WAC 388-97-4040. Ventilation systems in new construction

The nursing home must ensure:

(1) Ventilation of all rooms is designed to prevent objectionable odors, condensation, and direct drafts on the residents;

(2) All habitable space is mechanically ventilated including:

(a) Air supply and air exhaust systems;

(b) Installation of air-handling duct systems according to the requirements of the International Mechanical Code and chapter 51-52 WAC;

(c) Installation of supply registers and return air grilles at least three inches above the floor;

(d) Installation of exhaust grilles on or near the ceiling; and

(e) Outdoor air intakes located a minimum of twenty-five feet from the exhaust from any ventilating system, combustion equipment, or areas which may collect vehicular exhaust and other noxious fumes, and a minimum of ten feet from plumbing vents. The nursing home must locate the bottom of outdoor air intakes serving central systems a minimum of three feet above adjoining grade level or, if installed through the roof, three feet above the highest adjoining roof level.

(3) Minimum ventilation requirements meet the pressure relationship and ventilation rates per ASHRAE 2007 HVAC Applications Chapter 7.11 Table 6, Pressure Relationships and Ventilation of Certain Areas of Nursing Homes.

TABLE 6

PRESSURE RELATIONSHIPS AND VENTILATION OF CERTAIN AREAS OF NURSING HOMES

Function Area Pressure Relationship To Adjacent Areas 1,2 Minimum Air Changes of Outdoor Air Per Hour Supplied To Room Minimum Total Air Changes Per Hour Supplied To Room All Air Exhausted Directly To Outdoors Air Recirculated Within Room Units RESIDENT CARE Resident room (holding room) ± 2 4 Optional Optional Resident corridor ± Optional 2 Optional Optional Toilet room N Optional 10 Yes No Resident gathering (dining, activity) ± 2 4 Optional Optional DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT Examination room ± 2 6 Optional Optional Physical therapy 3 N 2 6 Optional Optional Occupational therapy 3 N 2 6 Optional Optional Soiled workroom or soiled holding N 2 10 Yes No Clean workroom or clean holding P 2 4 Optional Optional STERI

corridor ± Optional 2 Optional Optional Toilet room N Optional 10 Yes No Resident gathering (dining, activity) ± 2 4 Optional Optional DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT Examination room ± 2 6 Optional Optional Physical therapy 3 N 2 6 Optional Optional Occupational therapy 3 N 2 6 Optional Optional Soiled workroom or soiled holding N 2 10 Yes No Clean workroom or clean holding P 2 4 Optional Optional STERILIZING AND SUPPLY Sterilizer exhaust room N Optional 10 Yes No Linen and trash chute room N Optional 10 Yes No Laundry, general 3 ± 2 10 Yes No Soiled linen sorting and storage N Optional 10 Yes No Clean linen storage P Optional 2 Yes No SERVICE Food preparation center 3 ± 2 10 Yes Yes Warewashing room 3 N Optional 10 Yes Yes Dietary day storage ± Optional 2 Yes No Janitor closet N Optional 10 Yes No Bathroom N Optional 10 Yes No Personal services (barber/salon) N 2 10 Yes No

Function Area

Pressure

Relationship

To Adjacent Areas 1,2

Minimum Air Changes of Outdoor Air Per Hour

Supplied To Room

Minimum Total Air Changes Per Hour Supplied To Room

All Air

Exhausted

Directly To Outdoors

Air

Recirculated Within Room Units

RESIDENT CARE

Resident room (holding room)

±

2

4

Optional

Optional

Resident corridor

±

Optional

2

Optional

Optional

Toilet room

N

Optional

10

Yes

No

Resident gathering (dining, activity)

