Texas Administrative Code
Title 26 - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Part 1 - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
Chapter 550 - LICENSING STANDARDS FOR PRESCRIBED PEDIATRIC EXTENDED CARE CENTERS
Subchapter E - BUILDING REQUIREMENTS
Section 550.1202 - Plan Reviews

Universal Citation: 26 TX Admin Code § 550.1202

Current through Reg. 50, No. 13; March 28, 2025

(a) Plans for new buildings, additions, conversions of buildings not licensed by HHSC, and the remodeling of existing licensed facilities must be submitted to HHSC for review. No later than 30 days after receipt of the plans, HHSC informs an applicant in writing of the results of the review.

(b) If the submitted plans comply with HHSC architectural requirements, HHSC may not subsequently change the architectural requirement that applies to the project unless the change is required by federal law or an applicant fails to complete the project no later than two years after submitting the plans to HHSC.

(c) HHSC may grant a waiver of the two-year period for delays due to unusual circumstances.

(d) HHSC may impose a deadline for completing a project using requirements that are revised after the project was reviewed.

(e) Submittal of plans.

(1) One copy of contract documents must be submitted to HHSC before construction begins. The documents must:
(A) include working drawing and specifications;

(B) have sufficient detail for HHSC to interpret compliance with this chapter and for a general contractor or builder to ensure proper construction; and

(C) be prepared according to accepted architectural practice and include general construction, special conditions, and schedules.

(2) Final copies of plans must be submitted to HHSC and include:
(A) a title block that shows the name of the center;

(B) the person or organization preparing the sheet;

(C) sheet numbers;

(D) the center's address; and

(E) the drawing date.

(3) Sheets and sections covering structural, electrical, mechanical, and sanitary engineering final plans, designs, and specifications must bear the seal of a professional engineer licensed by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers.

(4) The contract documents for additions, remodeling, and construction of a new center must be prepared by an architect licensed by the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners. Drawings must bear the seal of the architect.

(5) A final plan for a major addition to a center must be submitted to HHSC and include a basic layout to scale of the entire building into which the addition will connect. North direction must be shown. The entire basic layout must be scaled to fit on a single 8 1/2-inch by 11-inch sheet.

(6) Final plans and specifications for conversions or remodeling must be submitted to HHSC and include all parts and features involved.

(7) Qualified staff must be employed to prepare the contract documents for construction. If the contract documents have errors or omissions to the extent that compliance with this chapter cannot be reasonably ensured or determined, HHSC may request a revised set of documents for review.

(8) HHSC review of the plans and specifications is based on general utility and compliance with this chapter and the Life Safety Code. HHSC review is not an all-inclusive review of the structural, electrical, or mechanical components of a center. HHSC review does not include a review of building plans for compliance with the Texas Accessibility Standards as administered and enforced by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

(9) Plan review fees must be submitted in accordance with § 550.113 of this chapter (relating to Plan Review Fees).

(f) Contract documents.

(1) Site plan documents must be submitted to HHSC and include:
(A) grade contours;

(B) streets with names;

(C) north arrow;

(D) fire hydrants;

(E) fire lanes;

(F) public or private utilities;

(G) fences; and

(H) unusual site conditions, including:
(i) ditches;

(ii) low water levels;

(iii) other buildings on-site; and

(iv) indications of buildings five feet or less beyond site property lines.

(2) Foundation plan documents must be submitted to HHSC and include general foundation design and details.

(3) Floor plan documents must be submitted to HHSC and include:
(A) room names, numbers, and usages;

(B) numbered doors, including swing;

(C) windows;

(D) legend or clarification of wall types that include:
(i) dimensions;

(ii) fixed equipment;

(iii) plumbing fixtures;

(iv) basic layout of the food preparation area; and

(v) identification of all smoke barrier walls from outside wall to outside wall or fire walls.

