Hospital Construction Standards Rules Project

Expected Submission Review Time is 75 days (More about our timeline)

What does this mean for my project? For planning purposes it’s important to understand that this estimate of review time is not the time it takes to review an entire project or receive a facility license.  A “submission” means a distinct set of information (typically plans, specifications, programs, etc.) given to construction review to analyze for compliance with state rules. After a submission is reviewed, there will often be comments that must be responded to and drawings that must be revised. After your design team revises plans and responds to comments, they submit those revisions as a new "submission." A project will often take several submissions to complete.

The number above is a rough estimate for an average submission. Submissions for larger projects will take longer. The construction review program experiences significant shifts in workload and bandwidth, so it’s always best to contact your assigned plan reviewer to get a more accurate read on how long a particular review may take.

Hospital Construction Standards Rules Project: 2022-Facilities Guidelines

Background

Hospital licensing construction standards set minimum requirements for new construction and renovation of licensed hospitals. Healthcare design and construction processes are complex and highly specialized. The design and construction industry constantly evolves to include new materials, technologies and methods. It is in the interest and safety of the public and the healthcare system to have facilities designed to the most current standards.

On July 18, 2023, the Department of Health's (department) Office of Community Health Systems, Construction Review Services unit officially filed a CR-101 (pre-proposal statement of inquiry) with the Office of the Code Reviser to open chapter 246-320 WAC (construction standards only) for possible modification, WSR #12-15-082. As part of this process, the department has also withdrawn an outdated CR-101, filed in August 2018 as WSR 18-17-045. This rulemaking process will consider aligning our state licensing standards with current national construction standards. Potential rules revisions would allow facilities and designers to use new construction methods and technologies.

Important Dates, Documents, and Information

The Department's rule-making process

Communications

To receive updates via email about draft and proposed rules changes and other important messages from Construction Review Services (CRS), join the Construction Review Gov Delivery (previously known as the CRS Listserv).

Contacts

Quick Links

Applying to CRS | Applications | Certificate of Need (CoN) | Desk Reference Manuals | Local AHJ (courtesy of WABO) | Plan Review Fee