Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 481 - Inspections and Appeals Department
Inspections Division
Chapter 61 - Minimum Physical Standards for Nursing Facilities
Rule 481-61.2 - General Requirements
Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024
Nursing facilities licensed under this chapter shall be built in accordance with the following construction standards:
(1) Construction shall be in conformance with 661-Chapter 205, Fire Safety Requirements for Hospitals and Health Care Facilities. Projects required to meet the provisions of the state building code shall be deemed to be in compliance with the fire safety requirements of the state building code if the project is in compliance with the provisions of 661-Chapter 205.
(2) Construction shall be in conformance with 661-Chapter 301, State Building Code- General Provisions. Projects meeting the local building code shall be deemed to be in compliance with the state building code provided that the local jurisdiction has established a building department, has adopted a building code by ordinance and enforces the local code through a system which includes both plan review and inspection.
(3) Construction shall be in accordance with the standards set forth in the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities, 2018 edition, published by the Facility Guidelines Institute.
(4) Nothing in these rules shall relieve a nursing facility from compliance with fire and building codes, ordinances and regulations which are enforced by city, county, state or federal jurisdictions.
(5) New equipment. Any alteration or installation of new equipment shall be accomplished as nearly as practical in conformance with all applicable codes, ordinances, regulations and standards required for new construction. Alteration or installation of new equipment shall not diminish the level of compliance with any codes, ordinances, regulations or standards below that which existed prior to the alteration. Any feature that does not meet the requirement for new buildings but exceeds the requirement for existing buildings shall not be further diminished. Features that exceed requirements for new construction need not be maintained. In no case shall any feature be less than that required for existing buildings. (Ill)
(6) Existing nursing facilities built in compliance with prior versions of this chapter will be deemed in compliance, with the exception of any renovations, additions, functional alterations, changes of space utilization, or conversions to existing facilities for which construction documents are submitted pursuant to rule 481-61.3 (135C) on or after July 1, 2013, which shall meet the standards specified in this chapter. Conversion of a building or any of the parts not currently licensed as a nursing facility must meet the rules governing construction of new facilities, except as provided in Life Safety Code, 2000 edition, sections 18.1.1.4.4 and 19.1.1.4.4.
(7) Final plan approval and final occupancy shall be given by the state fire marshal's office.
