Plan Review Process

Checklist for Initial Review

When applying to CRS, you have the option of submitting your plans and documents electronically, or hard copy (paper). Please note: the submittal method selected for a project, whether electronic or paper, must be consistent for the duration of the entire project. Mailing information is on our Contact Us page.

To begin review, most projects will require that you provide the following:

A written functional program describing the clinical, diagnostic and/or treatment services being provided.
A site plan with sufficient detail showing location of structure(s), exiting pathways and covered access to the building(s) for emergency medical vehicles.
An Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) addressing precautions such as but not limited to:
- Patient placement and relocation;
- Standards for barriers and other protective measures required to protect adjacent areas and susceptible patients from airborne contaminants;
- Temporary provisions or phasing for construction or modification of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and water supply systems;
- Protection from the products of demolition; and
- Measures to be taken to train hospital staff, visitors and construction personnel.

An Interim Life Safety (ILSM). Construction and renovation can affect the existing life safety and fire protection systems of facilities. When facilities are still occupied by staff and patients during construction, this presents an increased hazard to the occupants. To mitigate these conditions, Construction Review Services (CRS) recommends that all phases of the project be examined to identify potential hazards. Both Life Safety Code and the Fire Code provide specific direction to the maintenance of the life safety systems during a fire. Contact CRS and your local building official/fire marshal to determine specific requirements.

Generally these include, but are not limited to:

The exits, stairs and corridors of a facility are maintained during construction
Maintenance of the fire alarm and fire sprinkler system during construction, unless an equivalent alternate is in place
Obtaining hot work permits to assure that specific boundaries are set for hazardous materials, such as the use of acetylene or welding devices

Full construction drawings, which may include:
- Architectural
  - Properly dimensioned floor plans
  - Floor plans with rooms identified by number and name
  - Life Safety Plan showing rated wall construction and required exits and travel distances
  - Project Manual with specifications
  - Kitchen plans, including kitchen equipment identified with all utility connections
  - Doors sizes and swings identified on the floor plans
  - Door and hardware schedules
- Mechanical
  - Show heating ventilation and air conditioning system with supply registers, return air grille locations with air volume at each outlet, filtration and outdoor air intake spacing from exhaust outlets
  - Provide floor plans with exhaust fan locations, sizes, air volume and controls noted
  - Locate plumbing fixtures, including information on controls
  - Location and types of reduced pressure back flow assemblies
  - Hand wash sinks and hand wash stations
  - Medical gas systems and shut off locations
  - Pressurization schedule
- Electrical
  - Electrical light fixtures and exit sign locations identified
  - Electrical outlet types and locations (GFCI, Tamper Resistant, etc.)
  - Location of nurse call devices
- Interior Finishes
  - Identifying location and extent of each type of finish
  - Manufacturer's specifications

The following systems may be submitted during construction as deferred submittals:

Two sets of fire sprinkler system drawing(s).
- These drawings must be stamped and signed by the system designer, and include the location, type and manufacturer of each sprinkler head.
Two sets of fire alarm system drawing(s).
- These drawings must indicate the location, type, and manufacturer of each alarm/strobe, smoke detector, head detector and alarm panel.

Authorized to Begin Construction (A2BC)

Authorized to begin construction occurs at the point during the plan review process that CRS has determined the project has met the minimum requirements to begin construction. A2BC doesn't imply that the project has received complete Department of Health approval and changes may still be required. The department still strongly recommends that facilities obtain final approval of their construction documents prior to any construction, to achieve the least amount of risk of costly construction changes due to plan review issues. Several major building elements must be reviewed to the applicable codes before we can consider the project status to be A2BC.

The following are examples of major design elements that must be resolved by Construction Review Services before issuing an A2BC:

Functional Program
Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSM)
Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA)
Exiting Issues/ Travel Distances
Fire Safety Systems (Sprinkler, Alarm, Fire Protection Features)
Sizes
Medical Gas Systems
Allowable Building Areas, Occupancy Designations and Construction Types
Inpatient/ Outpatient Designation

This isn't a complete list, and is intended to provide the facility's design team with an understanding of the types of issues that could require project documents to be revised and resubmitted.

Authorized to Begin Construction (A2BC) at Owner's Risk

Some projects may be allowed to begin at owners risk. Contact us for more information.

Quick Links