Kan. Admin. Regs. § 26-40-304

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 49, December 5, 2024

Section 26-40-304 - Nursing facility physical environment; details and finishes

Each nursing facility shall incorporate details and finishes to create a home environment.

(a) Codes and standards. Nursing facilities may be subject to codes, standards, and regulations of several different jurisdictions, including local, state, and federal authorities. The requirements in this regulation shall be considered as a minimum. Each nursing facility and each portion of a nursing facility that was licensed under a previous regulation shall, at a minimum, remain in compliance with the regulation or building code in effect at the date of licensure. Each applicant for a nursing facility license and each addition to a nursing facility licensed on or after the effective date of this regulation shall meet the following requirements, as adopted by reference in K.A.R. 26-39-105 :

(1) The "international building code" (IBC);

(2) the national fire protection association's NFPA 101 "life safety code" (LSC); and

(3) the "Americans with disabilities act accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities" (ADAAG).

(b) Details.

(1) Corridors.

(A) The width of each corridor shall be at least eight feet in any resident-use area and at least six feet in any nursing facility support area.

(B) Handrails shall not be considered an obstruction when measuring the width of corridors.

(C) Doors shall not swing directly into corridors, with the exception of doors to small closets and spaces that are not subject to occupancy. Walk-in closets shall be considered occupiable spaces.

(2) Ceiling height.

(A) The height of each ceiling shall be at least eight feet above the finished floor with the following exceptions:

(i) Each ceiling in a storage room or other normally unoccupied space shall be at least seven feet eight inches above the finished floor.

(ii) Each ceiling in a room containing ceiling-mounted equipment shall have sufficient height to accommodate the proper functioning, repair, and servicing of the equipment.

(B) Each building component and suspended track, rail, and pipe located in the path of normal traffic shall be at least six feet eight inches above the finished floor.

(C) Each architecturally framed and trimmed doorway or other opening in a corridor or room shall have a height of at least six feet eight inches above the finished floor.

(3) Doors and door hardware.

(A) Each door on any opening between corridors and spaces subject to occupancy, with the exception of elevator doors, shall be swinging-type.

(B) Each door to a room containing at least one resident-use toilet, bathtub, or shower shall be swinging-type, sliding, or folding and shall be capable of opening outward or designed to allow ingress to the room without pushing against a resident who could have collapsed in the room.

(C) The width of the door opening to each room that staff need to access with beds or stretchers shall be at least three feet eight inches. The width of each door to a resident-use toilet room and other rooms that staff and residents need to access with wheelchairs shall be at least three feet.

(D) No more than five percent of the resident rooms may have a Dutch door to the corridor for physician-ordered monitoring of a resident who is disorientated.

(E) Each exterior door that can be left in an open position shall have insect screens.

(F) Each resident-use interior and exterior door shall open with ease and little resistance.

(G) Each resident-use swinging-type door shall have lever hardware or sensors for ease of use by residents with mobility limitations.

(4) Glazing. Safety glazing materials shall be required in all doors with glass panels, sidelights, and any breakable material located within 18 inches of the floor. Safety glass or safety glazing materials shall be used on any breakable material used for a bath enclosure or shower door.

(5) Windows.

(A) Each window in a resident's room or in a resident-use area shall have a sill located no greater than 32 inches above the finished floor and at least two feet six inches above the exterior grade. This paragraph shall not apply if the building was constructed and licensed as a nursing facility before February 15, 1977. If the building was constructed and licensed as a nursing facility on or after February 15, 1977 and before November 1, 1993, the nursing facility shall have a windowsill height three feet or less above the floor in the living and dining areas for at least 50 percent of the total window area.

(B) Each window in a resident's room shall be operable.

(C) Each operable window shall have an insect screen.

(D) Each operable window shall be designed to prevent falls when open or shall be equipped with a security screen.

(E) Blinds, sheers, or other resident-controlled window treatments shall be provided throughout each resident unit to control light levels and glare.

(6) Grab bars.

(A) Grab bars shall be installed at each resident-use toilet and in each shower and tub.

(B) Each wall-mounted grab bar shall have a clearance of 1¹/2 inches from the wall.

(C) Each grab bar, including those molded into a sink counter, shall have strength to sustain a concentrated load of 250 pounds.

(D) Permanent or flip-down grab bars that are 11/2 inches in diameter shall be installed on any two sides of each resident-use toilet, or the resident-use toilet shall have at least one permanent grab bar mounted horizontally at least 33 inches and no more than 36 inches above the floor and slanted at an angle.

(E) The ends of each grab bar shall return to the wall or floor.

(F) Each grab bar shall have a finish color that contrasts with that of the adjacent wall surface.

(7) Handrails.

(A) Each handrail shall be accessible according to ADAAG, as adopted by reference in K.A.R. 26-39-105 . Alternative cross sections and configurations that support senior mobility shall be permitted.

(B) Each stairway and ramp shall have handrails.

(C) A handrail shall be provided for each resident-use corridor with a wall length greater than 12 inches.