±

2

4

Optional

Optional

DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT

Examination room

±

2

6

Optional

Optional

Physical therapy 3

N

2

6

Optional

Optional

Occupational therapy 3

N

2

6

Optional

Optional

Soiled workroom or soiled holding

N

2

10

Yes

No

Clean workroom or clean holding

P

2

4

Optional

Optional

STERILIZING AND SUPPLY

Sterilizer exhaust room

N

Optional

10

Yes

No

Linen and trash chute room

N

Optional

10

Yes

No

Laundry, general 3

±

2

10

Yes

No

Soiled linen sorting and storage

N

Optional

10

Yes

No

Clean linen storage

P

Optional

2

Yes

No

SERVICE

Food preparation center 3

±

2

10

Yes

Yes

Warewashing room 3

N

Optional

10

Yes

Yes

Dietary day storage

±

Optional

2

Yes

No

Janitor closet

N

Optional

10

Yes

No

Bathroom

N

Optional

10

Yes

No

Personal ser

tional

10

Yes

No

Linen and trash chute room

N

Optional

10

Yes

No

Laundry, general 3

±

2

10

Yes

No

Soiled linen sorting and storage

N

Optional

10

Yes

No

Clean linen storage

P

Optional

2

Yes

No

SERVICE

Food preparation center 3

±

2

10

Yes

Yes

Warewashing room 3

N

Optional

10

Yes

Yes

Dietary day storage

±

Optional

2

Yes

No

Janitor closet

N

Optional

10

Yes

No

Bathroom

N

Optional

10

Yes

No

Personal services (barber/salon)

N

2

10

Yes

No

1/

P=Positive N=Negative ±=Continuous directional control not required.

2/

Whether positive or negative, pressure must be a minimum of seventy cubic feet per minute (CFM).

3/

The volume of air may be reduced up to fifty percent in these areas during periods of nonuse. The soiled holding area of the general laundry must maintain its full ventilation capacity at all times.

(4) Individual exhaust systems meet the following requirements:

(a) Where individual mechanical exhaust systems are used to exhaust individual toilet rooms or bathrooms, the individual ventilation fans are interconnected with room lighting to ensure ventilation while room is occupied. The ventilation fan must have a time delay shutoff to ensure that the exhaust continues for a minimum of five minutes after the light switch is turned off; and

(b) The volume of air removed from the space by exhaust ventilation is replaced directly or indirectly by an equal amount of tempered/conditioned air.

(5) Central exhaust systems meet the following requirements:

(a) All fans serving central exhaust systems are located to prevent a positive pressure in the duct passing through an occupied area; and

(b) Fire and smoke dampers are located and installed in accordance with the International Building Code, Standards and amendments in chapter 51-50 WAC.

(6) Air filters meet the following requirements:

(5) Central exhaust systems meet the following requirements:

(a) All fans serving central exhaust systems are located to prevent a positive pressure in the duct passing through an occupied area; and

(b) Fire and smoke dampers are located and installed in accordance with the International Building Code, Standards and amendments in chapter 51-50 WAC.

(6) Air filters meet the following requirements:

(a) All central ventilation or air-conditioning systems are equipped with filters per ASHRAE 2007 HVAC Applications Chapter 7.11 Table 5, Filter Efficiencies for Central Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems in Nursing Homes and meet the following requirements:

Table 5 Filter Efficiencies for Central Ventilation and Air-Conditioning Systems in Nursing Homes FUNCTION AREA Minimum Number of Filter Beds Filter Efficiency of Main Filter Bed, MERV* Resident care, treatment, diagnostic, and related areas 1 15 Food preparation areas and laundries 1 8 Administrative, bulk storage, and soiled holding areas 1 6 *MERV = Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value

Table 5

Filter Efficiencies for Central Ventilation and

Air-Conditioning Systems in Nursing Homes

FUNCTION AREA

Minimum Number of

Filter Beds

Filter Efficiency of Main Filter Bed, MERV*

Resident care, treatment, diagnostic, and related areas

1

15

Food preparation areas and laundries

1

8

Administrative, bulk storage, and soiled holding areas

1

6

*MERV = Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value

(b) Central ventilation or air conditioning systems means any system serving more than a single room used by residents or by any group of rooms serving the same utility function (i.e., the laundry);

(c) Filter efficiency is warranted by the manufacturer and is based on atmospheric dust spot efficiency per ASHRAE Standard 52.2;

(d) The filter bed is located upstream of the air-conditioning equipment, unless a prefilter is employed. In which case, the prefilter is upstream of the equipment and the main filter bed may be located downstream;

serving the same utility function (i.e., the laundry);

(c) Filter efficiency is warranted by the manufacturer and is based on atmospheric dust spot efficiency per ASHRAE Standard 52.2;

(d) The filter bed is located upstream of the air-conditioning equipment, unless a prefilter is employed. In which case, the prefilter is upstream of the equipment and the main filter bed may be located downstream;

(e) Filter frames are durable and provide an airtight fit with the enclosing duct work. All joints between filter segments and enclosing duct work are gasketed or sealed;

(f) All central air systems have a manometer installed across each filter bed with an alarm to signal high pressure differential; and

(g) Humidifiers, if provided, are a steam type.