Minnesota Administrative Rules

4645.2400 DETAILS AND FINISHES, GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL HOSPITALS.

Subpart 1.

Ceilings.

The ceilings of the following areas shall have smooth, waterproof painted, glazed, or similar finishes: operating rooms, delivery rooms, sculleries, and kitchens. The ceilings of the following areas shall be acoustically treated: corridors in patient areas, nurses' stations, floor pantries, quiet rooms, and pediatric rooms. The ceiling of the labor room shall be acoustically treated unless it is located apart from the patient areas.

Ceiling heights shall be at least eight feet clear except for storage closets and other minor auxiliary rooms where they may be lower. Ceiling heights for laundry and kitchen shall be at least nine feet clear. Special equipment such as X-ray and surgical lights may require greater ceiling heights. Ceilings of boiler rooms located below occupied spaces shall be insulated or the temperatures otherwise controlled to permit comfortable occupancy of the spaces above.

Subp. 2.

Corridor widths.

Corridor widths shall be not less than seven feet. A greater width shall be provided at elevator entrances and in areas where special equipment is to be used.

Subp. 3.

Door widths.

Door widths shall be not less than three feet eight inches at all bedrooms, treatment rooms, operating rooms, X-ray rooms, delivery rooms, labor rooms, solariums, and physical therapy rooms. No doors shall swing into the corridor except closet doors and exit and stairway doors required to swing in the lane of egress travel. The door-swing requirement does not apply to psychiatric units or mental hospitals.

Subp. 4.

Floors.

The floors of the following areas shall have smooth, water-resistant surfaces: toilets, baths, bedpan rooms, utility rooms, janitors' closets, floor pantries, pharmacies, laboratories, and patients' rooms. The floors of the food preparation and formula rooms shall be water-resistant, grease-resistant, smooth, and resistant to heavy wear. The floors of the operating rooms, delivery rooms, and rooms or spaces where explosive gases are used or stored shall have conductive flooring as defined in Part II of Standard No. 56, issued in May, 1954, entitled Recommended Safe Practice for Hospital Operating Rooms by the National Fire Protection Association, 60 Batterymarch Street, Boston, Massachusetts which part of said standard is hereby adopted by the commissioner of health with the same force and effect as if the same were fully set forth in and written as part of this subpart.

Subp. 5.

Laundry chutes.

Where laundry chutes are used, they shall be not less than two feet in diameter.

Subp. 6.

Stair widths.

Stair widths shall be not less than three feet eight inches. The width shall be measured between handrails where handrails project more than 3-1/2 inches. Platforms and landings shall be large enough to permit stretcher travel in emergencies.

Subp. 7.

Walls.

The walls of the following areas shall have smooth, waterproof painted, glazed, or similar finishes: kitchens, sculleries, utility rooms, baths, showers, dishwashing rooms, janitors' closets, sterilizing room, spaces with sinks or lavatories, operating rooms, and delivery rooms.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 144.55; 144.56

History:

L 1977 c 305 s 39

Published Electronically:

January 21, 2000