   2. (B) The investigation shall include a sufficient number of test pits or test borings to determine, in the judgment of the architect and the structural engineer, the true subsurface conditions.

   3. (C) Results of the investigation shall be available in the form of a:

      1. (i) Soil investigation report; or
      2. (ii) Foundation engineering report.

   4. (D) The investigation shall:

      1. (i) Be made in close cooperation with the architect and structural engineer; and
      2. (ii) Contain detailed recommendations for foundation design and gradings.

   5. (E) The following is a general outline of the suggested scope of soil investigation:

      1. (i)

(b) (b) A field log of the borings shall be made and the thickness, consistency, and character of each layer recorded;

1. (ii)

(b) (b) High or low water levels of nearby bodies of water affecting the ground level shall also be determined;

1. (iii) Laboratory tests shall be performed to determine the safe bearing value and compressibility characteristics of the various strata encountered in each pit or boring;

   1. (iv) Maximum depth of frost penetration below surface of the ground shall be recorded; and

      1. (v) Tests shall be made to determine whether the soil contains alkali in sufficient quantities to affect concrete foundations.
2. (4) Approval. The new building site shall be inspected and approved by the Department of Health before construction begins.

(j) Preliminary plans. Preliminary plans submitted to the Division of Health Facilities Services shall include at a minimum the following information:

1. (1) Floor plans drawn to scale that indicate:

   1. (A) Room names;
   2. (B) Room dimensions;
   3. (C) Corridor dimensions;
   4. (D) Locations of fire-resistive rated partitions; and
   5. (E) Locations of rated smoke barriers;
2. (2) An existing floor plan indicating existing spaces and exits and their relationship to the new construction (renovation projects only);

3. (3)

   1. (A) Building sections that establish the proposed construction type and fire rating.
   2. (B) Sections shall be drawn at a scale sufficiently large to clearly present the proposed construction system;

4. (4) A site plan that indicates the location of proposed:

   1. (A) Roads;
   2. (B) Walks;
   3. (C) Service and entrance courts;
   4. (D) Parking; and
   5. (E) Orientation;
5. (5) Simple horizontal and vertical space diagrams that indicate the relationship of various departments and services to each other the general room arrangement in each department; and
6. (6) A narrative description of proposed mechanical, electrical, and fire protection systems.

(k) Final construction documents.

1. (1) Construction documents shall be prepared by an architect and/or professional engineer licensed by the State of Arkansas.

2. (2)

   1. (A) Architectural construction documents shall be prepared by an architect and engineering construction documents (structural, mechanical, electrical, and civil) shall be prepared by a qualified engineer.
   2. (B) The documents shall be stamped with appropriate seals for each discipline.

3. (3)

   1. (A) Periodic observations of construction shall be provided and documented by each design professional.

   2. (B) Design professionals shall verify that the:

      1. (i) Construction is in accordance with the construction documents; and
      2. (ii) Record drawings are properly maintained.
4. (4) The construction contract shall contain a provision to withhold progress payments to the contractor until the record drawings are current.

5. (5)

   1. (A) Final construction documents shall include drawings and specifications.

   2. (B) Separate drawings and specifications shall be prepared for each of the following branches of work:

      1. (i) Architectural;
      2. (ii) Structural;
      3. (iii) Mechanical;
      4. (iv) Electrical;
      5. (v) Life safety; and
      6. (vi) Fire protection.

6. (6)

   1. (A) The drawings shall include the following information.

   2. (B) Architectural.

      1. (i)

(a) (a) Approved plan showing all the:

1. (1) (1) New topography;
2. (2) (2) Newly established levels and grades;
3. (3) (3) Existing structures on the site, if any;
4. (4) (4) New buildings and structures;
5. (5) (5) Roadways;
6. (6) (6) Walks;
7. (7) (7) Extent of the areas to be planted; and
8. (8) (8) Structures and improvements removed under the construction contract.

(b) (b) A print of the survey included with the working drawings.

1. (ii) Plan of each floor, roof, and all intermediate levels.

   1. (iii) Elevations of each exterior wall.

      1. (iv) Sections through building.
      2. (v) Scale details as necessary to properly indicate portions of the work.
      3. (vi) Schedule of finishes.

   2. (C) Equipment.

      1. (i) Large-scale drawings of typical and special rooms indicating all:

(b) (b) Major items of furniture and movable equipment.

1. (ii) The furniture and movable equipment not included in the construction contract shall be indicated by dotted lines.

   1. (D) Structural.

      1. (i) Plans of foundations, floors, roofs, and all intermediate levels shall show a:

(b) (b) Schedule of:

1. (1) (1) Beams;
2. (2) (2) Girders; and

3. (3) (3) Columns.

   1. (ii) Dimensional floor levels, column centers, and offsets.

