Design Professional's Practice Bulletin

Volume 1, Number 2 — May 1997

This Bulletin addresses recent developments affecting Design Professionals as well as business concerns as important as the specific professional and technical issues they face.

Editors: Neil P. Clain and Richard J. Davies

Adoption of New Design Guidelines for Hospitals/Health Care Facilities

By Richard B. Ashenfelter, Jr.

Official notice has been given by the Pennsylvania Department of Health that it has adopted the 1996-97 edition of the "Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Health Care Facilities." The guidelines will take effect on July 1, 1997. At that time, the Department will apply new requirements to all plans for new construction or renovations for hospital and ambulatory surgical facilities.

The procedure requires submission of construction plans to, and final approval from, the Division of Safety Inspection prior to the commencement of any new construction, renovation, change in use, or modernization. In addition to the guidelines, plans are reviewed for compliance with NFPA 101 and the Life Safety Code. After completion of construction, the Division conducts a final inspection for Life Safety Code compliance and for Commonwealth and/or Federal Certification requirements established by the Division of Acute and Ambulatory Care Facilities. Full compliance is required before the new construction areas can be used.

It is important to note that the guidelines will be applied as of July 1, 1997 for all projects falling under the Department's jurisdiction regardless of when preliminary plans were submitted. Consequently, for those projects where final approval is unlikely by that time, you should begin applying the new guidelines to your construction documents. Plans submitted for review prior to July 1, 1997, if prepared under the new guidelines, will be reviewed under the new guidelines by the Division. Otherwise, the Division will continue to review plans under the 1992-93 guidelines through June 30, 1997.

The new guidelines can be purchased via telephone at 1-800-365-2724. A catalog of available publications also can be requested at the same number.

The notice was published in the February 8, 1997 Pennsylvania Bulletin, the official gazette of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If you would like a copy of the notice, please give us a call.

©1997 Powell, Trachtman, Logan, Carrle & Lombardo, P.C.

This bulletin is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The reader should consult with legal counsel to determine how laws, suggestions and illustrations apply to specific situations.