N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 10 § 711.3

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 43, October 23, 2024

Section 711.3 - Site requirements

(a) Each health facility shall be easily accessible to patients or residents, staff and visitors and to service vehicles such as fire protection apparatus. Health facility grounds shall have paved roads and walkways to provide access to all public and service entrances, including loading docks. Emergency department entrances shall be conspicuously marked to facilitate access from public roads and streets. Access to emergency entrances shall not conflict with other vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

(b) Health facilities shall be located with due regard to the accessibility by public transportation for patients, staff and visitors and the availability of competent medical and surgical consultation.

(c) Off-street parking shall be made available for patients, staff and visitors. In urban areas where a health facility is accessible by public transportation, the commissioner may waive the requirement for off-street parking, if compliance with this requirement is burdensome or unnecessary because adequate parking exists to accommodate patients, staff and visitors.

(d) In earthquake prone regions, health facilities that are subdivided into separate structural units by seismic joints, each unit shall be provided with an exit stairway to permit evacuation from the building without traversing the seismic joints. Special care shall be taken to anchor fixed equipment, suspended ceilings, light fixtures and similar items to minimize hazard to occupants and damage to the equipment and building during an earthquake. Storage shelves and racks holding breakable or fragile supplies shall be designed to retain their contents when subject to the lateral forces of an earthquake.

(e) If a health facility is located in a flood plain, the commissioner may require that the health facility comply with any, or all, of the following:

(1) Health facility footings, foundations, and structural frame shall be designed to be stable under flood conditions.

(2) A helicopter landing pad shall be located on the facility roof and shall be structurally sound and suitable for safe helicopter evacuations of patients and staff.

(3) The health facility shall be designed and capable of providing services necessary to maintain the life and safety of patients and staff if floodwaters reach the 100-year flood crest level and shall include the following:

(i) electrical service, emergency power supply, heating, ventilating and sterilizers;

(ii) main internal communication capability, including nurses' call systems and the fire alarm system;

(iii) dietary service;

(iv) an acceptable alternate to the normal water supply system;

(v) an acceptable emergency means of storage and/or disposal of sewage, biological waste, and garbage;

(vi) emergency department service; and

(vii) x-ray service.

(4) No floor level or basement shall be located below the 100-year flood crest level, unless specifically approved by the commissioner. On those floor levels or basements that the commissioner approves to be below the 100-year flood crest level:

(i) all new partitions shall be constructed without void such as solid concrete, solid concrete block, or other solid material;

(ii) no new carpeting shall be installed; and

(iii) the following services and equipment shall not be provided or located in such area:

(a) medical records storage area;

(b) medical records library;

(c) surgical suite; and

(d) such other services and fixed equipment that the commissioner may determine, taking into consideration patient safety and cost of replacement.

(5) Storage of available building plans of the existing buildings shall be above the 100-year flood crest level.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 10 § 711.3