      1. (iii) Special openings.
      2. (iv) Details of all:

(b) (b) Assemblies; and

1. (c) (c) Expansion joints.

   1. (v) Name of the governing building code.

   2. (E) Mechanical.

      1. (i) Heating, piping, and air conditioning systems:

(a) (a) Steam-heated equipment, such as:

1. (1) (1) Sterilizers;
2. (2) (2) Warmers; and
3. (3) (3) Steam tables;

(b) (b) Heating and steam mains and branches with pipe sizes;

1. (c) (c) Diagram of heating and steam risers with pipe sizes;

   1. (d) (d) Sizes, types, and heating surfaces of boilers and oil burners, if any;

(f) (f) Air conditioning systems with:

1. (1) (1) Required equipment;
2. (2) (2) Water refrigerant piping; and
3. (3) (3) Ductwork showing required fire smoke/dampers;

(h) (h) A ventilation schedule specifying the following information:

1. (1) (1) Room number;
2. (2) (2) Room name;
3. (3) (3) Room volume in cubic feet (ft³);
4. (4) (4) Required room air changes;
5. (5) (5) Required outside air changes;
6. (6) (6) Required air movement relative to adjacent area;
7. (7) (7) Required air filtration in percent (%) efficiency);
8. (8) (8) Required room total supply air quantity (CFM);
9. (9) (9) Required room exhaust air quantity (CFM);
10. (10) (10) Design room total supply air quantity (CFM);
11. (11) (11) Design room return air quantity (CFM);
12. (12) (12) Design outside air quantity (CFM);
13. (13) (13) Design room exhaust air quantity (CFM);
14. (14) (14) Design room air filtration in percent (%) efficiency;
15. (15) (15) Room design summer (°F), dry bulb/wet bulb (DB/WB);
16. (16) (16) Room design winter (°F) DB/WB;
17. (17) (17) Outside air design summer (°F) DB/WB; and

18. (18) (18) Outside air design winter (°F) DB/WB; and

    1. (i) (i) Air filter design pressure drop, both clean and dirty.

       1. (ii) Plumbing, drainage, and standpipe systems:

(a) (a) Size and elevation of:

1. (1) (1) Street sewer;
2. (2) (2) House sewer;
3. (3) (3) House drains; and
4. (4) (4) Street water main;

(b) (b) Locations and size of soil, waste, and vent stacks with connections to:

1. (1) (1) House drains;
2. (2) (2) Clean outs;
3. (3) (3) Fixtures; and

4. (4) (4) Equipment;

   1. (c) (c) Size and location of hot and cold circulating mains, branches, and risers from the service entrance and tanks;

      1. (d) (d) Riser diagram to show all plumbing stacks with:
5. (1) (1) Vents;
6. (2) (2) Water risers; and
7. (3) (3) Fixture connections;

(g) (g) Plumbing fixtures and equipment that require water and drain connections.

1. (iii) Elevators and dumbwaiters. Details and dimensions of shaft, pit, and machine room, pit sumps with alarms when required, and sizes of car platform and doors.

   1. (iv) Kitchens, laundry, refrigeration, and laboratories detailed at a satisfactory scale (one-quarter-inch scale) to show the location, size, and connection of all fixed and moveable equipment.

   2. (F) Electrical.

      1. (i) All electrical wiring, outlets, smoke detectors, and equipment that require electrical connections.
      2. (ii) Electrical service entrance with switches and feeders to the public service feeders, characteristics of the light and power current and transformers and their connections, if located in the building.
      3. (iii)

(a) (a) Plan and diagram showing:

1. (1) (1) Main switchboard power panels;
2. (2) (2) Light panels; and
3. (3) (3) Equipment.

(b) (b) Diagram of feeder and conduit sizes with a schedule of feeder breakers or switches.

1. (iv) Light outlets, receptacles, switches, power outlets, and circuits.

   1. (v) Telephone layout showing:

(b) (b) Telephone switchboard;

1. (c) (c) Terminal boxes; and

   1. (d) (d) Telephone outlets.

      1. (vi) Nurse call systems with outlets for beds, nurses’ stations, door signal lights, annunciators, and wiring diagrams.
      2. (vii) Staff paging and doctor’s in-and-out registry systems with all equipment wiring, if provided.
      3. (viii) Fire alarm and/or security system with:

(b) (b) Signal devices;

1. (c) (c) Control board; and

   1. (d) (d) Wiring diagrams.

      1. (ix) Emergency electrical system with:

(b) (b) Transfer switch;

1. (c) (c) Source of supply;

   1. (d) (d) Feeders; and

(e) (e) Circuits.

1. (x) Medical gas alarm systems.

   1. (xi) All other electrically operated systems and equipment.

