Section DHS 134.84 - Design(1) SUBMISSION OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS. (a) For all new construction: 1. One copy of the schematic and preliminary plans shall be submitted to the department for review and approval of the functional layout; and2. One copy of the working plans and specifications shall be submitted to the department for review and approval before construction is begun. The department shall notify the facility in writing of any divergence in the plans and specifications, as submitted, from the rules in this chapter.(b) The plans and specifications required under par. (a) shall show the general arrangement of the building, including a room schedule, fixed equipment for each room and room numbers, together with other pertinent information. Plans submitted shall be drawn to scale. (2) RESIDENT ROOMS. (a)Assignment of residents. Except as provided in s. DHS 134.31(3) (f) 1., residents of different sexes shall be separated by means of separate wings, floors or rooms.(b)Location.1. No resident bedroom may: a. Open directly to a kitchen or laundry;b. Be located so that a person must pass through the bedroom to get to any other part of the facility;c. Be located so that a person must pass through a toilet room or bathroom to get to any other part of the facility;d. Be located so that a person must pass through a kitchen or laundry to get to the resident's room; ore. Be located so that a person must pass through a kitchen or laundry to get to any other part of the facility.2. Each resident bedroom shall:a. Open directly into a corridor;b. Have an outside window or door that is openable;c. Be at or above street grade level; andd. In type II facilities, have walls that extend from floor to ceiling.(c)Size.1. Bedrooms in existing facilities shall have a floor area of at least 60 square feet per bed in multiple resident bedrooms and 80 square feet in single resident bedrooms, exclusive of vestibule, closets, built-in vanity and wardrobe, toilet rooms and built-in lockers.2. Bedrooms in new facilities shall have a floor area of at least 80 square feet per bed in multiple resident rooms and 100 square feet in single rooms, exclusive of vestibule, closets, built-in vanity and wardrobe, toilet rooms and built-in lockers.3. In all facilities, the ceiling height in bedrooms shall be a minimum of 7 feet, 6 inches.(d)Bed capacity. No more than 4 residents may occupy a room.(e)Bed arrangement. The beds shall be arranged so that they are at least 3 feet apart, and a clear aisle space of at least 3 feet shall be provided between any bed and the entrance to the room.(f)Windows. In type II facilities, the bottom sill of windows in residents' rooms shall be no more than 3 feet from the floor.(g)Closet space. A closet or locker shall be provided for each resident in the resident's bedroom. Space allowed for each closet or locker shall be at least 15 inches wide by 18 inches deep by 5 feet in height, with clothes racks and shelves accessible to the resident.(h)Room identification. Each bedroom shall be identified with a unique number placed on or near the door.(i)Design and proximity to baths. Residents' rooms shall be designed and equipped for the comfort of residents and shall be designed and equipped for the privacy of residents unless specifically contraindicated by program needs. Each bedroom shall have within it or adjacent to it, or shall be conveniently located near, adequate toilet and bathing facilities.(3) TOILET AND BATHING FACILITIES. (a)General. All lavatories shall have both hot and cold running water. Toilets shall be water-flushed and equipped with open front seats without lids.(b)Employee and family facilities. Toilets, baths and lavatories for use by employees and family members shall be separate from those used by residents, except in small facilities.(c)Facilities for persons with physical disabilities. Resident bathrooms and bathroom appliances shall be equipped for use by individuals with physical disabilities.(d)Grab bars. Grab bars shall be installed and firmly secured in toilet and bathing compartments.(e)Wheelchair access. On floors housing residents who use wheelchairs there shall be at least one toilet room large enough to accommodate wheelchairs. Note: Requirements for wheelchair access to toilets in health care facilities are contained in ch. SPS 362.
