1. (a) General.

   1. (1)

      1. (A) Prior to completion and acceptance of the facility, all mechanical systems shall be tested, balanced, and operated to demonstrate to the owner or his or her representative that the installation and performance of these systems conform to the requirements of the plans and specifications.
      2. (B) The test and balance report shall be based on the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) systems guide standards, and a copy of the final report shall be on file at the facility.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Upon completion of the contract, the owner shall be furnished with a complete set of manufacturers':

2. (i) Operating and maintenance instructions; and

   1. (ii) Parts list with numbers and description of each piece of equipment.

      1. (B) He or she shall also be provided with instructions in the operational use of systems and equipment as required.

3. (b) Thermal and acoustical insulation.

   1. (1) Insulation shall be provided for the following within the building:

      1. (A) Boilers, smoke breeching, and stacks;
      2. (B) Steam supply and condensate return piping;
      3. (C) Hot water piping above one hundred ten degrees Fahrenheit (110°F) and all hot water heaters, generators, and convertors;
      4. (D) Chilled water, refrigerant, and other process piping and equipment operating with fluid temperature below ambient dewpoint;
      5. (E) Water supply and drain piping on which condensation may occur;
      6. (F) Air ducts and casing with outside surface temperature below ambient dew point; and
      7. (G) Other piping, ducts, and equipment as necessary to maintain the efficiency of the system.
   2. (2) Insulation on cold surfaces shall include an exterior vapor barrier.

   3. (3)

      1. (A) Insulation, including finishes on the exterior surfaces of ducts, pipes, and equipment, shall have a flame spread rating of twenty-five (25) or less and a smoke developed rating of fifty (50) or less as determined by an independent testing laboratory in accordance with NFPA 255.
      2. (B) The smoke development rating for pipe insulation shall not exceed one hundred fifty (150).

   4. (4) Interior duct lining is a potential health hazard and shall not be permitted.

      1. (c) Steam and hot water systems and pressure vessels.

   5. (1) All pressure vessels shall:

      1. (A) Have the ASME seal; and
      2. (B) Meet the requirements of the Boiler Inspection Division, Division of Labor.
   6. (2) Boilers shall have the capacity, based upon the net ratings published by the Hydronics Institute or another acceptable national standard, to supply the normal requirements of all systems and equipment.

   7. (3)

      1. (A) Supply and return mains and risers of cooling, heating, and process steam systems shall be valved to isolate the various sections of each system.

      2. (B) Each piece of equipment shall be valved at the supply and return ends.

         1. (d) Air conditioning, heating, and ventilating systems.

   8. (1)

      1. (A) For laundries, a maximum average design temperature of eighty-three to eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit (83°F – 85°F) at summer design conditions shall be assumed, with higher temperatures permitted adjacent to heat-producing equipment such as ironers.
      2. (B) For all other occupied areas, a design temperature of seventy-two degrees Fahrenheit (72°F) for cooling and heating design conditions shall be assumed.
   9. (2) All air-supply and air-exhaust systems shall be mechanically operated.

   10. (3)

       1. (A) Outdoor intakes shall be located as far as practical but not less than twenty-five feet (25’) in large freestanding birthing centers and ten feet (10’) in all other freestanding birthing centers from:

          1. (i) Exhaust outlets of ventilating systems;
          2. (ii) Combustion equipment stacks;
          3. (iii) Medical/surgical vacuum systems;
          4. (iv) Plumbing vents stacks; or
          5. (v) Areas that may collect vehicular exhaust and other noxious fumes.
       2. (B) The bottom of outdoor air intakes serving central systems shall be located as high as practical but not less than six feet (6’) above the ground level, or if installed above the roof, three feet (3’) above the roof level.

       3. (C) Exhaust outlets from areas that may be contaminated shall be:

          1. (i) Above roof level; and
          2. (ii) Arranged to minimize recirculation of exhaust air into the building.

   11. (4) It shall be prohibited to use exit access corridors, separated from building use areas by fire-rated partitions and providing access to exit, for return or exhaust from adjoining air conditioned spaces through louvers or other devices mounted in:

       1. (A) Corridor doors;
       2. (B) Partitions; or
       3. (C) Ceilings.
   12. (5) The space above ceilings shall not be used as plenum space to supply air to, return air from, or to exhaust air from any patient care area in large freestanding birthing centers.

   13. (6)

       1. (A) In large freestanding birthing centers, all central air conditioning systems shall be equipped with two (2) filters.

       2. (B) Filter bed number one (1) shall:

          1. (i) Be located upstream of the air conditioning equipment; and
          2. (ii) Have an efficiency of no less than thirty percent (30%).

       3. (C) Filter bed number two (2) shall:

          1. (i) Be located downstream of any fan or blowers; and
          2. (ii) Have an efficiency of no less than ninety percent (90%).
       4. (D) Filtration efficiency ratings shall be based on dust spot efficiency per ASHRAE 52-76.

   14. (7)

       1. (A) Noncentral air handling systems, i.e., individual room units that are used for heating and cooling purposes (fan-coil units, heat pump units, etc.), shall be equipped with permanent cleanable or replaceable filters.
       2. (B) The filters shall have a minimum efficiency of sixty-eight percent (68%) weight arrestance.
       3. (C) These units may be used as recirculating units only.
       4. (D) All outdoor air requirements shall be met by a separate central air handling system with the proper filtration.
   15. (8) Direct gas-fired space heating equipment (i.e., products of combustion are not separated from the air stream) shall not be used in patient care areas.

   16. (9)

       1. (A) Duct humidifiers, when located upstream of final filters, shall be:

          1. (i) Located a minimum of fifteen feet (15’) upstream of final filters; or
          2. (ii) Fitted with water removal devices that do not allow any water droplets to reach the filter.

       2. (B) Humidifiers shall be connected to air flow proving switches that prevent humidification unless:

          1. (i) The required volume of air flow is present; or
          2. (ii) High-limit humidistats are provided.
       3. (C) All duct takeoffs shall be sufficiently downstream of the humidifier to ensure complete moisture dissemination.
       4. (D) Humidifiers that utilize direct contact of water with the air stream shall not be used.

   17. (10)

       1. (A) Air handling duct systems shall meet the requirements of:

          1. (i) NFPA 90A; and
          2. (ii) Those contained herein.
       2. (B) When approved for use, flexible duct lengths shall be limited to a maximum of fourteen feet (14’).
   18. (11) Penetrations in barriers that have been designed to provide radiation shielding shall not compromise the effectiveness of the shielding.
   19. (12) Fire, smoke dampers, and smoke detectors shall be constructed, located, and installed in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 101.

   20. (13) Boiler rooms shall be provided with sufficient outdoor air to:

       1. (A) Maintain maximum combustion rates of equipment; and
       2. (B) Limit temperatures in working stations to ten degrees Fahrenheit (10°F) above design temperature.

Codification Notes: “ASME” means American Society of Mechanical Engineers. "NFPA" means National Fire Protection Assoication.