(D) Each handrail shall have a clearance of 1¹/2 inches from the wall.

(E) The ends of each handrail shall return to the wall.

(F) Each handrail and fastener shall be completely smooth and free of rough edges.

(8) Heated surfaces.

(A) Each heated surface in excess of 100°F with which a resident may have contact shall be insulated and covered to protect the resident.

(B) If heated surfaces, including cook tops, ovens, and steam tables, are used in resident areas, emergency shut-offs shall be provided.

(9) Hand-washing stations.

(A) The water supply spouts for each sink shall be sensor-operated or operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist.

(B) The water supply spout at each sink located in the resident unit and any other areas available for resident use shall be mounted so that the discharge point is at least five inches above the rim of the fixture.

(C) An enclosed single-issue paper towel dispenser or mechanical hand-drying device shall be provided at each hand-washing sink.

(D) A wastebasket shall be located at each hand-washing sink.

(E) A mirror shall be placed at each hand-washing sink located in a resident room, a resident toilet room, and a bathing room and in each public toilet room. The placement of the mirror shall allow for convenient use by both a person who uses a wheelchair and a person who is ambulatory. The bottom edge of each mirror shall be no more than 40 inches from floor level.

(10) Lighting.

(A) All interior and exterior nursing facility lighting shall be designed to reduce glare.

(B) Each space occupied by persons, machinery, equipment within the nursing facility, and approaches to the nursing facility and parking lots shall have lighting.

(C) Each corridor and stairway shall remain lighted at all times.

(D) Each resident room shall have general lighting and night lighting. The nursing facility shall have a reading light for each resident. At least one light fixture for night lighting shall be switched at the entrance to each resident's room. All switches for the control of lighting in resident areas shall be of the quiet-operating type.

(E) Each light located in a resident-use area shall be equipped with a shade, globe, grid, or glass panel.

(F) Each light fixture in wet areas, including kitchens and showers, shall be vapor-resistant and shall have cleanable, shatter-resistant lenses and no exposed lamps.

(c) Finishes.

(1) Flooring.

(A) Each floor surface shall be easily cleaned and maintained for the location.

(B) If the area is subject to frequent wet-cleaning methods, the floor surface shall not be physically affected by germicidal or other types of cleaning solutions.

(C) Each floor surface, including tile joints used in areas for food preparation or food assembly, shall be water-resistant, greaseproof, and resistant to food acids. Floor construction in dietary and food preparation areas shall be free of spaces that can harbor rodents and insects.

(D) Each flooring surface, including wet areas in kitchens, showers, and bath areas, entries from exterior to interior spaces, and stairways and ramps, shall have slip-resistant surfaces.

(E) All floor construction and joints of structural elements that have openings for pipes, ducts, and conduits shall be tightly sealed to prevent entry of rodents and insects.

(F) Highly polished flooring or flooring finishes that create glare shall be avoided.

(G) Each flooring surface shall allow for ease of am-bulation and movement of all wheeled equipment used by residents or staff and shall provide for smooth transitions between differing floor surfaces.

(H) Each threshold and expansion joint shall be designed to accommodate rolling traffic and prevent tripping.

(I) Each carpet and carpet with padding in all resident-use areas shall be glued down or stretched taut and free of loose edges or wrinkles to avoid hazards or interference with the operation of lifts, wheelchairs, walkers, wheeled carts, and residents utilizing orthotic devices.

(2) Walls, wall bases, and wall protection.

(A) Each wall finish shall be washable and, if located near plumbing fixtures, shall be smooth and moisture-resistant.

(B) Wall protection and corner guards shall be durable and scrubbable.

(C) Each wall base in areas that require frequent wet cleaning, including kitchens, clean and soiled workrooms, and housekeeping rooms, shall be continuous and coved with the floor, tightly sealed to the wall, and constructed without voids that can harbor rodents and insects.

(D) All wall construction, finish, and trim in dietary and food storage areas shall be free from spaces that can harbor rodents, insects, and moisture.

(E) Each wall opening for pipes, ducts, and conduits and the joints of structural elements shall be tightly sealed to prevent entry of rodents and insects.

(F) Highly polished walls or wall finishes that create glare shall be avoided.

(3) Ceilings.

(A) The finish of each ceiling in resident-use areas and staff work areas shall be easily cleanable.

(B) Each ceiling in dietary, food preparation, food assembly, and food storage areas shall have a finished ceiling covering all overhead pipes and ducts. The ceiling finish shall be washable or easily cleaned by dustless methods, including vacuum cleaning.

(C) Each ceiling opening for pipes, ducts, and conduits and all joints of structural elements shall be tightly sealed to prevent entry of rodents and insects.

(D) Impervious ceiling finishes that are easily cleaned shall be provided in each soiled workroom, housekeeping room, and bathing room.

(E) Finished ceilings may be omitted in mechanical and equipment spaces, shops, general storage areas, and similar spaces unless required for fire protection.

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 26-40-304

Authorized by and implementing K.S.A. 39-932; effective Jan. 7, 2011.