§ 205.66. Special ventilation requirements for new construction.

 (a)  Ventilation for new construction shall conform to the following:

	Pressure	Minimum Air	Minimum
	Relationship	Changes of	Total Air	All Air	Recirculated
	to Adjacent	Outdoor Air	Changes	Directly	within
Area Designation	Areas	Per Hour	Per Hour	to Outdoors	Room Units
Resident Room	Equal	2	2	Optional	Optional
Resident Area Corridor	Equal	Optional	2	Optional	Optional
Physical therapy	Negative	2	6	Optional	Optional
Occupational therapy	Negative	2	6	Optional	Optional
Soiled workroom or soiled holding	Negative	2	10	Yes	No
Clean workroom or clean holding	Positive	2	4	Optional	Optional
Toilet room	Negative	Optional	10	Yes	No
Bathroom	Negative	Optional	10	Yes	No
Janitor’s closet	Negative	Optional	10	Yes	No
Sterilizer equipment room	Negative	Optional	10	Yes	No
Linen and trash chute rooms	Negative	Optional	10	Yes	No
Food preparation center	Equal	2	10	Yes	Yes
Warewashing room	Negative	Optional	10	Yes	Yes
Dietary day storage	Equal	Optional	2	Yes	No
Laundry, general	Equal	2	10	Yes	No
Soiled linen sorting and storage	Negative	Optional	10	Yes	No
Clean linen storage	Positive	Optional	2	Yes	No
Special Care Room/Isolation	Negative	2	6	Yes	No

 (b)  Central air systems shall be provided with filters having a minimum efficiency of 25% based on ASHRAE Standard No. 52-68 and certified by an independent testing agency. Central air systems shall have a manometer installed across each filter bed.

 (c)  Air supply systems shall be operated mechanically. Air exhaust and return systems shall be operated mechanically, except for air not required to be exhausted directly outdoors as indicated in subsection (a). Where subsection (a) requirements for outdoor air is optional, this air may be supplied directly by transfer ducts or grilles to adjacent spaces without being filtered through a central system. Air may not be transferred to or from corridors, to or from adjacent spaces, except as permitted in the applicable edition of the National Fire Protection Association 101 Life Safety Code which is currently adopted by the Department.

 (d)  The dietary dry storage and kitchenware washing rooms may use direct air from the kitchen without being filtered through a central system.

 (e)  The ventilation rates indicated in subsection (a) are minimum mandatory rates for the area listed and may not be construed as precluding the use of higher rates. For areas not listed, such as dining rooms, lounge and recreation rooms, solaria, and the like, mechanical ventilation rates are optional, but where mechanical ventilation is provided, the supply air shall be obtained from the outdoors through individual room units or from central systems. The unlisted room areas, if ventilated, shall contain an equal pressure relationship.

 (f)  Where mechanical ventilation is not mandatory or provided, the areas may be ventilated by outside windows that can be easily opened and closed.

 (g)  Outdoor air intakes may be no less than 25 feet from waste air discharges, such as discharge from ventilation systems, combustion stacks, plumbing vents, vehicle exhaust and the like. The bottom of outdoor air intakes serving central systems and kitchens may not be less than 3 feet above the finished grade or roof level.

 (h)  Ventilation air openings which are located near floors shall be installed not less than 3 inches above the finished floor.

 (i)  Air quantities in cubic feet per minute shall be indicated on the drawings for room supply, return and exhaust ventilation openings.

Authority

   The provisions of this §  205.66 amended under section 803 of the Health Care Facilities Act (35 P. S. §  448.803); and section 2102(g) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. §  532(g)).

Source

   The provisions of this §  205.66 adopted August 29, 1975, effective September 1, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 2233; amended January 31, 1987, effective July 1, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 514; amended July 23, 1999, effective July 24, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3999. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (242531) to (242533).

Cross References

   This section cited in 28 Pa. Code §  205.21 (relating to special care room).

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