Nursing Home Physical Environment

Department of Health

• Nursing Home Regulations
  • Chapter 388-97 WAC (Word) added April 2012
  • Chapter 388-97 WAC (PDF) added April 2012
• Construction Review Services
  • Chapter 246-314 WAC (Word) revised June 2012
  • Chapter 246-314 WAC (PDF) revised June 2012
  • Guideline for Creating a Functional Program (PDF)
  • Finishes Checklist/Guideline (PDF) revised August 2012
  • Patient Lift Systems Remember to submit installations to CRS (technical assistance fee applies). Added July 2012
  • Board of Pharmacy/Pharmacy Standards
  • Food Safety - Washington rules for safely serving or selling food
    • Chapter 246-215 WAC
  • Resources for Drinking Water and Cross Connection Controls
  • Certificate of Need (CoN)
    • CoN Application
    • Nursing Home bed requirements
  • Frequently Asked Questions (coming soon)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Facilities (PDF)
• Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings (PDF)

Department of Social and Health Services

• Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Aging and Disability Services website
• Illumination (lighting) in New Buildings and Additions – recommendations for healthcare facilities (resource for complying with WAC 388-97-3140)
• Ventilation and Acceptable indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Building – ASHRAE Standard, 62.2.2010 (resource for complying with WAC 388-97-4040)
• Nursing Home Locator

Labor and Industries (L&I)

• Labor and Industries website
• Electrical Standards, Permits and Inspections
• Asbestos Abatement/Permits
• Elevator Permits and Inspections
• Office of the State Fire Marshal website
• Chapter 212-12 WAC

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website
• Guideline for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities, 2003
• Adoption of the 2000 edition, Life Safety Code (PDF)
• Fire Smoke Zone Evaluation Worksheet for Healthcare Facilities (PDF)
• Fire Safety Survey Report 2000 Code, Medicare-Medicaid (PDF)
• CMS Survey and Certification
  • S&C-04-15 Major vs Minor Alteration and application of the Life Safety Code Existing/New Chapters (PDF)
  • S&C-07-01 Use of ABHR (PDF)
  • S&C-07-05 Exit Discharge Requirements & Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES) (PDF)
  • S&C-07-10 Medical Gas Storage and Usage Considerations (PDF)
  • S&C-07-18 Gaps in Corridor and Smoke Barrier Doors (PDF)
  • S&C-07-29 Canopy and Overhang Sprinkler Requirements (PDF)
  • S&C-08-04 Infection Control Guidelines (PDF)
  • S&C-08-09 Food Prepared Off Site (PDF)
  • S&C-10-18 Revision of S&C-04-41 dated Aug. 12, 2004. Corridor Width 7 Corridor Mounted Computer Touch Screens in Health Care Facilities. – Clarification Effective Immediately (PDF) added June 2010
  • S&C-12-21-LSC Updates to the CMS policy regarding Capacity of the Means of Egress: Cooking Facilities; Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning; and Furnishings, Matresses, and Decorations (PDF) added June 2012
  • S&C-13-58 2000 Edition National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101® Life Safety Code (LSC) Waivers (PDF) added September 2013
• Conditions of Participation: Survey and Enforcement Process for Nursing Facilities and Skilled Nursing Facilities (PDF)

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

• List of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Healthcare Codes and Standards (This link has been temporarily removed. Please check back for updates!)
• NFPA 101 Formal Interpretations, 2000 edition (PDF)
• Healthcare Interpretations Task Force

  • HITF Interpretations, January 2014 (PDF)

    • Placement of large screen monitors

  • HITF Interpretations, June 2011 (PDF)

    • Exit access from suites
    • Door locking
    • Alcohol based hand rub dispensers
    • Standpipe system flow tests

  • HITF Interpretations, June 2010 (PDF)

    • Sprinkler clearance
    • Fire pins in fire doors
    • Exit access from suites
    • Two Hour Floor/Ceiling

  • HITF Interpretations, November 2009 (PDF)

    • Soiled linen and trash containers

  • HITF Interpretations, June 2009 (PDF)

    • Exit discharge
    • Utility penetrations in corridor walls and smoke barriers
    • Exterior exit discharge lighting requirements
    • On-site fuel supplies for emergency generators
    • Patient lift equipment sprinkler obstruction
    • Fire alarm system out-of-service requirements

  • HITF Interpretations, December 2008 (PDF)

    • Exit discharge
    • Utility penetrations in corridor walls and smoke barriers
    • Exterior exit discharge lighting requirements
    • On-site fuel supplies for emergency generators
    • Patient lift equipment sprinkler obstruction
    • Fire alarm system out-of-service requirements

  • HITF Interpretations, June 2008 (PDF)

    • Inspection of portable fire extinguishers
    • Existing fire alarm systems
    • Storage rooms 50 s.f. or less
    • Operation of doors

  • HITF Interpretations, December 2007 (PDF)

    • Portable devices/equipment in corridors
    • Cooking equipment

  • HITF Interpretations, June 2007 (PDF)

    • Items in corridors
    • Corridor width in suites

  • HITF Interpretations, December 2006 (PDF)

    • Door gaps
    • Smoking restrictions in nursing homes
    • Nursing home staff and fire drills

  • HITF Interpretations, June 2006 (PDF)

    • Top of wall blocking to protect the cavity in corridor walls
    • Linen and waste chute termination rooms
    • Frequency of Fire Drills at SNF

  • HITF Interpretations June 2005 (PDF)

    • Suspended-grid ceiling tile clipped or specific weight
    • Delayed egress locks

  • HITF Interpretations January 2004 (PDF)

    • Door locking

  • HITF Interpretations May 2003 (PDF)

    • Personal furnishings and smoke detection

  • HITF Interpretations, November 2000 (PDF)

    • Coded announcements

Washington State Building Code Council

• Washington State Building Code Council website
• Current Statewide Amendments to the International Building Code
• List of International Codes Adopted by the State Building Code Council

Washington State Building Code Council

• Washington State Building Code Council website
• Current Statewide Amendments to the International Building Code
• List of International Codes Adopted by the State Building Code Council

Quick Links

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