DAR File No. 28679

Health, Health Systems Improvement, Licensing

R432-6

Assisted Living Facility General Construction

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE

DAR File No.: 28679
Filed: 04/27/2006, 07:38
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rulemaking removes the requirement for assisted living facilities to build a two-room laundry facility. The proposed rule would only require one room for laundry processing, combining the soiled and clean processes into the same room.

Summary of the rule or change:

The proposed rule amendments will change the requirements for assisted living facility construction of laundry facilities. It will take out the requirement for these facilities to have two separate rooms for laundry processing. The rule will still require that all other laundry processing requirements remain the same, and will add a dimension to the pre-wash sink to ensure that it is large enough to meet the needs of the facilities. The rule currently requires a soiled and clean laundry room to process laundry.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Title 26, Chapter 21

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There is no anticipated cost to the state budget. This rule amendment will only affect providers of new assisted living facilities.

local governments:

There is no anticipated cost to the local governments. This rule amendment will only affect providers of new assisted living facilities. No local governments operate assisted living facilities.

other persons:

There will be an anticipated cost savings to assisted living providers that are building new facilities. The average size of a soiled linen room is approximately 12' X 12'. The average construction cost per square foot is $100, which adds up to a savings of approximately $14,400 per new project. There are about five new assisted living projects that submit plans to the Department of Health every year. The overall savings to new providers is estimated at $72,000 per year.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There will be no cost to any persons from this rule amendment. The rule will decrease the construction requirements of assisted living facilities, resulting in a cost savings to new providers.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

This rule change will decrease construction costs without compromising resident safety. A. Richard Melton, Acting Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Joel Hoffman at the above address, by phone at 801-538-6165, by FAX at 801-538-6163, or by Internet E-mail at jhoffman@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

06/14/2006

This rule may become effective on:

06/15/2006

Authorized by:

David N. Sundwall, Executive Director

RULE TEXT

R432. Health, Health Systems Improvement, Licensing.

R432-6. Assisted Living Facility General Construction.

R432-6-22. Mechanical, Heating, Cooling and Ventilation Systems.

(1) The HVAC system design shall prevent large temperature differentials, high velocity supply, excessive noise, and air stagnation.

(2) Air supply and exhaust in rooms for which no minimum total air change rate is mandated by Table 2 may vary to zero in response to room load.

(3) Mechanical ventilation shall be provided for interior spaces independent of thermostat-controlled demands.

(a) Minimum total air change, room temperature, and temperature control shall comply with standards in Table 2.

(b) To maintain asepsis and odor control, airflow supply and exhaust shall be controlled to ensure movement of air from clean to less clean areas.

(c) Rooms containing heat-producing equipment shall be insulated and ventilated to prevent the floor surface above or the walls of adjacent occupied areas from exceeding a temperature of ten degrees Fahrenheit above ambient room temperature.

(d) All rooms and occupiable areas in the facility shall have provisions for ventilation. Natural window ventilation may be used for ventilation of nonsensitive areas and resident rooms when weather conditions permit, but mechanical ventilation shall be provided during periods of temperature extremes.

(e) The heating system shall be capable of maintaining temperatures of 80 degrees F. in areas occupied by residents.

(f) The cooling system shall be capable of maintaining temperatures of 72 degrees F. in areas occupied by residents.

(g) Equipment must be available to provide essential heating during a loss of normal heating capability. All emergency heating devices shall be approved by the local fire jurisdiction.

(h) Fans serving exhaust systems shall be located at the discharge end and shall be readily serviceable. Exhaust fans may be on the inlet side if individually ducted directly to the outside.

(i) Fresh air intakes shall be located at least 10 feet from exhaust outlets of ventilating systems, combustion equipment stacks, plumbing vents, or areas subject to vehicular exhaust or other noxious fumes.

(j) All ventilation, air conditioning systems and air delivery equipment, including through wall units, shall be equipped with filters in accordance with Table 2.

(k) Gravity exhaust may be used where conditions permit for boiler rooms, central storage, and other nonresident areas.

