Section 11-99-7 - Construction requirements(a) The facility shall be accessible to and functional for physically handicapped residents, personnel, and the public.(b) New construction and remodeling shall be guided by "Minimum Requirements of Construction and Equipment for Hospital and Medical Facilities DHEW #79-14500" as it existed in 1984. (1) Resident living areas shall be designed and equipped for the comfort and privacy of the resident.(2) Temperature and humidity shall be maintained within a normal comfort range.(3) There shall be provisions within the facility for one or more areas for resident dining, diversional, and social activities. Total area for recreational and dining activities shall be not less than fifty square feet per resident. (A) Dayrooms of at least thirty square feet per resident shall be equipped with reading lamps, tables, chairs, or their equivalent, for the use and comfort of the residents.(B) Dining areas of at least twenty square feet per resident shall be equipped with tables and safe chairs. A sufficient number of tables shall be of proper height to accommodate wheelchair bound residents.(C) If a multi-purpose room is used for dining, diversional and social activities, there shall be sufficient space to accommodate all activities and prevent their interference with each other.(D) In the event that nonresidents utilize all or part of the facilities on a regular basis, additional space and facilities must be provided on the following basis for such persons: (i) Twenty square feet per person in dining areas;(ii) Thirty square feet per person in recreational areas;(iii) One conveniently located toilet for each eight persons;(iv) Sufficient additional staff persons shall be provided to care for the needs of such persons without compromising the care of the regular residents of the facility.(4) Illumination shall be provided for the comfort and safety of residents and personnel.(5) Wall or door mirrors shall be provided and placed at convenient heights for resident's use.(c) Accessibility to living and service areas. (1) There shall be adequate space to allow free movement of occupants using wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and crutches to bed, bathroom, closet and common hallway areas.(2) Areas used for recreation, cooking, dining, storage, bathrooms, laundries, foyers, corridors, lanais, libraries, and other areas not suitable for sleeping shall not be used as bedrooms.(3) Access from each bedroom to a bathroom, toilet, corridor, central utility or other areas of the facility shall not require passing through another bedroom, cooking, dining, or recreation area.(4) All occupants of any bedroom shall be of the same sex, except for those semi-private rooms which may be occupied by a married couple upon request.(d) Toilet and bath facilities. (1) Each resident shall have access to a toilet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower on the same floor as the resident's bedroom.(2) One toilet room shall serve no more than eight beds. It shall contain a toilet and lavatory. The lavatory may be omitted from a toilet room which serves single and multi-bed rooms if each such resident's room contains a lavatory.(3) There shall be toilet and bathing facilities appropriate in number, size, and design to meet the needs of the residents.(4) Appropriately placed grab bars shall be provided in each toilet and bathtub or shower enclosure.(5) Curtains or doors to ensure privacy shall be provided.(6) An adequate supply of hot and cold potable running water must be provided at all times. Temperatures of hot water at plumbing fixtures used by residents shall be automatically regulated and shall not exceed 110°F.(7) Toilet and bath facilities shall have a means of signaling staff in an emergency.(8) Where bedpans are used, equipment for their cleaning and sterilization shall be provided in an appropriate area of the facility.(9) Provisions shall be made for sterilization of permanent personal care equipment unless disposables are used.(e) Resident bedrooms. (1) Each room shall be at or above grade level.(2) Windows in each bedroom shall have adequate means of ensuring privacy.(3) Multi-resident bedrooms shall have no more than four beds.(4) Single resident rooms shall measure at least ninety square feet of usable space, excluding closets, bathrooms, alcoves, and entryways.(5) Multi-resident bedrooms shall provide a minimum of seventy square feet per bed of usable space, excluding closets, bathrooms, alcoves, and entryways.(6) Bedside privacy shall be provided upon request or when caring for a resident in multi-resident bedrooms. An individual sheet blanket shall be used when bed baths are given.(7) Beds shall be placed at least three feet apart.(8) Each resident shall be provided with: (A) A separate bed of proper size and height for the convenience of the resident and permitting an individual in a wheelchair to get in and out of bed unassisted.(B) A mattress and a pillow in good condition both of which have been rendered relatively impermeable to liquids.(C) Sufficient clean bed linen and blankets to meet the resident's needs.(D) Appropriate furniture, cabinets, and closets, which shall be accessible to and usable by the physically handicapped. Doors on a closet or furniture shall contain locks if requested by a resident.(E) an effective means of signaling staff from resident's bedside.(f) Ramps shall be designed to permit use by residents in wheelchairs. Ramps shall meet the provision requirements of the Uniform Building Code 1979 and its revisions.(g) Floor and walls. (1) Floors shall be of slip-resistant material which does not retain odors and is flush at doorways.(2) Walls, floors and ceilings of rooms used by residents shall be made of materials which shall permit washing, cleaning, and painting.(h) Windows and lighting. (1) Each bedroom shall have at least one outside window.(2) A bedroom shall have an aggregate window area of not less than one-tenth of the gross floor area.(3) Residents' rooms shall have adequate artificial light.(4) There shall be night lighting in residents' rooms, toilets, and service areas.(5) In each room utilized by wheelchair residents, at least one window shall be low enough to permit outdoor viewing by the wheelchair-bound resident.(i) Where appropriate, screening of doors and windows shall be provided, using screening having sixteen meshes per inch.(j) Doors. (1) Sliding doors or folding doors shall not be used as exit doors, and if used in other areas, shall be of light material and easy to handle.(2) Double acting doors shall be provided with vision panels of sufficient height to permit use by walkers as well as wheelchair riders.(k) Corridors. The minimum clear width of a corridor shall be thirty-six inches except that corridors serving one or more non-ambulatory or semi-ambulatory residents shall be not less than forty-four inches in width.(l) Storage space. (1) Locked space shall be provided for janitor's supplies and equipment.(2) Space, conveniently located, for other equipment shall be provided.(m) Water supply. The water supply shall be in accordance with the provisions of chapter 340-E, HRS. § 11-99-7(n) Ventilation. Chapter 11-39, Administrative Rules, relating to air conditioning and ventilating, shall be followed.(o) Additions and alterations or repairs to existing buildings. (1) This section does not prohibit the use of equivalent alternate space utilizations, new concepts of plan designs and material or systems if written approval of such alternatives is granted by the department.(2) Drawings and specifications for all new construction or additions, alterations, or repairs to existing buildings subject to this chapter shall be submitted to the department for review and a certificate of need where applicable.(3) Construction shall not commence prior to the department's approval of construction drawings and specifications which shall comply with these rules, the county fire codes, and county building codes and ordinances.(4) The department shall review such submittals and advise the applicant in writing of its determination.(5) The department may make written recommendations to the applicant for its consideration, but the recommendations shall not be considered mandatory.(6) Unless construction is commenced within one year of the approval of final construction drawings and specifications, the construction drawings and specifications, together with their application shall be resubmitted for review and approval.(7) Minor alterations which do not affect structural integrity, fire safety, or change functional operation, or which do not increase beds or services over that for which the facility is licensed may be submitted by freehand drawings or by more conventional drawings and specifications.(8) Maintenance and repair routinely performed by the facility do not require review or approval by the department.(9) Facilities shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with provisions of state and county zoning, building, fire safety, and sanitation codes and laws applicable in the State of Hawaii.[Eff. APR 29, 1985] (Auth: HRS §§ 321-9, 321-10, 321-11, 333-53) (Imp: HRS §§ 321-11, 333-51)