Chapter 12 Interior Environment

California Amendments by HCD and OSHPD

Chapter 12 – Interior Environment

Department of Housing and Community Development

1202.3 Unvented attic and unvented enclosed rafter assemblies

Repealed amendment related to California Climate Zones and vapor retarder requirements since these provisions are addressed by the California Energy Commission.

Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development

1224.3 Definitions

Invasive Procedure. Amended to align with the glossary in the “Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals” as published by the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI). The added clarification provided in the FGI explanatory note assigns a risk percentage rather than stating a recognized risk. The amendments were coordinated with the California Department of Public Health responsible for licensing services in health care facilities.

Table 1224.4.6.1 Station outlets for oxygen, vacuum (suction) and medical air systems

Added a column to the table for instrument air outlet, line items 42, 43 and 44 and footnotes 9, 10 and 11. The new column aligns with national guidelines. Footnote 10 has been re-worded to coordinate with the room functions as provided in the California Building Code.

Table 1224.4.6.5 Location of nurse call devices

Amended table to add “and” between treatment and triage rooms, clarifying that there are three separate rooms.

Table 1224.4.19 Sound transmission limitations in hospitals

Amended footnote #1 in the table to the correct reference standard number ASTM E413 Classification for rating sound insulation.

1224.16.2.1 Space requirements

Revised to indicate space requirements within preoperative patient holding areas. The minimum width requirement of 6 feet access/circulation outside the curtain aligns with Section 1224.16.3 Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).

1224.19.2.3.7 Hazardous Drug (HD) storage

Added new section to define a Hazardous Drug (HD) Storage room to align with United States Pharmacopeia USP-GC <800> Hazardous Drugs-Handling in Healthcare Settings. The storage arrangement is currently required under Title 16 Section 1751.

1224.19.3.2.3.3 Handwashing station (Anteroom)
1224.19.3.2.4.2 Handwashing station (Segregated Compounding Area, SCA)

Amended to align with the United States Pharmacopeia USP-NF <797> to allow sinks to be located either inside or outside the respective areas (or in close proximity to the SCA). “Adjacent” is an OSHPD-defined term that means “located next to but not necessarily connected to the identified area or room.”

1224.19.3.3.2.8 Pass-throughs

Amended to align with the United States Pharmacopeia General Chapter, USP-GC <800> Hazardous Drugs-Handling in Healthcare Settings allowing a pass-through from the buffer room to unclassified areas but not the refrigerator.

1224.19.3.3.2.8 Pot washing facilities

Amended to clarify three compartment sinks are required in pot washing facilities to align with Health and Safety Code Section 114099.

1224.29.29.1.15 Support (Intensive Care Units)
1224.29.2.9 Lactation (Newborn Intensive Care Unit, (NICU)

Replace the term “immediately adjacent” with “immediately accessible,” in alignment with terminology used in Facilities Guidelines Institute (FGI).

1224.31.1 Psychiatric unit space

Amended to clarify that a psychiatric nursing unit in the general acute care hospital [OSHPD 1] is not a distinct part, but is a separate nursing unit. Aligns with Title 22 relative to elder care facilities.

1224.31.1.1 General

Separated general statements about psychiatric nursing units in a medical facility [OSHPD 1] from the non-medical psychiatric hospital or units [OSHPD 5].

1224.31.1.9 Activity spaces

Specified that activity spaces provided in a psychiatric nursing unit shall comply with Section 1228.13.1’s requirements for patient safety in outdoor activity areas. Added Section 1224.31.1.9.1 to delineate the indoor activity rooms for a psychiatric nursing unit, and Section 1224.31.1.9.2 to clarify that outdoor activity areas are dedicated for the psychiatric unit. Related to CBC Section 1228.2.

1224.33.2.7.1 Behavioral health observation area

Clarified furniture options for a behavioral health observation area and provided an additional option for recliners; clarified a minimum of three feet on one side of recliners/beds/gurneys.

1224.33.4.2 Fast-track area

Clarified fast-track area requirements in an emergency department to be consistent with triage area requirements, as well as other design and lighting requirements. Aligned with the fast-track section in the FGI hospital guidelines.

1224.35.1 Rehabilitation center space

Clarified that access for outpatient rehabilitation services are required when a rehabilitation center is provided and aligned with existing Title 22 (Social Security) requirements in nuclear medicine facilities. Also clarified that physical therapy service, occupational service, and speech pathology service are required services for a rehabilitation center, and the space for these individual services shall be designed to meet the requirements of Sections 1224.35.2, 1224.35.3 and 1224.35.4, respectively.

1224.42 Chemical Dependency Recovery Hospital

Added new section allowing that chemical dependency recovery services can be provided as supplemental services located as a separate unit within a distinct part in general acute care hospitals and acute psychiatric hospitals, pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1250.3. Reference pointer to Section 1229 added for regulatory compliance. Related Sections: 1.10.6, 1224.3, 1228, 1229.

1225.5.1.2.6 Patient storage

Amended to align with other sections in Chapter 12 regarding specific provisions in nursing units for patient storage of personal belongings. Related sections: 1228.14.1.8 and 1229.14.1.9.

1225.6.6 Special treatment program service

Added language to clarify that skilled nursing facilities shall have a minimum of 30 beds for special treatment program service. Aligned with existing Title 22 requirements for skilled nursing facilities.

1226.4.13.2.1 Medication preparation room or area

Clarified the location option for medication (previously “medicine”) preparation room or area.

1226.4.14.2 Specimen and/or blood collection facilities

Corrected the reference pointer from Section 1224.4.4.2 to Section 1224.4.4.3.

1226.8 Surgical clinics

Added a section header to provide consistent formatting throughout Section 1226.

1226.8.1.3 Procedure room(s)

Added subsection to provide a pointer to the procedure room requirements in Section 1224.4.4.1.4.

1228.2 Application

Clarified that an acute psychiatric hospital with non-medical units shall comply with Section 1228 that refers to Section 1224.31 for acute psychiatric hospitals or units that provide acute medical care.

1228.14.1.8 Patient storage

Amended to align with other sections in Chapter 12 regarding patient storage of personal belongings in psychiatric nursing units. Section 1228 is unique in that the storage must be designed with no ligature hazards. Related sections: 1225.5.1.2.6 and 1229.14.1.9,

1228.30 Pediatric and Adolescent Psychiatric Service Space.

Clarified that pediatric and adolescent mental health service space patient areas are separate from each other and from adult mental health services space patient areas. Further clarified that common areas may be shared and used by pediatric and adolescent patients at different times. Aligns with Title 22 and the FGI.

1228.44 Chemical Dependency Recovery Hospital.

Added new section to distinguish that chemical dependency recovery services be provided as supplemental services located within a distinct part in acute psychiatric hospitals, pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1250.3. Added reference pointer to Section 1229. Related Sections: 1.10.6, 1224, 1224.3, 1229.

1229.14.1.9 Patient storage

Aligned with other sections in Chapter 12 regarding patient storage of personal belongings in chemical dependency recovery residential areas. Related sections: 1225.5.1.2.6 and 1228.14.1.8.

1229.31 Other chemical dependency service space

Amended to reference sections that may be used for other services in a chemical dependency hospital. Additionally, changed the reference to the Department of Health Services to the California Department of Public Health.