David B.Uhaze, RA
Former Chief - Bureau of
Construction Project Review
NJ Dept. Of Community Affairs
Vice Chairman – FGI Health
Guidelines Revision Committee
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Bureau of Construction Project Review
E-Plan Review
Guidelines for Design and Construction
of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities
 NFPA 101 & 99
 2015 International Codes
The Bureau
 Functions as the construction office for all building
types or projects reserved to the State at
NJAC 5:23-3.11
 This includes such projects as:
 Casinos
 State Buildings (State colleges, NJTPA, NJT, NJSEA, etc.)
 Special Projects (Electrical Generating, Solid Waste
Treatment, Incineration Plants)
 Prototypes (Big box stores, banks, etc.)
 Schools
Health Care Plan Review Unit
 Performs both a UCC and Licensing review on all projects
submitted
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Will comment on Licensing requirements, but cannot grant
waivers to those requirements
20 day review cycle for new projects with complete
applications
7 day review cycle for re-submitted projects
Permitting and inspections are done at the local level
May grant permission for a
projects
of certain
Electronic Plan Review
 The Department of Community Affairs has implemented an
almost paperless review process. They are now able to do all
of the following electronically:
 Accept project applications
 Review Plans
 Issue Releases
 Soon to Come:
 Electronic Fee Payment
All of this is being done through an on line system called
ProjectDox by
 Electronic Plan Review
Avolve – ProjectDox is a Web hosted, secure site with a fully
Automated review process that provides Automatic notifications,
complete project tracking and extensive Project archiving
 Electronic Plan Review Benefits
 System is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from any
device with internet access
 Eliminates printing, delivery and storage costs associated
with paper plans
 Provides easy tracking of projects throughout the process
 Significant time savings by eliminating shipping and delivery
delays
 Easy retrieval of Construction Documents at any time
Electronic submission of plans will become
mandatory starting Jan. 1, 2016
 DCA is offering Webinars for those interested in learning
more about the system
 The DCA website also has a “Frequently Asked Questions”
tab in addition to How-To Guides and Technical Manuals
 DCA will be hiring a dedicated Technical Support Specialist
who will be available for questions from 9:00 to 5:00
every day.
 John Paluchowski is the new Supervisor for the
Health Care Plan Review Unit
• Electrical Engineer
• 18 years experience in healthcare plan review
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John Terry is the new Chief for the Bureau of
Construction Project Review
• Building Codes Expert
• Chairman ICC Building Codes Revision Committee
You can find additional information about
the Bureau including:
Bureau mailing addresses and phone
numbers, a listing of
when a Bureau review and release is
required, answers to frequently asked
questions about the plan review and
release process, the Procedures for
Submission to Health Care Plan
Review & E-Plan Review Procedures
manuals
and
you can access all of the necessary forms
for submission at the
Bureau’s website:
Permit Extension Act
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The original act of 2008 has been extended again. (3rd time)
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Applies to New Jersey permits only, does not include Federal
permits
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Includes UCC permits and other permits such as:
Extends all permits & DCA releases that were open and valid
as of January 1, 2007 until
 Local Planning and Zoning
 County Planning and Zoning
 Coastal Area Facilities Review
 Pinelands Commission
 Freshwater and Wetlands Review
 Water and Sewer service extensions
 Soil Erosion and Sediment Control
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The Hospital and Outpatient
Facilities edition and the new
Residential Health, Care, and
Support Facilities edition were
released in the spring of 2014
NJDOH and NJDCA adopted both
editions August 1, 2014
Both editions became mandatory
on February 1, 2015
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Major changes this cycle:
:
Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals
and Outpatient Facilities
• Includes Chapters 1, 2, 3 & 5 (except for Medical Day Care)
Guidelines for Design and Construction of
Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities
•
Includes Chapters 1 & 4 (plus Medical Day Care)
Both volumes contain Chapter 6 ASHRAE/ASHE 170
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ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE 170
 FGI continues to work with ASHRAE and ASHE
to revise and update this standard.
 FGI members are included in the 170 committee
 ASHRAE 170 is under a continuous maintenance
process, which permits official changes to be made
over the life cycle of the document.
 The 2013 edition of ASHRAE 170, with all addenda
approved through November 2013, has been
incorporated as Part 4 of this edition of the FGI Guidelines.