(f)Resident toilet and bathing facilities. In all facilities: 1. Separate toilet and lavatory facilities shall be provided for males and females in at least the following numbers: a. One toilet and one lavatory for every 8 female residents; andb. One toilet and one lavatory for every 8 male residents. One urinal may be substituted for one toilet for every 24 ambulatory male residents.2. One bathtub or shower shall be provided for every 20 residents, but in no case may there be fewer than 2 bathing facilities.3. Each bathtub, shower and toilet shall be separated in such a manner that it can be used independently and afford privacy, unless specifically contraindicated by program needs, and shall be located on the same floor as the bedrooms of the residents who use it.(4) DINING, RECREATION AND ACTIVITY AREAS. (a)Multipurpose room area. Each facility and each building housing residents within a facility complex shall have at least one furnished room or area, located near the residents' bedrooms, which can be used for dining, activity therapy or social activities of residents. This room or area, exclusive of walkways, shall provide a minimum of 15 square feet per resident except that in new construction minimum square footage per resident shall be as follows:1. For facilities with 16 or fewer residents, 60 square feet per resident;2. For facilities with 17 to 25 residents, 50 square feet per resident;3. For facilities with 26 to 50 residents, 30 square feet per resident; and4. For facilities with more than 50 residents, 25 square feet per resident.(b)Sufficiency of space in multipurpose rooms or areas. If a multipurpose room is used for dining, diversional, social and other resident activities, there shall be sufficient space in the room for these activities or the activities shall be scheduled in such a way as to accommodate all activities and minimize their interference with each other.(c)Dining area. Every facility or every building housing residents within a facility complex shall have at least one furnished dining room large enough to seat at least half of the residents at one time. Television trays or portable card tables may not be used as dining tables. Under no circumstances may the dining room be used as a bedroom.(5) FOOD SERVICE.(a)General. Every facility shall have a kitchen which shall be adequate to meet food service needs and shall be arranged and equipped for the refrigeration, storage, preparation and serving of food, as well as for dish and utensil cleaning and refuse storage and removal.(b)Type I facilities. In type I facilities: 1. The kitchen shall be located on the premises, or a sanitary method of transporting food shall be provided;2. Kitchen and food preparation areas may not open into resident rooms, toilet rooms or a laundry room or area;3. Adequate and convenient handwashing facilities shall be provided in the kitchen for use by food handlers, including hot and cold running water, soap and sanitary towels. Use of a common towel is prohibited;4. At least a 2-compartment sink for manual dishwashing shall be provided in kitchen or dishwashing areas. A 3-compartment sink shall be provided when replacement is necessary; and5. Rooms subject to sewage backflow or to condensation or leakage from overhead water or waste lines may not be used for food storage or preparation unless the food is effectively protected from contamination, which may involve storing the food a minimum of 6 inches above the floor, insulating water pipes or providing another means of preventing contamination of the food.(c)Type II facilities. In type II facilities:1. Kitchen and dietary facilities shall be provided to meet food service needs and shall be arranged and equipped for proper refrigeration, heating, storage, preparation and serving of food. Adequate space shall be provided for proper refuse handling and washing of waste receptacles, and for storage of cleaning compounds;2. Only traffic into and through kitchens incidental to the receiving, preparation and serving of food and drink shall be permitted;3. Toilet facilities may not open directly into the kitchen;4. Food day storage shall be provided adjacent to the kitchen and shall be ventilated to the outside, except in small facilities;5. A separate handwashing sink with soap dispenser, single-service towel dispenser or other approved hand-drying device shall be located in the kitchen, except in small facilities;6. A separate dishwashing area, preferably a separate room with mechanical ventilation, shall be provided, except in small facilities;7. For manual dishwashing: a. At least a 2-compartment sink shall be provided; andb. For all new construction or replacements, a 3-compartment sink with adequate drainboards at each end is required. In addition, a single-compartment sink located adjacent to the soiled utensil drainboard is recommended for prewashing. In lieu of the additional sink for prewashing, a well-type garbage disposal with overhead spray wash shall be provided. The additional sink may also be used for liquid waste disposal. The size of each sink compartment shall be adequate to permit immersion of at least 50% of the largest utensil used;8. Except in small facilities, mechanical dishwashers, where provided, shall be on the national sanitation foundation's list of approved food service equipment, or shall be approved by the department; Note: The National Sanitation Foundation's "Listing of Food Service Equipment" is kept on file and may be consulted in the offices of the Department's Bureau of Public Health and the Legislative Reference Bureau. The publication may be purchased from the National Sanitation Foundation, NSF Building, P.O. Box 1468, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106.
