N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 10 §§ 712-1.27

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

Section 712-1.27 - Mechanical requirements

(a) Boilers shall have the capacity to supply the normal requirements of all steam and hot water systems and equipment. The number and arrangement of boilers shall be such that when one boiler breaks down or when routine maintenance requires that one boiler be temporarily taken out of service, the capacity of the remaining boilers shall be sufficient to operate all systems.

(b) Boiler feed pumps, condensate return pumps, fuel oil pumps and heating circulating pumps shall be connected and installed to provide standby service when any pump breaks down.

(c) Heating systems shall be capable of maintaining all rooms other than operating, delivery, recovery, nursery, and intensive care rooms at a minimum temperature of 75° F.

(d) Air conditioning systems shall be provided, capable of maintaining temperature and relative humidity at or between the following ranges: Temperature (° F) Relative Humidity (%) Operating Rooms 70 - 76 50 - 60 Recovery Rooms 75 50 - 60 Intensive Care Rooms 75 - 80 30 - 60 Delivery Rooms 71 - 75 50 Nurseries 75 - 80 30 - 60

Filters for the above systems shall be provided with a minimum efficiency of 90 percent.

(e) All air supplied to the operating and delivery rooms and nurseries shall be delivered at or near the ceiling of the area served, and all air exhausted from the area shall be removed near floor level.

(f) Gravity heating or cooling units such as radiators or convectors may not be used in operating, delivery, recovery, nursery, intensive care rooms or kitchens.

(g) Patients' rooms shall have operable windows, which can be used for ventilation.

(h) Bathing rooms, soiled workrooms, soiled linen rooms and janitors' closets shall have mechanical exhaust ventilation. A wall or window exhaust fan with back-draft louvers may be accepted.

(i) Toilet rooms, bathrooms and physical therapy rooms shall have mechanical exhaust. However, a wall or window exhaust fan with back-draft louvers, or operable windows, which can be used for ventilation may also be accepted, as equivalents.

(j) Kitchen areas shall have a mechanical ventilating system with an equal supply and exhaust and a minimum of 10 air changes per hour. If all outside air is used, a filter with at least 35 percent efficiency shall be installed in the system. Dishwashing areas shall have an exhaust system with a minimum of 10 air changes per hour. Supply air for the dishwashing area may be taken from the kitchen. All exhaust air shall be discharged directly to the outdoors.

(k) Supply air for central ventilation systems for patient areas shall be provided with filters having an efficiency of 90 percent if air is recirculated, or 80 percent if all outdoor air is used.

(l) An incinerator shall be provided to treat biological, infectious, and pathological wastes, unless other methods of treatment and disposal of such wastes are approved. Design and construction of incinerators and refuse chutes shall meet the requirements for approval of the Department of Environmental Conservation and comply with NFPA 82, Standard on Incinerators and Waste and Linen Handling Systems and Equipment, as referenced in section 711.2(a) of this Title.

(m) All handwashing fixtures used by medical and nursing staff and food handlers shall be trimmed with valves that can be operated without the use of hands. Hand-operated faucets may be used on lavatories in patients' rooms and in patients' toilet rooms.

(n) Water systems shall be provided to supply water of sufficient pressure to operate all fixtures and equipment.

(o) Vacuum breakers shall be installed on hose bibbs and on all fixtures to which hoses or tubing can be attached such as laboratory and janitors' sinks, bedpan-flushing attachments and autopsy tables.

(p) The hot water heating equipment shall have sufficient capacity to supply water at the temperatures and amounts indicated below. The water temperature is to be taken at hot water point of use or inlet to processing equipment. Clinical Dietary Laundry Gallons (per hour per bed) 6-1/4 4 4-1/2 Temperature (° F) 110 120* 160**

*Wash water and rinse water when used as the sanitizer is to be provided at the temperature required by the equipment manufacturer, and 170° F when manual methods are used.

**Lower temperature is permitted if a controlled program of sanitizing has prior approval of the department.

(q) Building sewers shall discharge into a municipal sewerage system. Where such a system is not available, an approved sewage treatment system shall be used.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 10 §§ 712-1.27