 At Table 6.4 the MERV efficiency of 17 was deleted for PE rooms
 At Table7.1 design relative humidity in surgical suites was
revised to reflect NFPA 99 at a range of 20 - 60
To help users of the FGI Guidelines learn more about this
edition of the standard, the Facility Guidelines Institute has
producied a series of articles on major changes and new
material in the 2014 edition
Visit this page to read an introduction to the series and to
access PDFs of the articles.
2014 Edition of the Guidelines was separated into
separate editions for Hospitals & Outpatient
Facilities and Residential Health, Care and Support
Facilities to more clearly differentiate the needs of
these facility types.
This was a significant undertaking that forced FGI to
re-evaluate our process of reviewing, amending
and producing the Guidelines.
At the end of the 2014 Cycle, the FGI Board
undertook two Colloquiums focused on the future
of Healthcare and the Guidelines.
These colloquiums brought together a diverse
group of healthcare futurists who were tasked with
envisioning the range of healthcare environments
and trends that may emerge by the year 2026 and
to help FGI lay out a roadmap of the steps that we
need to take to stay relevant over that time period.
The panel noted that :
 Healthcare organizations are struggling to manage/reduce
costs while working to improving clinical quality and the
patient experience
That they will continue to face challenges such as:
 Evolving healthcare reform
 Shifting reimbursement policies
 An aging population
 An explosion in demand from newly insured patients
 New information technologies
 And the pursuit of new models of healthcare over the
coming years.
Hospitals and other healthcare facilities will, of necessity, be
forced to rethink their planning, design, and operations
The first thing recommended to FGI, was that the
Guidelines documents should be split into two parts:
 Fundamental Requirements – Baseline standards that
can be adopted as code by AHJ’s
 Beyond Fundamentals – Emerging Practices that exceed
basic requirements
The second recommendation was to have FGI focus on
primary care/outpatient facilities for the coming
revision cycle as the trend in health care delivery will
continue to move in that direction.
After much deliberation, it was decided that:
For 2018, in keeping with our intent to more
clearly differentiate the needs of each facility
type, we will publish a third document by
splitting the Hospital & Outpatient Guidelines
into separate books.
In addition the committee will be working toward
producing both Fundamentals and Beyond
Fundamentals versions of each of the three
documents.
At the conclusion of the 2018 Cycle it is intended that
the following documents will be published:
 Hospital Fundamentals
 Hospital Beyond Fundamentals
 Outpatient Fundamentals
 Outpatient Beyond Fundamentals
 Residential Book
 Residential Handbook
The Fundamentals Documents will include only
those requirements that are deemed essential to
provide safe, effective, cost efficient care
environments.
(Baseline requirements that meet the needs of the
patients and staff without compromising quality
outcomes & safety and have been proven to be cost
effective)
 Evidence based
 Cost/Benefit balanced
The Beyond Fundamental Documents will include
those items which constitute forward thinking,
advanced concepts and practices which exceed
basic requirements and which encourage design
innovation.
(Much of this will be information that is currently
included in the appendix and other supporting
documents ie: white papers, studies, etc.)
New Outpatient Document
 The New Outpatient Document will, at a
minimum, cover those ambulatory categories
that are currently addressed in the 2014 Hospital
& Outpatient Guidelines
 It may include additional categories and
information as deemed necessary by the
Outpatient Document group.
Each of the documents will be:
 A separate stand-alone document.
 Will be independent from the other documents
and will not contain references back to any of
the other documents.
 Each Document will be in the same basic format
as the 2014 Guidelines, with modifications as
necessary.
 Life Safety Code 101
 Health Care Facilities Code 99
On April 16, 2014 CMS published a proposal to revise
the edition of the LSC & NFPA 99 referenced in
Requirements, Conditions of Participation and
Conditions for Coverage to the 2012 Editions.
Until that happens they will grant waivers to allow the
use of certain 2012 code sections.
In Technical Bulletins issued March 9, 2012, April 19, 2013 &
August 30, 2013 CMS announced that it will allow categorical
waivers of the current LSC requirements found in the 2000
edition of the LSC for the following items :
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Will allow existing openings in exit enclosures to mechanical equipment spaces that
are protected by fire-rated door assemblies. These spaces must be used only for nonfuel-fired equipment, must contain no storage of combustible materials, and must be
located in sprinklered buildings. This waiver will be permitted if the facility is in
compliance with section 7.1.3.2.1(9)(c) of the 2012 LSC.
