SECTION 554.344. Plan Review

At the option of the applicant, HHSC will review plans for a new building, an addition to a building, a conversion of a building not licensed by HHSC, or rehabilitation of an existing licensed facility. HHSC will, within 30 days, inform the applicant in writing of the results of the review. If the plans comply with HHSC’s architectural requirements, HHSC may not subsequently change the architectural requirement applicable to the project unless the change is required by federal law or the applicant fails to complete the project within two years. HHSC may grant a waiver of this two-year period for delays due to unusual circumstances. There is no time limit to complete a project, only a time limit for completing a project using requirements that have been revised after the project was reviewed.

(1) Submittal of plans.

(A) For review of plans, submit one copy of contract documents described in paragraph (2) of this subsection before construction begins. Documents must be in sufficient detail to demonstrate compliance with this subchapter and ensure proper construction. Documents must be prepared according to accepted architectural practice and must include general construction, special conditions, and schedules.

(B) Final copies of plans must include a title block that shows name of facility, person, or organization preparing the sheet, sheet numbers, facility address, and drawing date. Sheets and sections covering structural, electrical, mechanical, and sanitary engineering final plans, designs, and specifications must bear the seal of a licensed professional engineer approved by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers to operate in Texas. Contract documents for additions, rehabilitation of, or construction of an entirely new facility must be prepared by an architect licensed by the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners. Drawings must bear the seal of the architect.

(C) A final plan for a major addition to a facility must include a basic layout to scale of the entire building onto which the addition will connect. North direction must be shown. The entire basic layout may be to a scale such as 1/16 inch per foot or 1/32 inch per foot for very large buildings.

(D) Plans and specifications for the conversion of a building not licensed by HHSC or rehabilitation of an existing building must be complete for all parts and features involved.

(E) The facility is responsible for employing qualified personnel to prepare the contract documents for construction. If the contract documents contain errors or omissions to the extent that conformance with standards cannot be reasonably ensured or determined, HHSC may request a revised set of documents for review.

(F) The review of plans and specifications by HHSC is based on general utility, the minimum licensing standards, and conformance with NFPA 101. This review must not to be construed as an all-inclusive approval of the structural, electrical, or mechanical components, nor does it constitute the review of required building plans for compliance with TAS as administered and enforced by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

(G) Fees for plan review will be required according to §19.219 of this chapter (relating to Plan Review Fees).

(2) Contract documents.

(A) Code compliance documents must include:

(i) A life safety floor plan that includes the following information:

(I) a building layout, depicted at an identified drawing scale;

(II) the location of any changes in construction type;

(III) occupant loads, according to NFPA 101;

(IV) egress capacity, according to NFPA 101;

(V) egress routes from spaces in the building to the public way, including travel distances;

(VI) areas in buildings which use provisions for suites, per NFPA 101;

(VII) provisions for the protection of vertical openings;

(VIII) the locations of doors that use special locking arrangements;

(IX) the relationship of the subject building to any adjacent buildings on the same property, including dimensions between buildings;

(X) the size and location of smoke compartments, and the tested fire resistance-rated assemblies proposed for the construction of smoke barriers defining the compartments;

(XI) the location of any fire barriers or fire walls, and the tested fire resistance-rated assemblies proposed for the construction of those barriers or walls; and

(XII) the location of egress signage.

(ii) documentation, published by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, describing any proposed fire resistance-rated assemblies, including the following:

(I) fire resistance-rated wall assemblies;

(II) fire resistance-rated floor-ceiling assemblies;

(III) fire resistance-rated roof-ceiling assemblies;

(IV) fire resistance-rated joint systems;

(V) fire resistance-rated systems for protection of penetrations into or through other fire resistance-rated construction and assemblies; and

(VI) fire resistance-rated assemblies for protection of structural columns and beams.

(iii) for projects involving building rehabilitation, provide a diagram outlining each area undergoing rehabilitation identifying the classification of the rehabilitation work according to §19.350 of this subchapter (relating to Building Rehabilitation), and identifying the total floor area of each rehabilitation work area by rehabilitation classification.

(B) Site plan documents must include:

(i) grade contours;

(ii) streets with names;

(iii) a north arrow;

(iv) fire hydrant locations;

(v) fire lanes;

(vi) utilities, public or private;

(vii) fences; and

(viii) unusual site conditions, such as

(I) ditches;

(II) low water levels;

(III) other buildings on-site; and

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

(C) Foundation plan documents must include the general foundation design and details.

(D) Floor plan documents must include:

(i) room names, numbers, and usages;

(ii) numbered doors, including swing;

(iii) windows;

(iv) a legend or clarification of wall types;

(v) dimensions;

(vi) fixed equipment;

(vii) plumbing fixtures;

(viii) kitchen basic layout; and

(ix) identification of all smoke barrier walls and fire walls, outside wall to outside wall.

(E) For new construction, additions to or rehabilitation of an existing building, an overall plan of the entire building must be drawn or reduced to fit on an 8 1/2-inch by 11-inch sheet.

(F) Schedules must include:

(i) door materials, sizes, and types;

(ii) window materials, sizes, and types;

(iii) room finishes; and

(iv) special hardware.

(G) Elevations must include:

(i) exterior elevations with material note; and

(ii) interior elevations, where needed for special conditions.

(H) Roof plans must include:

(i) any roof top equipment;

(ii) roof slopes;

(iii) drain locations; and

(iv) gas pipes.

(I) Details must include:

(i) wall sections as needed, especially for special conditions;

(ii) cabinets and built-in work, basic design only;

(iii) cross sections through buildings as needed; and

(iv) miscellaneous details and enlargements as needed.

(J) Building structure documents must include:

(i) structural framing layouts and details;

(ii) roof framing layout, when this cannot be adequately shown on cross section;

(iii) cross sections in quantity and detail to show sufficient structural design; and

(iv) structural details as necessary to ensure adequate structural design.

(K) Electrical documents must include:

(i) electrical layout, including lights, convenience outlets, equipment outlets, switches, and other electrical outlets and devices;

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

(iii) exit signs and emergency egress lighting;

(iv) emergency electrical provisions, such as generators and panelboards;

(v) staff communication systems, including a nurse call system;

(vi) fire alarm and similar systems, such as control panels, devices, and alarms; and

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

(L) Plumbing documents must include:

(i) plumbing layout with pipe sizes and details sufficient to ensure safe and properly operating systems;

(ii) water systems;

(iii) sanitary systems;

(iv) gas systems; and

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

(M) Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) documents must include:

(i) sufficient details of HVAC systems and components to ensure a safe and properly operating installation, including heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning layout; ducts; protection of duct inlets and outlets; combustion air; piping; exhausts; duct smoke detectors; and fire dampers; and

(ii) equipment types, sizes, and locations.

(N) Sprinkler system documents must include:

(i) plans and details of systems designed according to NPFA 13; and

(ii) electrical devices interconnected to the alarm system.

(O) Specifications must include:

(i) installation techniques;

(ii) quality standards;

(iii) manufacturers;

(iv) references to specific codes and standards;

(v) design criteria;

(vi) special equipment;

(vii) hardware;

(viii) finishes; and

(ix) any other information as needed to amplify drawings and notes.

(P) Other layouts, plans, or details that are necessary to convey a clear understanding of the design and scope of the project, including plans covering private water or sewer systems, which must be reviewed by the local health or wastewater authority having jurisdiction.

Source Note: The provisions of this §554.344 adopted to be effective April 1, 2002, 27 TexReg 2249; amended to be effective March 22, 2018, 43 TexReg 1646; transferred effective January 15, 2021, as published in the Texas Register December 11, 2020, 45 TexReg 8871