New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 8 - SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter 371 - DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Part 2 - REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITIES FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED
Section 8.371.2.40 - HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING

A. Heating, air-conditioning, piping, boilers, and ventilation equipment must be furnished, installed and maintained to meet all requirements of current state and local mechanical, electrical, and construction codes. All facilities must have documentation that fuel-fire heating systems have been checked, tested and maintained annually by qualified personnel.

B. The heating method used by the facility must provide a minimum temperature of 70 degrees farenheit in all rooms used by the clients.

C. An ample supply of outside air for proper combustion must be provided in all spaces where fueled fired boilers or heaters are located.

D. All gas fired heating equipment must be provided with a one hundred percent automatic cutoff control valve in event of pilot failure.

E. Each building where gas is used must have an outside gas shutoff valve. The facility must have a tool readily available which will operate the shut-off valve. All personnel employed by the facility must be instructed as to location of the shut-off valve and tool and must know how to shut off the gas supply in case of fire or gas leakage.

F. No open-face gas or electric heater nor unprotected single shell gas or electric heating device shall be used for heating the facility. Portable heating units shall not be used for heating the facility.

G. All boiler, furnace or heater rooms shall be protected from other parts of the building by construction having a fire resistance rating of not less than one-hour. Doors to these rooms shall be 1-3/4" solid core.

H. A facility must be adequately ventilated at all times to provide fresh air and the control of unpleasant odors by either mechanical or natural means.

I. All gas burning heating and cooking equipment must be connected to an approved venting system to take the products of combustion directly to the outside air.

J. All openings to the outer air used for ventilation must be screened with screening material of not less than 16 meshes per lineal inch.

K. Screen doors must be equipped with self-closing devices.

L. A facility must be provided with a system for maintaining residents comfort during periods of hot weather.