D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 22, r. 22-B3234
Each facility shall be designed, constructed, located, equipped, and maintained to provide a functional, healthful, safe, comfortable, and supportive environment for each resident, employee and the visiting public.
Each facility shall comply with applicable provisions of the BOCA National Building Code; the BOCA International Plumbing Code; the BOCA International Mechanical Code; the NFPA National Elevator Code and other applicable federal and District of Columbia laws, as provided in this chapter. Any other provision of this chapter related to environmental requirements shall not apply to a facility that is licensed on the effective date of these rules and provides evidence that compliance would require major renovation.
The physical plant shall provide maximum environmental support for the goals of each service that is offered and shall be responsive to the needs of each resident, employee, and the visiting public.
The provision of space and the way in which the facility is equipped, furnished, and maintained shall provide a home-like setting for each resident while providing the staff a pleasant and functional working environment.
Utilization of decoration, color, and furnishings shall be designed in order to minimize the institutional character of the facility.
The limited mobility of each resident shall be considered in designating uses and proximity relationships for various rooms in the facility.
The facility shall provide one (1) or more rooms designated for resident social, recreational, and dining activities which shall be:
The facility and its lighting system shall be designed, equipped and maintained to avoid high brightness, highly reflective surfaces and glare.
Lighting levels throughout the facility shall conform to the minimum lighting level, as set forth in 3234.9, provided that the facility shall provide any additional lighting level as may be needed by residents with visual impairments and as may be needed for special tasks.
The following minimum lighting levels shall be used throughout the facility:
MINIMUM LIGHTING LEVELS (FOOT-CANDLES ON THE TASK)
(AREA/ACTIVITY) | (FOOT CANDLES) |
Barber/Beauty area | 50 |
Corridors: | 20 |
Nursing areas - day | 10 |
Nursing areas - night | 50 |
Dietary | 15 |
Elevators | 50 |
Examination room | 50 |
Employee Lounge | 20 |
Employee Locker Room | 30 |
Linens: | 30 |
Sorting soiled linens | 10 |
Central (clean) linen supply | 15 |
Linens rooms/closets | 20 |
Janitor closet | 30 |
Lobby: | 50 |
General | 50 |
Receptionist | 50 |
Administrative spaces: | 30 |
General office | 30 |
Medical records | 50 |
Conference/interview area/room | 50 |
Mechanical/electrical room/space | 50 |
Nursing station: | 20 |
General | 10 |
Desk | 30 |
Medication area | 50 |
Nourishment center | 15 |
Corridors - day | 30 |
Corridors - night | 30 |
Occupational therapy | 30 |
Work area, general | 15 |
Work benches/tables | 30 |
Resident room: | 30 |
General | 30 |
Reading/bed | 15 |
Toilet | 20 |
Physical Therapy | 30 |
Resident Lounge: | |
General | 15 |
Reading | 30 |
Resident dining | 30 |
Speech therapy | 30 |
Stairways | 15 |
Storage, general | 20 |
Toilet/shower/bath | 30 |
Every habitable room shall contain windows of size, area, and specifications in accordance with the 1996 BOCA National Building Code.
In habitable rooms, windows shall be of openable type, with sills no higher than three (3) feet above the floor.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 22, r. 22-B3234