(l) The ventilation system shall be air tested and balanced prior to the final Department construction inspection. The initial test results and air balancing report shall be maintained for Department review.

TABLE 2
Ventilation Requirements

AREA          AIR         MINIMUM    MINIMUM      ALL AIR

DESIGNATION   MOVEMENT    AIR        TOTAL AIR    EXHAUSTED

             IN          CHANGES    CHANGES      OUTSIDE

             RELATION    OF         PER HOUR

             TO          OUTDOOR

             ADJACENT    AIR PER

             AREAS       HOUR TO

                         ROOM



Bath and      N           Optional    10           YES

Shower

Rooms



Clean         P           Optional     2           Optional

Linen

Storage



Dietary       V           Optional      2          Optional

Day

Storage



Food          E           2            10          YES

Preparation

Center



Janitors'     N           Optional     10          YES

Closets



Laundry       V           2            10          YES



Corridor      E           Optional      2          Optional



Grooming      N           2             2          YES

Area



Resident      E           Greater       2          Optional

Room                                               of one air

                                                  change or

                                                  minimum 20 CFM/

                                                  person



Soiled        N           Optional     10          YES

Linen

[Sorting

and

Storage]holding



Toilet        N           Optional      10         YES

Rooms

Ware          N           Optional      10         YES

Washing



Common        E           2              2         Optional



Areas



E = Equal; N = Negative; P = Positive; V = Variable

(m) The requirements of Table 2 do not apply to limited capacity facilities. Limited capacity facilities shall provide exhaust for kitchens and bathrooms.

(n) If an existing building bathroom or toilet room is not exhausted to the outside, the licensee may submit a Request for Agency Action Variance to the Table 2 requirements at the time of initial licensing.

(4) All areas for resident care, and those areas providing direct service or clean supplies shall provide at least one filter bed with a minimum of 30% efficiency.

(5) All administrative, bulk storage, soiled holding, food preparation and laundries shall provide at least one filter bed with a minimum of 25% efficiency.

R432-6-210. Linen Services.

(1) Each facility shall have space and equipment to store and process clean and soiled linen as required for resident care. Laundry may be done within the facility, in a building on or off-site, or in a commercial or shared laundry.

(2) If laundry is done off the site, the following shall be provided:

(a) a room for receiving and holding soiled linen until ready for pickup or processing;

(b) a central, clean linen storage room(s); and

(c) a lavatory in each area where unbagged, soiled linen is handled.

(3) If a large or small facility processes its own laundry on-site, the following shall be provided:

(a) a laundry room for receiving, holding, washing, drying, and sorting soiled linens, with the following:

(i) a pre-wash [clinical ]sink at least 13 inches deep by 20 inches wide;[facilities]

(ii) [and]a separate hand washing [facilities ]sink;

[(b)](iii) [a laundry processing room with ]washer(s) and dryer(s); and

[(c) rooms (a) and (b) above must be separated by a door with a self closing device installed;

(d)](iv) storage for laundry supplies;

[(e)](b) arrangement of equipment that will permit an orderly workflow and minimize cross-traffic that might mix clean and soiled operations; and

[(f)](c) a central, clean linen storage room(s);[

(g) Facilities may provide holding rooms on each level for bagged, soiled linen.]

(4) If a limited capacity facility processes its own laundry on-site, the following shall be provided:

(a) a room to store and process both clean and soiled linen;

(b) a washer and dryer; and

(c) a utility sink in the laundry room.

(5) Each facility shall provide a minimum of one washing machine, one clothes dryer, and ironing equipment in good working order for resident use.

KEY: health facilities

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [December 19, 2002]2006

Notice of Continuation: January 8, 2004

Authorizing and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 26-21-5; 26-21-16

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For questions regarding the content or application of this rule, please contact Joel Hoffman at the above address, by phone at 801-538-6165, by FAX at 801-538-6163, or by Internet E-mail at jhoffman@utah.gov

For questions about the rulemaking process, please contact the Division of Administrative Rules (801-538-3764). Please Note: The Division of Administrative Rules is NOT able to answer questions about the content or application of these administrative rules.