Will allow new sleeping suites
with 18/19.2.5.7 of the 2012 LSC.
if the facility is in compliance
Will allow one of the required means of egress from sleeping and non-sleeping suites
to be through another suite, provided adequate separation exists between suites and
one of the two required exit access doors from sleeping and non-sleeping suites to be
into an exit stair, exit passageway, or to the exterior.
Categorical Waivers cont.
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Will allow more than one delayed-egress lock in the egress path, but only if
the facility is in compliance with all other applicable 2000 LSC door
provisions, as well as with sections 18/19.2.2.2.4 of the 2012 LSC.
Will allow door locking where justified by clinical needs, patients pose a
security risk, or where patients require specialized protective measures for
their safety, if the facility is in compliance with sections 18/19.2.2.2.2
through 18/19.2.2.2.6 of the 2012 LSC.
Will allow an increase in the size of containers used solely for recycling clean
waste or for patient records awaiting destruction outside of a hazardous
storage area to be a maximum of 96-gallons, if the facility is in compliance
with sections 18/19.7.5.7.2 of the 2012 LSC.
Will allow a testing interval of 6 years rather than 4 years for the
maintenance testing of fire and smoke dampers as long as the testing
system conforms to the requirements under 2007 NFPA 80 and the 2007
NFPA 105
Categorical Waivers cont.
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Will allow for the reduction in the testing frequencies for sprinkler system vane-type
and pressure switch type waterflow alarm devices to semiannual, and electric motordriven pump assemblies to monthly. This waiver allowance will be permitted only if the
facility is in compliance with all other applicable 1998 NFPA 25 (as referenced in section
9.7.5 of the 2000 LSC) testing provisions, as well as with sections 5.3 and 8.3 of the
2011 NFPA 25.
Will allow for a reduction in the annual diesel-powered generator exercising
requirement from two (2) continuous hours to
, but only if the provider/supplier is in compliance with all other
applicable 1999 NFPA 110 operational inspection and testing provisions, as well as with
section 8.4.2.3 of the 2010 NFPA 110.
Will allow for the use of power strips in existing and new health care facility
patient care areas/rooms, if they comply with all applicable 2012 NFPA 99
power strip requirements and with all other 1999 NFPA 99 and 2000 LSC
electrical system and equipment provisions.
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When the 2012 LSC is adopted,
these changes will also be effective:
 At 18.2.3.4(4) – Equipment will be allowed to be
kept in corridors that are a minimum of 8’-0” in
width and as long as 60” of clear with is maintained.
This will include in-use carts (laundry, food service,
housekeeping), emergency equipment and portable
lifts.
 At 18.2.3.4(5) – Furnishings (tables, chairs and other
seating) will be allowed on one side of corridors that
are a minimum of 8’-0” in width and as long as 60” of
clear width is maintained. Each furniture location is
limited to 50sf or less and furniture locations must
be separated by a minimum of 10ft.
In a Technical Bulletin issued April 19, 2013 CMS
announced that it will allow a categorical waiver of the
current NFPA 99 requirement for the following item:
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Will allow Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals with new
and existing ventilation systems supplying anesthetizing
locations, as defined by the 1999 edition of NFPA 99, to
operate with a Relative Humidity level of
.
CMS will strongly recommend that facilities maintain RH in
a range of ≥20 – ≤60 percent in all anesthetizing locations.
Will allow a centralized computer system to substitute for
one of the Category 1 medical gas master alarms, but only
if the provider/supplier is in compliance with all other
applicable 1999 NFPA medical gas master alarm
provisions, as well as with section 5.1.9.4 of the 2012
NFPA 99.
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The 2015 codes were adopted
on September 21, 2015.
