1. (a) Design. Every building and every portion thereof shall be designed and constructed to sustain all dead and live loads in accordance with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), "Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures".

2. (b) Foundations.

   1. (1) Foundations shall rest on natural solid bearing if a satisfactory bearing is available at reasonable depths.
   2. (2) Proper soil-bearing values shall be established in accordance with recognized standards.
   3. (3) If solid bearing is not encountered at practical depths, the structure shall be supported on drive piles or drilled piers designed to support the intended load without detrimental settlement, except that one-story buildings may rest on a fill designed by a soils engineer.
   4. (4) When engineered fill is used, site preparation and placement of fill shall be performed under the direct full-time supervision of the soils engineer.

   5. (5) The soils engineer shall issue:

      1. (A) A final report on the compacted fill operation; and
      2. (B) Certification of compliance with the job specifications.
   6. (6) All footings shall extend to a depth not less than one foot (1’) below the estimated maximum frost line.

3. (c) Construction.

   1. (1)

      1. (A) Construction shall comply with the applicable requirements of NFPA 101, the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code Volumes I and II, and 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.
      2. (B) Note.

4. (i) NFPA 101 generally covers fire/safety requirements only, whereas most model codes also apply to structural elements.

   1. (ii) The fire/safety items of NFPA 101 would take precedence over other codes in case of conflict.

      1. (iii) In the event NFPA 101 does not specifically address a life safety requirement found only in the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, compliance with the requirement is not mandatory.

         1. (iv) Appropriate application of each would minimize problems.
         2. (v) For example, some model codes require closers on all patient doors.
         3. (vi) NFPA 101 recognizes the potential fire/safety problems of this requirement and stipulates that if closers are used for patient room doors, smoke detectors shall also be provided within each affected patient room.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) For renovation projects, the extent of new construction shall be determined by the licensing agency.

      2. (B) Construction shall comply with applicable requirements of NFPA 101.

         1. (d) Freestanding buildings for patient use.

   3. (1) Buildings of this element category are considered to be:

      1. (A) Greater than thirty feet (30’) from the hospital; or
      2. (B) Separated from the hospital by two-hour fire-resistance-rated construction.
   4. (2) Buildings housing nonsleeping patient areas shall comply with NFPA 101.
5. (e) Freestanding buildings. Separate freestanding buildings over thirty feet (30’) from an inpatient facility housing the boiler plant, laundry, shops, or general storage shall be built in accordance with applicable building codes for such occupancy.

6. (f) Interior finishes.

   1. (1) Interior finish materials shall comply with the limitations as indicated in NFPA 101.
   2. (2) If a separate underlayment is used with any floor finish materials, the underlayment and the finish material shall be tested as a unit.
   3. (3) Tests shall be performed by an approved independent testing laboratory.
7. (g) Insulation materials. Building insulation materials, unless sealed on all sides and edges, shall have a flame spread rating of twenty-five (25) or less and a smoke-developed rating of one hundred fifty (150) or less when tested in accordance with NFPA 255.

8. (h) Flood protection.

   1. (1) Executive Order 11296 was issued to minimize financial loss from flood damage to facilities constructed with federal assistance.
   2. (2) In accordance with that order, possible flood effects shall be considered when selecting and developing the site.
   3. (3) Insofar as possible, new facilities shall not be located on designated flood plains.

   4. (4) Where this is unavoidable, consult with the United States Army Corps of Engineers regional office for:

      1. (A) The latest applicable regulations pertaining to flood insurance; and

      2. (B) Protection measures that may be required.

         1. (i) Elevators.

   5. (1)

      1. (A) All hospitals having patient facilities such as bedrooms, dining rooms, or recreation areas or critical services such as operating, delivery, diagnostic, or therapeutic located on other than the grade-level entrance floor shall have electric or hydraulic elevators.

      2. (B)

         1. (i) Installation and testing of elevators shall comply with:
9. (a) (a) American National Standards Institute and American Society of Mechanical Engineers ANSI/ASME Standard A17.1, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators for new construction; and

10. (b) (b) American National Standards Institute and American Society of Mechanical Engineers ANSI/ASME Standard A17.3, Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators for existing facilities.

    1. (ii) See American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE Standard 7-93: Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures for seismic design and control systems requirements for elevators.

    2. (2) In the absence of an engineered traffic study, the following guidelines for number of elevators shall apply:

       1. (A) At least one (1) hospital-type elevator shall be installed when one (1) to fifty-nine (59) patient beds are located on any floor other than the main entrance floor;

       2. (B)

          1. (i) At least two (2) hospital-type elevators shall be installed:
11. (a) (a) When sixty (60) to two hundred (200) patient beds are located on floors other than the main entrance floor; or

12. (b) (b) Where the major inpatient services are located on a floor other than those containing patient beds.

    1. (ii) Elevator service may be reduced for those floors providing only partial inpatient services;

       1. (C)

          1. (i) At least three (3) hospital-type elevators shall be installed:
13. (a) (a) Where two hundred one (201) to three hundred fifty (350) patient beds are located on floors other than the main entrance floor; or

14. (b) (b) Where the major inpatient services are located on a floor other than those containing patient beds.

    1. (ii) Elevator service may be reduced for those floors that provide only partial inpatient services; and

       1. (D) For hospitals with more than three hundred fifty (350) beds, the number of elevators shall be determined from:

          1. (i) A study of the hospital plan; and
          2. (ii) The expected vertical transportation requirements.

    2. (3)

       1. (A) Hospital-type elevator cars shall have inside dimensions that accommodate a patient bed with attendants.
       2. (B) Cars shall be at least five feet eight inches wide by nine feet deep (5’ 8” x 9’).
       3. (C) Car doors shall have a clear opening of not less than four feet wide and seven feet high (4’ x 7’).
       4. (D) In renovations, existing elevators that can accommodate patient beds used in the facility will not be required to be increased in size.
       5. (E) Note. Additional elevators installed for visitors and material handling may be smaller than noted above, within restrictions set by standards for disabled access.
    3. (4) Elevators shall be equipped with a two-way automatic level-maintaining device with an accuracy of one-fourth inch (1/4”).

    4. (5) Each elevator, except those for material handling, shall be equipped with an independent keyed switch for staff use for:

       1. (A) Bypassing all landing button calls; and
       2. (B) Responding to car button calls only.

    5. (6)

       1. (A) Elevator call buttons and controls shall not be activated by heat or smoke.

       2. (B) Light beams, if used for operating door reopening devices without touch, shall be:

          1. (i) Used in combination with door-edge safety devices; and
          2. (ii) Interconnected with a system of smoke detectors.
       3. (C) This is so the light control feature will be overridden or disengaged should it encounter smoke at any landing.
    6. (7) Field inspections and tests shall be made and the owner shall be furnished with written certification stating the installation meets the requirements set forth in this section as well as all applicable safety regulations and codes.

Codification Notes: “NFPA” means National Fire Protection Association.