Section 22-B3264. PHYSICAL STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION

 

3264.1Each physical plant of a facility shall conform to all applicable District and Federal rules and regulations pertaining to construction requirements.

 

3264.2Each new construction of a facility, and each addition to or repair, and remodeling of an existing building that is used for the facility, shall conform to the 1996 BOCA National Building Code, to all other applicable District rules and regulations pertaining to building construction and all applicable NFPA standards.

 

3264.3Each addition to an existing facility shall comply with the minimum requirements in the latest edition of the Guidelines for Construction and Equipment of Hospitals and Medical Facilities developed by the American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Health with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 

3264.4For the purpose of this chapter, each conversion of an existing building to a nursing facility shall be considered a new facility.

 

3264.5Each existing nursing facility shall comply with all applicable provisions of the current edition of the NFPA National Electrical Code.

 

3264.6A facility shall be considered to be in compliance with NFPA requirements as long as the facility:

 

(a)On November 26, 1982, complied, with or without waivers, with the requirements of the 1967 or 1973 editions of the Life Safety Code and continues to remain in compliance with those editions of the code; or

 

(b)On May 9, 1988, complied, with or without waivers, with the 1981 edition of the Life Safety Code and continues to remain in compliance with that edition of the code.

 

3264.7When District of Columbia Code requirements conflict with those of the federal or national agencies incorporated by reference above, the more stringent requirements shall apply unless specifically superseded by federal law.

 

source

Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 49 DCR 473 (January 18, 2002).