Okla. Admin. Code § 310:615-1-4

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 310:615-1-4 - Construction design

(a)New construction.

(1) Prior to construction commencement of a new ambulatory surgical center, or of additions, alterations, remodeling of existing facilities or of the remodeling of any facility for the purpose of establishing an ambulatory surgical center, proposed construction documents prepared by an architect licensed by the Board of Governors, State of Oklahoma, containing complete plans and specifications, shall be submitted to the Department for review and approval.

(2) All engineering requirements established for proposed projects shall be prepared by professional engineers registered to practice in the State of Oklahoma.

(3) Proposed construction documents shall be of such detail as to allow complete functional and construction evaluation, including site use.

(b)Modernization projects.

(1) Where modernization or replacement work is done within an existing facility, all new work or additions shall comply with applicable sections of this document and with appropriate parts of NFPA 101, covering New Health care occupancies. Where major structural elements make total compliance impractical or impossible, exceptions may be considered.

(2) When construction is complete the facility shall satisfy functional requirements for an Ambulatory Surgical center in an environment that will provide acceptable care and safety to all occupants.

(3) In modernization projects and additions to existing facilities, only that portion of the total facility affected by the project shall comply with applicable sections of this document and appropriate parts of NFPA 101 covering New Health Care occupancies.

(4) Those existing portions of the facility which are not included in modernization or renovation, but which are essential to the functioning of the complete facility, as well as existing building areas that receive less than substantial amounts of new work shall comply with that section of NFPA 101 for Existing Health Care Occupancies.

(5) When a building is converted from one occupancy to another, it shall comply with the new occupancy requirements.

(6) When parts of an existing facility essential to continued operation cannot comply with all standards of this document, those standards may be waived if patient care and safety are not jeopardized.

(7) Modernization, alteration or new additions shall not reduce the safety level existing prior to the beginning of the new work.

(8) Approval may be given for renovations for less than an entire structure under these regulations because of financial consideration if the facility and occupant safety is not jeopardized by the remaining non-conforming sections. Approval will be limited to those fire sections which can be completely separated by a fire rated construction envelope of not less than two hour fire resistance containing approved labeled fire doors, if required, of class B, 1 1/2 hour construction.

(c)Special design standards for the handicapped.

(1) Facilities shall be accessible to the Handicapped.

(2) Accessibility shall be under the provisions of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A117. 1 or Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS).

(d)Provisions for disasters.

(1) Facilities shall be designed and constructed to withstand the force assumptions of the local building code.

(2) Multi-story buildings, subdivided into separate units by seismic joints, shall provide an exit stairway for evacuation without crossing seismic joints.

(3) Construction and coverage of all seismic joints shall be designed to minimize passage of fire and/or smoke horizontally and vertically.

(4) Structural design shall be such that it will protect occupants and provide continued essential services where a history of tornadoes, flooding or earthquakes exist. Provisions taken against damage from seismic tremors does not insure adequate protection from wind damage.

(5) New facilities shall not locate in designated flood plains.

(e)Codes and standards. Codes and standards which have been referenced in whole or in part in various sections of this document are listed in Subchapter 7, Codes and standards. Names of originators are also included for information. The issues available at the time of publication are used. Later issues will normally be acceptable where requirements for function and safety are not reduced; however, editions of different dates may have portions renumbered or retitled. Care must be taken to insure that appropriate sections are used.

(f)Equivalency.

(1) This Chapter shall not be construed as restricting or limiting innovations that provide an equivalent level of performance, provided other elements or systems are not compromised.

(2) FSES evaluation shall be considered for possible equivalencies when existing structural conditions make compliance with NFPA 101 impractical, provided the entire building meets FSES code.

Okla. Admin. Code § 310:615-1-4

Revoked and reenacted at 9 Ok Reg 2021, eff 6-11-92