D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 22, r. 22-B2035
All facilities shall comply with the following applicable codes and standards to provide a safe environment:
Existing and new facilities shall comply with the physical plant standards contained in § 2031 of this chapter. The hospital shall maintain all building materials and structural components so that total loads imposed do not stress materials and components more than one and one-half times the working stresses allowed in the building code for new buildings of similar structure, purpose, or location.
Interpretations: All dimension, sizes, and quantities; noted herein will be determined by rounding fractions to the nearest whole number.
Floor area is the space with ceilings at least seven feet in height and does not include areas such as enclosed storage, toilets, and bathing rooms, corridors and halls. The space beyond the first two feet of vestibules and alcoves less than five feet in width will not be included in the required floor area. In rooms with sloped ceilings, at least half of the ceiling shall be at least seven feet in height with areas less than five feet in height not included in the required floor area.
Dining Areas: If provided, dining areas for patients shall have an outside wall with windows for natural light and ventilation. In addition:
Activity Areas: If provided, activity areas shall have space for patient socialization and leisure time activities. In addition:
Bathing Rooms: A hospital shall provide a bathing room consisting of a tub and/or shower adjacent to each bedroom or provide a central bathing room on each floor with patient rooms. Tubs and showers regardless of location shall be equipped with hand grips or other assistive devices as needed or desired by the bathing patient.
Toilet Rooms: The hospital shall provide toilet rooms with hand-washing sinks for patient use.
Patient Rooms: The hospital shall provide patient rooms which allow for sleeping, afford privacy, provide access to furniture and belongings, and accommodate inpatient care and treatment.
Patient Rooms:
Existing or New Facility: Patient rooms in existing and new facilities shall have at least the following floor areas:
New Construction: Patient rooms in new construction shall have at least the following floor areas.
Isolation Rooms: The number and type of isolation rooms in a hospital shall be determined by the hospital and based upon an infection control risk assessment. In addition:
Observation Areas: If the hospital provides medical observation, extended recovery or behavior intervention methods, the hospital shall provide one or more appropriately equipped rooms for patients needing close supervision. Each room shall:
Critical Care Rooms: If monitored complex nursing care is provided, the hospital shall provide one or more rooms for patients needing the care. Each room shall be appropriately located and equipped to promote staff observation of patients. Rooms with a single occupant shall have a minimum floor area of no less than one hundred and thirty (130) square feet. Multiple bed locations shall contain at least one hundred and ten (110) square feet per bed with a minimum of four (4) feet between beds. The room shall include provision for life support, medical gas, sleeping, and convenient bathing and toileting facilities.
Bassinets: Each bassinet shall have a minimum floor area of forty (40) square feet with at least three (3) feet between bassinets.
Cubicles: Patient care and treatment cubicles shall have a minimum floor area of sixty (60) square feet with at least three (3) feet between bedsides and adjacent side walls.
Examination Rooms: Each examination room shall have a minimum floor area of eighty (80) square feet and a minimum of three (3) feet clear dimension around three (3) sides of the examination table or chair.
Treatment Rooms: Treatment room for procedures performed under topical, local, or regional anesthesia without pre-operative sedation shall have a minimum floor area of one hundred and twenty (120) square feet and a minimum of ten (10) feet clear dimension.
Procedure Rooms: Procedure rooms for invasive and minor surgical procedures performed in conjunction with oral, parenteral, or intravenous sedation or under analgesic or dissociative drugs shall have a minimum floor area of two hundred (200) square feet and a minimum of fourteen (14) feet clear dimension.
Operating Rooms: Operating rooms for major surgical procedures that require general or regional block anesthesia and support of vital bodily functions shall have a minimum floor area of three hundred (300) square feet and a minimum of sixteen (16) feet clear dimension.
Corridors: The hospital corridors shall be wide enough to allow passage and be equipped as needed by the patient with safety and assistive devices to minimize injury. All stairways and ramps shall have handrails.
Doors: The hospital doors shall be wide enough to allow passage and be equipped for privacy, safety, and with assistive devices to minimize patient injury.
All patient room, toilet, and bathing room doors shall provide privacy yet not create seclusion or prohibit staff access for routine or emergency care.
Outdoor Areas: Any outdoor area for patient usage provided by the hospital shall be equipped and situated to allow for patient safety and abilities.
Hand-washing Sinks: The hospital shall provide a hand-washing sink equipped with towels and a soap dispenser in all examination, treatment, isolation and procedure rooms and which shall also be available for every four care and treatment cubicle locations. Two scrub sinks shall be available near the entrance of each operating room.
Privacy: In multiple bed patient rooms, visual privacy, and window curtains shall be provided for each patient. In new facilities and new construction the curtain layout shall totally surround each care and treatment location which will not restrict access to the entrance to the room, lavatory, toilet, or enclosed storage facilities.
Finishes: A hospital shall provide the following special room finishes:
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 22, r. 22-B2035