   2. (G) Life safety and fire protection.

      1. (i) Limits of each smoke compartment.
      2. (ii) Location of each smoke barrier wall.
      3. (iii) Dimensions and gross areas of each smoke compartment.
      4. (iv) Location of each:

(b) (b) Fire separation wall; and

1. (c) (c) Horizontal exit.

   1. (v) Location of each:

(b) (b) Fire pull station;

1. (c) (c) Extinguisher cabinet; and

   1. (d) (d) Extinguisher.

      1. (vi) Travel distance or distances from the most remote location or locations in the building to an exit as defined by NFPA 101 (i.e., horizontal exit, exit passageway, enclosed exit stair, exterior exit door).

   2. (H) Specifications. Specifications shall:

      1. (i) Supplement the drawings to fully describe:

(b) (b) Sizes;

1. (c) (c) Capacities;

   1. (d) (d) Workmanships;

(f) (f) Other characteristics of all materials and equipment; and

1. (ii) Include the following:

(b) (b) Index;

1. (c) (c) General conditions;

   1. (d) (d) General requirements; and

(e) (e) Sections describing material and workmanship in detail for each class of work.

1. (I)

   1. (i) All construction documents and specifications shall be approved by the Department of Health prior to the beginning of construction and a letter shall be issued from the licensing agency granting approval to commence with construction.

      1. (ii) The Department of Health shall have a minimum of six (6) weeks to review construction documents and specifications.
      2. (iii) The Division of Health Facilities Services shall coordinate the plan review with other divisions in the Department of Health.
      3. (iv) For penalties for starting construction without Department of Health approval, see 20 CAR § 43-103(m), licensure and codes.
      4. (l) Site inspection during construction. The Department of Health shall inspect the project during the construction process as indicated below:
2. (1) The Department of Health is to be notified when construction begins and a construction schedule shall be submitted to determine inspection dates;
3. (2) Representatives from the Department of Health shall have access to the construction premises and the construction project for purposes of making whatever inspections deemed necessary throughout the course of construction; and

4. (3) Any deviation from the accepted construction documents shall not be permitted during construction until the written request for change or changes in the construction is approved by the Department of Health.

   1. (m) Final site inspection.
5. (1) Upon completion of construction and prior to the approval by the Department of Health to occupy and use the facility, the owner shall be furnished a complete set of recorded drawings and a complete set of installation, operation, and maintenance manuals and parts lists for the installed equipment.
6. (2) A list of final site inspection items has been provided in Table 5 of Appendix A.

7. (3) No facility shall occupy any new structure or major addition or renovation space until the appropriate permission has been received from the:

   1. (A) Local building and fire authorities; and
   2. (B) Licensing agency.

(n) Referenced publications.

1. (1) General.

   1. (A) This part includes references to other codes and standards.
   2. (B) The most current codes and standards adopted at the time of this publication are used.

   3. (C)

      1. (i) Later issues will normally be acceptable where requirements for function and safety are not reduced.
      2. (ii) However, editions of different dates may have portions renumbered or retitled.
   4. (D) Care shall be taken to ensure that appropriate sections are used.

2. (2) Publications adopted in whole by this part are as listed below:

   1. (A) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard A17.1, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators;
   2. (B) American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures;
   3. (C) Title 22, Subchapter B, Building Authority Minimum Standards and Criteria, Part 111, Design Review Section, Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities Standards, 22 CAR § 111-1001 et seq.;
   4. (D) National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), Report No. 33, Medical X-ray and Gamma Ray Protection for Energies Up to 10 MeV — Equipment Design and Use, 1986;
   5. (E) National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), Report No. 49, Structural Shielding Design and Evaluation for Medical Use of X-rays and Gamma Rays of Energies Up to 10 MeV, 1976;
   6. (F) National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), Radiation Protection Design Guidelines for 0.1 to 100 MeV Particle Accelerator Facilities;

   7. (G)

      1. (i) National Fire Protection Association 101, Life Safety Code, 2000 Edition.
      2. (ii) Note that “mandatory references” are listed in chapter two (2) of this document; and
   8. (H) The Department of Health’s Rules Pertaining to the Management of Medical Waste from Generators and Health Care Related Facilities, 20 CAR pt. 53.

3. (3) Publications adopted in part (only the sections specifically identified by this part are applicable) by this part are as listed below:

   1. (A) American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), ASHRAE Handbook — Fundamentals and ASHRAE Handbook — HVAC Applications;
   2. (B) American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Standard 52, Method of Testing Air Cleaning Devices Used in General Ventilation for Removing Particulate Matter; and
   3. (C) Illuminating Engineering Society, IESNA Publication CP29, Lighting for Health Care Facilities.

