WAC 246-320-500   Applicability of WAC 246-320-500 through246-320-600 .  The purpose of construction regulations is to provide for a safe and effective patient care environment. These rules are not retroactive and are intended to be applied as outlined below.

     (1) These regulations apply to hospitals including:

     (a) New buildings to be licensed as a hospital;

     (b) Conversion of an existing building or portion of an existing building for use as a hospital;

     (c) Additions to an existing hospital;

     (d) Alterations to an existing hospital; and

     (e) Buildings or portions of buildings licensed as a hospital and used for hospital services;

     (f) Excluding nonpatient care buildings used exclusively for administration functions.

     (2) The requirements of chapter 246-320 WAC in effect at the time the application and fee are submitted to the department, and project number is assigned by the department, apply for the duration of the construction project.

     (3) Standards for design and construction.

     Facilities constructed and intended for use under this chapter shall comply with:

     (a) The following chapters of the 2010 edition of the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities as published by the American Society for Healthcare Engineering of the American Hospital Association, 155 North Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606, as amended in WAC 246-320-600:

     (i) 1.1 Introduction

     (ii) 1.2 Planning, Design, Construction, and Commissioning

     (iii) 1.3 Site

     (iv) 1.4 Equipment

     (v) 2.1 Common Elements for Hospitals

     (vi) 2.2 Specific Requirements for General Hospitals

     (vii) 2.4 Specific Requirements for Critical Access Hospitals (Reserved)

     (viii) 2.5 Specific Requirements for Psychiatric Hospitals

     (ix) 2.6 Specific Requirements for Rehabilitation Hospitals and Other Facilities

     (x) 3.1 Common Elements for Outpatient Facilities

     (xi) 3.2 Specific Requirements for Primary Care Outpatient Centers

     (xii) 3.3 Specific Requirements for Small Primary Care (Neighborhood) Outpatient Facilities

     (xiii) 3.4 Specific Requirements for Freestanding Outpatient Diagnostic and Treatment Facilities

     (xiv) 3.6 Specific Requirements for Freestanding Cancer Treatment Facilities

     (xv) 3.7 Specific Requirements for Outpatient Surgical Facilities

     (xvi) 3.8 Specific Requirements for Office Surgical Facilities

     (xvii) 3.9 Specific Requirements for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Facilities

     (xviii) 3.10 Specific Requirements for Renal Dialysis Centers

     (xix) 3.11 Specific Requirements for Psychiatric Outpatient Centers

     (xx) 3.12 Specific Requirements for Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities

     (xxi) 4.3 Specific Requirements for Hospice Facilities

     (xxii) 5.1 Mobile, Transportable, and Relocatable Units

     (xxiii) 5.2 Freestanding Birth Centers

     (xxiv) Part 6: Ventilation of Health Care Facilities

     (b) The National Fire Protection Association, Life Safety Code, NFPA 101, 2000.

     (c) The State Building Code as adopted by the state building code council under the authority of chapter 19.27 RCW.

     (d) Accepted procedure and practice in cross-contamination control, Pacific Northwest Edition, 6th Edition, December 1995, American Waterworks Association.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.41 RCW. 10-17-120, § 246-320-500, filed 8/18/10, effective 9/18/10; 08-14-023, § 246-320-500, filed 6/20/08, effective 7/21/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.41.030 and 43.70.040. 99-04-052, § 246-320-500, filed 1/28/99, effective 3/10/99.]