Texas Register, Volume 23, Number 49, Part III, Pages 12311-12450, December 4, 1998 Page: 12,344
12311-12450 p. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Recognized engineering practices shall be followed to achieve the
most economical and effective results except that in no case shall
patient care or safety be sacrificed for conservation.
(2) Equipment location. Mechanical equipment may be
located indoors or outdoors (when in a weatherproof enclosure), or
in a separate building(s).
(3) Vibration isolation. Mechanical equipment shall be
mounted on vibration isolators as required to prevent unacceptable
structure-borne vibration. Ducts, pipes, etc. connected to mechanical
equipment which is a source of vibration shall be isolated from the
equipment with vibration isolators.
(4) Performance and acceptance. Prior to completion and
acceptance of the facility, all mechanical systems shall be tested,
balanced, and operated to demonstrate to the design engineer or his
representative that the installation and performance of these systems
conform to the requirements of the plans and specifications.
(A) Material lists. Upon completion of the contract,
the owner shall be provided with parts lists and procurement infor-
mation with numbers and description for each piece of equipmesit
(B) Instructions. Upon completion of the contract, the
owner shall be provided with instructions in the operational use of
systems and equipment as required.systems.
(5) Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC)
(A) All central HVAC systems shall comply with and
shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 90A,
"Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating
Systems," 1996 edition, or NFPA 90B, "Standard for the Installation
of Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Systems," 1996 edition, as
applicable and the requirements contained in this subparagraph. Air
handling units serving two or more rooms are considered to be central
units. All documents published by NFPA as referenced in this section
may be obtained by writing or calling the NFPA at the following
address or telephone number National Fire Protection Association,
1 Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9101, Quincy, MA 02269-9101 or
(800) 344-3555.
(B) Non-central air handling systems, i.e., individual
room units that are used for heating and cooling purposes (e.g.,
fan-coil units, heat pump units) shall be equipped with permanent
(cleanable) or replaceable filters. The filters shall have a minimum
efficiency of 68% weight arrestance. These units may be used as
recirculating units only. All outdoor air requirements shall be met by
a separate central air handling system with the proper filtration, as
required in Table 1 in 135.54(a) of this title (relating to Tables).
(C) Ventilation system requirements. All rooms and
areas in the center shall have provision for positive ventilation. Fans
serving exhaust systems shall be located at the discharge end and
shall be conveniently accessible for service. Exhaust systems may
be combined, unless otherwise noted, for efficient use of recovery
devices required for energy conservation. The ventilation rates shown
in Table 1 of 135.54(a) of this title shall be used only as minimum
requirements since they do not preclude the use of higher rates that
may be appropriate.
(i) Temperatures and humidities. The designed
capacity of the systems shall be capable of providing the following
ranges of temperatures and humidities.
(1) Operating room. The systems serving the
operating room shall be capable of maintaining a temperature rangebetween 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity range
between 45% and 60%.
(11) Recovery room. The system serving the
recovery room shall be capable of maintaining a temperature of 75
degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity range between 45% and
60%.
(III) Other areas. The indoor design temperature
in all other patient care areas shall be 75 degrees Fahrenheit with
relative humidity of not less than 30%.
(i4) Thermometers and humidity gauges. Each
operating room and recovery room shall have temperature and
humidity indicating devices mounted at eye level.
(iii) Air handling duct requirements. Fully ducted
supply, return and exhaust air systems shall be provided for all patient
care areas. Combination systems, utilizing both ducts and plenums
for movement of air in these areas shall not be permitted.
(I) X-ray protection. Ducts which penetrate
construction intended for X-ray or other ray protection shall not
impair the effectiveness of the protection.
(II) Protection of ducts penetrating fire and
smoke partitions. Combination fire and smoke leakage limiting
dampers (Class II) shall be installed in accordance with manufac-
turer's instructions for all ducts penetrating 1-hour rated fire and
smoke partitions required by NFPA 101, 12-6.3.7 (not required in
ASCs meeting the provisions of NFPA 101, 12-6.3.7.3, Exception).
(-a-) Fail-safe installation. Combination
smoke and fire dampers shall close on activation of the fire alarm
system by smoke detectors installed and located as required by
NFPA 72, Chapter 5, "National Fire Alarm Code," 1996 edition;
NFPA 90A, Chapter 4; and NFPA 101, 12-6.3.7; the fire sprinkler
system; and upon loss of power. Smoke dampers shall not close by
fan shut-down alone. This requirement applies to all existing and
new installations.
(-b-) Interconnection of air handling fans
and smoke dampers. Air handling fans and smoke damper controls
shall be interconnected so that closing of smoke dampers will not
damage the ducts.
(-c-) Frangible devices. The use of frangible
(nonresetting) devices for shutting smoke dampers shall not be
permitted.
(iv) Outside air intake locations.
(7) Outside air intakes shall be located at least
25 feet from exhaust outlets of ventilating systems, combustion
equipment stacks, medical-surgical vacuum systems, plumbing vents,
or areas which may collect vehicular exhaust or other noxious fumes.
(Prevailing winds and proximity to other structures may require other
arrangements).
(II) Plumbing and vacuum vents that terminate
five feet above the level of the top of the air intake may be located
as close as 10 feet to the air intake.
(Ill) The bottom of outside air intakes shall be
located not less than six feet above ground level. The bottom of
outside air intakes located on a roof shall be not less than three feet
above a roof level
(v) Air exhaust outlets. Exhaust outlets from areas
having ethylene oxide sterilizers and other contaminants shall be
above the roof level and arranged to exhaust upward23 TexReg 12344 December 4, 1998 Texas Register
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Texas. Secretary of State. Texas Register, Volume 23, Number 49, Part III, Pages 12311-12450, December 4, 1998, periodical, December 4, 1998; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth379980/m1/44/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.