4. (4) A partial list of other publications that are applicable to the design and construction of healthcare facilities that are not a part of this part but may be enforced by other authorities having jurisdiction is provided below:

   1. (A) Arkansas Fire Prevention Code Volumes I, II, and III, based on the 2000 International Building Code;
   2. (B) Mechanical Code, 17 CAR pt. 260, Department of Health;
   3. (C) Arkansas Plumbing Code, 17 CAR pt. 65, Department of Health; and
   4. (D) Administrative Rules of the Boiler Inspection Division, 20 CAR pt. 880.

5. (5) Publications that are not a part of this part but potentially helpful as reference material in the design and construction of healthcare facilities are as listed below:

   1. (A) American Institute of Architects (AIA), Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospital and Health Care Facilities, 2001 Edition; and
   2. (B) American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), HVAC Design Manual for Hospitals and Clinics.

(o) Availability of codes and standards.

1. (1) Referenced publications can be ordered, if they are government publications, from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Publishing Office , 732 North Capitol St NW, Washington, DC, 20001.

2. (2)

   1. (A) Copies of nongovernment publications can be obtained at the addresses listed below.
   2. (B) Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, 2311 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 400, Arlington, VA, 22201.
   3. (C) American National Standards Institute, 25 West 43rd Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10036.
   4. (D) Metropolitan Section, American Society of Civil Engineers, 32 Nassau St. #60537, New York, NY, 10038.
   5. (E) ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA, 19428.
   6. (F) American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, 180 Technology Parkway NW, Peachtree Corners, GA, 30092.
   7. (G) Building Authority Division, 501 Woodlane, Suite 101N, Little Rock, AR, 72201.
   8. (H) Division of Labor, 900 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 400, Little Rock, AR, 72201.
   9. (I) Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), 120 Wall Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY, 10005.
   10. (J) National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 400, Bethesda, MD, 20814.
   11. (K) National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Post Office Box 9101, Quincy, MA, 02169.
   12. (L) International Code Council, 900 Montclair Road, Birmingham, AL, 35213.

(p) Interpretations of requirements.

1. (1) Memorandum of understanding. Conflicts between the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code and NFPA 101: Life Safety Code are to be resolved using the memorandum of understanding as indicated below:

   1. (A) The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code is the fire prevention code for the State of Arkansas;
   2. (B) When the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code conflicts with the chapters of NFPA 101: Life Safety Code governing new and existing healthcare and ambulatory healthcare occupancies (chapters 18, 19, 20, and 21), the provisions of the Life Safety Code shall govern; and

   3. (C)

      1. (i) Requirements found only in the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, requirements not addressed by NFPA 101, may be provided at the option of the facility.
      2. (ii) Compliance with these requirements is not mandatory.

2. (2) Safety improvement plans.

   1. (A) Nothing in this part shall be construed as restrictive to a facility that chooses to do work as a part of a long-range safety improvement plan.
   2. (B) This part does not prohibit a single phase of improvement.
   3. (C) All hazards to life and safety and all areas of noncompliance should be corrected as soon as possible.
3. (3) Provisions in excess of regulatory requirements. Nothing in this part shall be construed to prohibit a better type of building construction, an additional means of egress, or an otherwise safer condition than that specified by the minimum requirements of this part.

4. (4) Equivalency.

   1. (A)

      1. (i) Insofar as practical, these minimum standards have been established to obtain a desired performance result.
      2. (ii) Prescriptive limitations when given, such as exact minimum dimensions or quantities, describe a condition that is recognized as a practical standard for normal operation.

   2. (B)

      1. (i) It is the intent of this part to permit and promote equivalency concepts.
      2. (ii) Nothing in this part shall be construed as restricting innovations that provide an equivalent level of performance with this part in a manner other than that which is prescribed by this part provided that no other safety element or system is compromised in order to establish equivalency.

   3. (C) The Division of Health Facilities Services may approve alternate methods, procedures, design criteria, and functional variations from this part because of extraordinary circumstances, new programs, new technology, or unusual conditions when the facility can effectively demonstrate that the:

      1. (i) Intent of the rules is met; and
      2. (ii) Variation does not reduce the safety or operational effectiveness of the facility below that required by the exact language of the rules.

   4. (D)

      1. (i) When contemplating equivalency allowances, the Division of Health Facilities Services may use a variety of expert sources to make equivalency findings.
      2. (ii) The Division of Health Facilities Services will document the reasons for approval or denial of equivalency to the facility.

   5. (E)

      1. (i) The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) document 101A is a technical standard for evaluating equivalency to certain Life Safety Code 101 requirements.
      2. (ii) The Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES) is a widely recognized method for establishing a safety level equivalent to the Life Safety Code.
      3. (iii) The use of the FSES process may be useful for evaluating existing facilities that will be affected by renovation.