9. Except in small facilities, temperature gauges shall be provided in the wash compartment of all mechanical dishwashers and in the rinse water line at the machine of a spray-type mechanical dishwasher or in the rinse water tank of an immersion-type dishwasher. The temperature gauges shall be readily visible, fast-acting and accurate to plus or minus 2º F. or 1º C;10. Except in small facilities, approved automatic fire extinguishing equipment shall be provided in hoods and attached ducts above all food cooking equipment;11. The walls of the kitchen shall be of plaster or equivalent material with smooth, light-colored, nonabsorbent and washable surfaces;12. The ceiling in the kitchen shall be of plaster or equivalent material with smooth, light-colored, nonabsorbent and washable surfaces;13. The floors of all rooms in which food or drink is stored, prepared or served, or in which utensils are washed, except the eating areas of dining rooms, shall be of a construction that is nonabsorbent and easily cleaned;14. All openings to the out-of-doors from kitchen or food service areas shall be effectively screened. Screen doors shall be self-closing;15. All rooms in which food or drink is stored or prepared or in which utensils are washed shall be well-lighted; and16. Rooms subject to sewage backflow or to condensation or leakage from overhead water or waste lines may not be used for food storage or preparation unless the food is effectively protected from contamination, which may involve storing the food a minimum of 6 inches above the floor, insulating water pipes or providing another means of preventing contamination of the food.(6) STORAGE. (a)Residents' storage. One or more central storage areas shall be provided within the facility for storing residents' possessions such as trunks, luggage and off-season clothing. In new construction storage space shall total at least 50 cubic feet per resident bed.(b)General storage. A general storage area shall be provided in the facility for supplies, equipment, wheelchairs and mechanical devices.(c)Linen.1. A type I facility shall provide clean linen and dirty linen storage areas of adequate size for each living unit.2. A type II facility shall provide a clean linen closet or cabinet and a dirty linen closet or cabinet for each floor or wing.(7) FAMILY AND EMPLOYEE LIVING QUARTERS. Any family and employee living quarters shall be in an area of the facility separate from resident areas.(8) EMPLOYEE FACILITIES. The following shall be provided for employees but may not be located in food preparation, food storage or utensil washing areas or resident rooms:(a) Space for employee wraps, with lockers or other means for securing purses and other personal belongings when on duty;(b) Handwashing sinks in employee locker areas, each with a soap dispenser, and with a single-service towel dispenser or other approved hand-drying equipment, except in small facilities; and(c) Toilet facilities separate from those used by residents, except in small facilities.(9) JANITOR CLOSETS. In type II facilities, a ventilated closet shall be provided on each floor for janitor supplies. The closet shall be equipped with hot and cold running water and a service sink or receptor.(10) LAUNDRY. (a) Laundry room space shall be provided unless commercial laundry facilities are used. If laundry service is provided, laundry facilities shall be located in areas separate from resident areas and shall be provided with necessary washing, drying and ironing equipment.(b) Soiled linen may not be transported through or washed or rinsed in food preparation, serving or storage areas, nor may clean linen and clothes be dried or stored in the kitchen.(c) Where commercial laundries are used, a room for sorting, processing and storing soiled linen shall be provided. The room shall be mechanically ventilated.(d) All soiled linen, unless washed immediately after removal, shall be placed in non-absorbent, closed storage containers.(11) ADMINISTRATION AND RESIDENT ACTIVITY AREAS. Areas or rooms shall be provided in the facility for administration and resident activities. These areas or rooms shall be adequate in size to meet the needs of the facility and residents. The areas or rooms may be combined, provided that the resulting arrangements do not threaten the safety of residents or interfere with resident care and nursing practices or with meeting the social needs of residents.(12) MIXED OCCUPANCY. Rooms or areas within the facility may be used for occupancy by individuals other than residents and facility staff if the following conditions are met: (a) The use of these rooms does not interfere with services provided to residents; and(b) The administrator takes reasonable steps to ensure that the health, safety and rights of residents are protected.(13) LOCATION OF FACILITIES.(a) The site of the facility shall conform to local zoning regulations and shall be free from noise, odors and other environmental nuisances.(b) Employees and visitors shall have easy access to the facility site. The facility's location shall promote the health, treatment, comfort, safety and well-being of residents. The site shall be located so that an organized fire department can quickly respond to fire emergencies.(c) A minimum of 15 square feet per resident bed shall be provided around the facility for an outdoor recreation area, exclusive of driveways and parking area.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Health Services DHS 134.84
Cr. Register, June, 1988, No. 390, eff. 7-1-88; CR 04-053: am. (5) (c) 12. Register October 2004 No. 586, eff. 11-1-04.Amended by, CR 20-068: am. (3) (c) Register November 2021 No. 792, eff. 1/1/2022