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The 6 month grace period
runs until March 21, 2015
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The NJ edited editions are
available from the ICC
Section 202 Definitions
Added definitions for:
– Assistance with day to day living, slow
evacuation time or mental/psychiatric complications
– A group of treatment rooms patient sleeping rooms
and support space in an I-2 use with attendant staff
– Care involving medical or surgical procedures,
nursing or for psychiatric purposes
– The actual time that a person is given care, not
the amount of time a facility is open
– Persons that because of age,
physical or mental limitations, chemical dependency or medical
treatment can not respond to an emergency situation
Section 308 Institutional Group I
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At Section 308.1 – Added “ Incapable of Self-preservation” to the
general charging statement defining Use Group I
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At Section 308.4 – Added “ Medical care on a 24 Hour basis for those
Incapable of Self-preservation” to the defining statement for Institutional
Group I-2
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At Section 308.4.1 – Added occupancy conditions for I-2 uses:
 308.4.1.1 Condition 1 – Nursing and medical care, but no ER, surgery,
obstetrics, psych or detox
 308.4.1.2 Condition 2 – Nursing and medical care, with ER, surgery,
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obstetrics, psych & detox
Made nomenclature changes such as:
 Patients – now referred to as Care Recipients
 Nurses station – now referred to as Care Provider Station
 Mental health – now referred to as Psychiatric
Chapter 4 Special Use & Occupancy
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Added new Section 407.4.1 Direct Access to a Corridor - Requires all
rooms in I-2 uses to have a door directly to a corridor with the exception
of those rooms in a “Care Suite”.
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Added new Sections 407.4.1 thru 407.4.4.6.1 – These sections deal
with Care Suites and will now mirror the sections in Chapter 18 of the
2012 Life Safety Code dealing with travel distance, access to corridors,
doors, fire separation and size of sleeping and non-sleeping suites.
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Modified section 407.5.1 Refuge Area - Revised this section to mirror
Chapter 18 of the 2012 Life Safety Code.
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Modified Section 407.8 Automatic fire Detection - Included specifics for
Condition 1 and Condition 2.
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Added Section 407.10 Electric Systems – References the
Electrical Subcode and NFPA 99 for essential electrical systems.
Chapter 5 General Building Height & Area
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Made changes at Table 509 Incidental Uses
Room or Area
Separation and/or Protection
In ambulatory care facilities, laboratories not
classified as Group H
1 hour and provide automatic sprinkler
protection
In Group I-2, laundry rooms over 100 sf
1 hour
In Group I-2, physical plant maintenance
shops
1 hour
In ambulatory care facilities or Group I-2
occupancies, storage rooms greater than
100sf
1 hour
Chapter 9 Fire Protection Systems
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At Section 903.2.2 – Ambulatory Care Facilities
 Changed “fire area” to “
”
 At item #1 added the sentence “
 Added “
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At Section 903.2.6 – Group I-4 Day Care
 The sprinkler requirement noted above is also required for Day
Care
2009 IBC Section 903.2.2
2015 IBC Section 903.2.2
2015 IBC Section 903.2.2
Chapter 9 Fire Protection Systems
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A new Section 915 – Carbon Monoxide Detection has been added
 This section includes requirements for I-2 Use Groups using any
type of fuel burning appliances. The section specifies where the
detection must be located, the power source and system
maintenece.
Chapter 10 Means of Egress
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A new Section 1008.2.2 – Exit Discharge Illumination has been added
 This section requires a minimum lighting level of 1 footcandle at
all exit discharge doorways and landings in Group I-2 Uses even
if the required lighting unit fails.
Chapter 10 Means of Egress – cont.
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At Section 1010.1.9.6 – Controlled Egress in I-2 Uses
 Added an additional exception (#2) allowing doors to nurseries
and obstetrics areas the same locking conditions as psych
treatment areas
Chapter 16 Structural Design
 At Section 1607 – Live Loads
 Added
• This is a new section specifically for roof top helipads
• Designates design loads based on the maximum take-off
weight of helicopters using the pad
• Provides other parameters for helipad design.
Ad Hoc Committee on Healthcare
 The objective of this committee is to develop code change
proposals which will result in the most contemporary and
efficient provisions for hospital and ambulatory care facilities.
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Most of the work that they are doing will bring the IBC in line
with the requirements already in place in the LSC
They are looking at 4 different areas throughout the code with
regard to requirements for health care facilities :
 Means of Egress
 Fire/Life Safety
 General Code Requirements
 Occupancy
 FGI Guidelines

www.ashestore.com
 NJ Uniform Construction Code & Uniform Fire Code

www.nj.gov/dca/codes/forms/pubsandsubs.htm
 International Codes

order@iccsafe.org
 National Fire Protection Association

www.custserv@nfpa.org
609. 516. 8978
dbuhaze@optonline.net