(4) For both new construction and additions or remodeling to existing buildings, an overall plan of the entire building drawn or reduced to fit on a single 8 1/2-inch by 11-inch sheet must be submitted to HHSC.

(5) Schedules must be submitted to HHSC and include:
(A) door materials, widths, and types;

(B) window materials, sizes, and types;

(C) room finishes; and

(D) special hardware.

(6) Elevations and roof plans must be submitted to HHSC. Plans must include exterior elevations, including:
(A) material note indications;

(B) rooftop equipment;

(C) roof slopes;

(D) drains;

(E) gas piping; and

(F) interior elevations where needed for special conditions.

(7) Contract document details must be submitted to HHSC and include:
(A) wall sections as needed, especially for special conditions;

(B) cabinet and built-in work, basic design only;

(C) cross sections through buildings as needed; and

(D) miscellaneous details and enlargements as needed.

(8) Building structure documents must be submitted to HHSC and include:
(A) structural framing layout and details used primarily for column, beam, joist, and structural building;

(B) roof framing layout if it cannot be adequately shown on a cross section; and

(C) cross sections in quantity and detail to show sufficient structural design and structural details as necessary to ensure adequate structural design and calculated design loads.

(9) Electrical documents must be submitted to HHSC and include:
(A) electrical layout, including lights, convenience outlets, equipment outlets, switches, and other electrical outlets and devices;

(B) service, circuiting, distribution, and panel diagrams;

(C) exit light systems with exit signs and emergency egress lighting;

(D) emergency electrical provisions, including generators and panels;

(E) staff communication systems;

(F) fire alarm and similar systems, including control panel, devices, and alarms; and

(G) sizes and details sufficient to ensure safe and properly operating systems.

(10) Plumbing documents must be submitted to HHSC and include:
(A) plumbing layout with pipe sizes and details sufficient to ensure safe and properly operating systems;

(B) water systems;

(C) sanitary systems;

(D) gas systems; and

(E) other systems normally considered under the scope of plumbing, fixtures, and provisions for combustion air supply.

(11) Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems documents must be submitted to HHSC and include:
(A) sufficient details of HVAC systems and components to ensure a safe and properly operating installation, including heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning layout, ducts, protection of duct inlets and outlets, combustion air, piping, exhausts, and duct smoke and fire dampers; and

(B) equipment types, sizes, and locations.

(12) Sprinkler system documents must be submitted to HHSC and include:
(A) plans and details of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) designed systems to meet the requirements of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinklers;

(B) plans and details of partial systems provided only for hazardous areas; and

(C) electrical devices interconnected to the alarm system.

(13) Specifications must be submitted to HHSC that include:
(A) installation techniques;

(B) quality standards and manufacturers;

(C) references to specific codes and standards;

(D) design criteria;

(E) special equipment;

(F) hardware;

(G) finishes; and

(H) other specifications as needed to amplify drawings and notes.

(14) Other layouts, plans or details must be submitted to HHSC as necessary for HHSC to obtain a clear understanding of the design and scope of the project. Plans covering private water or sewer systems that have been reviewed by the health or wastewater authority having appropriate jurisdiction must be submitted to HHSC.

(g) Construction phase.

(1) The HHSC Architectural Unit must be notified in writing before beginning construction of a new center or the remodeling of an existing center.

(2) HHSC requires additional drawings if construction of the center is not performed in accordance with the completed plans and specifications as submitted to HHSC for review or as modified in accordance with HHSC review requirements, if the change is significant.

(h) Initial inspection of completed construction.

(1) After completion of construction, including grounds and basic equipment and furnishings, HHSC performs an initial architectural inspection of the center before the center admits a minor. HHSC schedules an initial architectural inspection after HHSC receives a licensure application, required fees, fire marshal approval, approval of local building authority, and a letter from an architect or engineer stating that, to the best of the architect or engineer's knowledge, the center meets the building requirements for licensure.

