Section 250.2640  Details

All details and finishes shall comply with the following:

a)         Details

1)         Compartmentation, exits, automatic extinguishing systems and other details relating to fire prevention and fire protection shall comply with requirements listed in the appropriate sections of NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, , for existing hospitals (for exception, see subsection (a)(2) of this Section).

2)         Aisles, corridors, and interior ramps required for exit access from patient sleeping areas shall have a minimum clear width of 7 feet; any such aisles, corridors, and interior ramps located in other patient use areas shall have a minimum clear width of 6 feet.

3)         Doors to patient rooms shall not be lockable from inside the room.

4)         Doors on all openings between corridors and rooms or spaces subject to occupancy, except elevator doors, shall be swing type.  Openings to showers, baths, patient toilets, and other small wet-type areas not subject to fire hazard are exempt from this requirement.  Sliding doors with a break-and-swing feature are acceptable.

5)         Glazing of existing doors, sidelights, borrowed lights, and interior windows shall comply with the Safety Glazing Materials Act.

6)         Elevator shaft openings shall be class B 1½-hour-labeled fire doors or shall meet the requirements of NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, for vertical shaft enclosure.

7)         Linen and refuse chutes shall meet or exceed the following requirements:

A)        Service openings to chutes shall be kept locked if located in corridors or passageways.  They may be located in a room of construction having a fire-resistance of not less than one hour.

B)        Service openings to chutes shall have approved self-closing class B 1½-hour-labeled fire doors.

C)        Chutes shall discharge directly into collection rooms separated from incinerator, laundry, or other services.  Separate collection rooms shall be provided for trash and for linen.  The enclosure construction for such rooms shall have a fire resistance of not less than two hours, and the doors shall be not less than class B 1½-hour-labeled fire doors.  External discharge containers need not be enclosed.

D)        Gravity chutes shall be vented through the roof with provisions for continuous ventilation as well as for fire and smoke ventilation.  Fire and smoke ventilating openings may be covered with single strength sheet glass.

E)        See NFPA 82, Standard on Incinerators and Waste and Linen Handling Systems and Equipment for other requirements.

8)         Grab bars shall be provided at all patients' toilets, showers, tubs, and sitz baths.  The bars shall have 1½-inch clearance to walls and shall be securely anchored.

9)         Location and arrangement of hand-washing facilities shall permit their proper use and operation.  Clearance for blade-type operating handles shall be provided where required.

10)         Mirrors shall not be installed at hand-washing fixtures in food preparation areas or in sensitive areas such as nurseries, clean and sterile supplies, and scrub sinks.

11)         Paper towel dispensers and waste receptacles or electric hand dryers shall be provided at all hand-washing facilities except scrub sinks.

b)         Elevators

            All hospitals having patients' facilities (such as bedrooms, dining rooms, or recreation areas) or critical services (such as operating, delivery, diagnostic, or therapy) located on other than the main entrance floor shall have electric or electrohydraulic elevators.

1)         Number of elevators.

A)        At least one hospital-type elevator shall be installed where one to 59 patient beds are located on any floor other than the main entrance floor.

B)        At least two hospital-type elevators shall be installed where 60 to 200 patient beds are located on floors other than the main entrance floor, or where the major inpatient services are located on a floor other than those containing patient beds.  (Elevator service may be reduced for those floors that provide only partial inpatient services.)

C)        At least three hospital-type elevators shall be installed where 201 to 350 patient beds are located on floors other than the main entrance floor, or where the major inpatient services are located on a floor other than those containing patient beds.  (Elevator service may be reduced for those floors that provide only partial inpatient services.)

D)        For hospitals with more than 350 beds, the number of elevators provided shall be based on the hospital's program narrative.

2)         Cars and platforms.  Cars of hospital-type elevators shall have dimensions that will accommodate a patient bed and attendants and shall be at least 5 feet by 7 feet.  The car door shall have a clear opening of not less than 3 feet, 8 inches.

3)         Leveling.  Elevators shall be equipped with an automatic leveling device of the two-way automatic maintaining type with an accuracy of +½ inch.

4)         Written certification of the latest inspection shall be posted in the cab if available.

c)         Provisions for Natural Disasters

            General requirements.  An emergency radio communication system is desirable in each hospital.  If installed, this system shall be self-sufficient in time of emergency and shall also be linked with the available community system and state emergency medical network system, including connections with police, fire, and civil defense system.

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 6386, effective March 31, 2011)