(2) If HHSC Life Safety Code staff inspect the completed construction and find it in compliance with this chapter, the HHSC Architectural Unit forwards the information to the HHSC Licensing and Credentialing Unit as part of an applicant's license application. For additions to or remodeling of an existing center, HHSC may require an applicant to submit a revision or modification to an existing license. The building, including basic furnishings and operational needs, grades, drives, and parking, must be 100 percent complete at the time of the HHSC initial architectural inspection. A center may admit at least one but no more than three minors after it receives initial approval from HHSC but before a license is issued.

(3) An applicant must make the following documents related to the completed building available to the HHSC architectural inspection surveyor at the time of the inspection:
(A) written approval of the local authorities as required in paragraph (1) of this subsection;

(B) for fire detection and alarm systems:
(i) record drawings of the fire detection and alarm system as installed, signed by an alarm planning superintendent licensed by the State Fire Marshal's Office or sealed by a licensed professional engineer;

(ii) a sequence of operation, the owner's manuals and the manufacturer's published instructions covering all system equipment;

(iii) a signed copy of the State Fire Marshal's Office Fire Alarm Installation Certificate; and

(iv) for software-based systems, a record copy of the site-specific software, excluding the system executive software or external programmer software in non-volatile, non-erasable, non-rewritable memory;

(C) documentation of materials used in the building that are required to have a specific limited fire or flame spread rating, including special wall finishes or floor coverings, flame retardant rated ceilings and curtains, including cubicle curtains;

(D) for carpeting that is required to have a specific limited fire or flame spread rating, a signed letter from the installer verifying that the carpeting installed is named in the laboratory test document; and

(E) for fire sprinkler systems:
(i) record drawings of the fire sprinkler system as installed, signed by a responsible managing employee, licensed by the State Fire Marshal's Office or sealed by a licensed professional engineer;

(ii) the hydraulic calculations;

(iii) the alarm configuration;

(iv) above ground and underground Contractor's Material and Test Certificate;

(v) the literature and instructions provided by the manufacturer describing the proper operation and maintenance of all equipment and devices in accordance with NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems;

(vi) service contracts for maintenance and testing of alarm systems and sprinkler systems;

(vii) a copy of gas test results of the center's gas lines from the meter;

(viii) a written statement from an architect or engineer stating, to the best of the architect or engineer's knowledge, the building was constructed in substantial compliance with the construction documents, the Life Safety Code, this chapter, and local codes; and

(ix) any other such documentation as needed.

(i) Non-approval of new construction.

(1) If, during the initial on-site architectural inspection of completed construction, the HHSC Life Safety Code surveyor finds certain basic requirements are not met, the surveyor may recommend that the center not be licensed or approved for occupancy. Items that may result in this recommendation include:
(A) substantial changes made during construction that were not submitted to HHSC for review and that may require revised "as-built" drawings to include the changes, including architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical items as specified in this section;

(B) construction that does not meet minimum code or licensure standards, including corridors that are less than the required width, ceilings installed at less than the minimum seven-foot, six-inch height, and other features that would disrupt or otherwise adversely affect minors and staff if corrected after occupancy;

(C) lack of written approval by appropriate local authorities;

(D) fire protection systems, including fire alarm systems, emergency power and lighting, and sprinkler systems, that are not completely installed or functioning properly;

(E) required exits that not all usable according to NFPA 101 requirements;

(F) telephones that are not installed or not working properly;

(G) sufficient basic furnishings, essential appliances, and equipment that are not installed or functioning; and

(H) other basic operational or safety feature that would preclude safe and normal occupancy by a minor on that day.

(2) An applicant must submit copies of reduced-size floor plans on an 8 1/2-inch by 11-inch sheet, in duplicate, to HHSC for records and for the center's use for an evacuation plan, or fire alarm zone identification. The plan must contain basic legible information including scale, room usage names, actual bedroom numbers, doors, windows, and any other pertinent information.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Texas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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