Potential hazards such as sharp corners, loose laid rugs or carpets, shall not be permitted.
Doors to all rooms containing bathtubs, showers, and water closets for resident use located in double occupancy rooms or are shared between two single occupancy rooms, shall be equipped with privacy hardware that permits emergency access without the use of keys. When such room has only one entrance and is equipped with a swing door, the door shall open outward, or be equipped with emergency release hardware. When emergency release hardware is utilized on a swing door located in a public area, it shall provide visual privacy for the resident and if required by other sections of this code, be smoke resistive.
Interior corridor doors, except those to small closets, janitor's closets, electrical or mechanical rooms, housekeeping closets and other small rooms not subject to occupancy, shall not swing into the corridor. A door located on the exit access corridor, and required to swing outward, shall open into an alcove.
A sliding door equipped with sliding hardware located on the resident room side of the wall shall be permitted on an individual resident toilet or bathroom. If a sliding door is used on a resident toilet or bathroom, a D-shaped handle at least 4 inches (10.16 cm) long shall be provided to open the door.
Door thresholds, except where required at exterior doors, and expansion joint covers shall be designed to facilitate use of wheelchairs and carts and to prevent tripping and shall provide a smooth and level transition from surface-to-surface.
All resident room windows shall have a minimum net glazed area of not less than 8 percent of the gross floor area of the room or bed area served. Operable windows are not required but if they are provided they shall be equipped with insect screens.
Handrails shall be provided on both sides of all corridors that are defined by walls and normally used by residents. Mounting height shall be between 36 inches (0.91 m) and 42 inches (1.57 m). A clearance of 11/2 inches (38 mm) shall be provided between the handrail and the wall. Handrails shall be designed without sharp corners, edges or hardware and shall permit easy grasping by the resident with a maximum diameter of 1.5 inches (38 mm). It shall be designed to provide a profile with a surface wide enough for the resident to be able to lean on the rail to rest. Rail ends shall return to the wall.
Grab bars, 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) in diameter, either permanent or flip down, shall be installed in all resident showers, tubs, and baths and on any two sides of all resident use toilets. Wall-mounted grab bars shall provide an 11/2 inch (38 mm) clearance from walls and shall sustain a concentrated load of 250 pounds (113.4 kg). Where flip down grab bars are used, the toilet does not need to be located within 18 inches (455 mm) of an adjacent wall, except as required by the Florida Building Code, Accessibility.
Each resident handwashing facility shall have a mirror unless prohibited by the nursing program. Mirror placement shall allow for convenient use by both wheelchair occupants and ambulatory persons. Tops and bottoms may be at levels usable by individuals either sitting or standing. Additional mirrors may be provided for wheelchair occupants, or one separate fulllength mirror located in the resident room may be provided to meet the needs of wheelchair occupants.
Provisions for soap dispensing and hand drying shall be included at all handwashing facilities. Those in resident use areas shall be paper or cloth towels enclosed to protect against dust or soil and shall be single-unit dispensing.
Reserved.
Towel bars shall be provided at each bathing facility.
All resident use plumbing fixtures and door operating hardware shall be equipped with levertype hardware for easy gripping and turning.
Toilet compartment partitions and urinal screens shall be constructed of product that do not rust, corrode or delaminate.
The minimum ceiling height throughout the facility shall be 8 feet (2.44 m) above the finished floor with the following exceptions:
Steam boiler and hot water generator rooms shall have ceiling clearances of at least 2 feet 6 inches (0.76 m) above the main header and connecting pipe.
Ceilings in storage rooms, resident room entrance vestibules and toilet rooms shall be at least 7 feet 6 inches (2.33 m) above the finished floor.
Ceilings in normally unoccupied spaces and alcoves may be reduced to 7 feet (2.13 m) above the finished floor.
Ceilings in exit access corridors and exit passageways shall be a minimum of 8 feet (2.44 m) above the finished floor.
In addition to the electric drinking fountain or water and cup dispenser in the administrative/lobby area in Section 450.3.7.2, a minimum of one electric drinking fountain or water and cup dispenser shall be provided per resident floor unless drinking water is available from the resident dietary area.
Floor material shall be readily cleanable and appropriate for the location. Floor surfaces in resident-use areas shall be nonglossy to minimize glare. If composition floor tiles are used, the interstices shall be tight.
In residential care and sleeping areas, a base shall be provided at the floor line.
Floors in areas used for food preparation and assembly shall be water resistant. Floor surfaces, including tile joints, shall be resistant to food acids. In all areas subject to frequent wet-cleaning methods, floor materials shall not be physically affected by germicidal cleaning solutions.
Floors subject to traffic while wet, such as shower and bath areas, kitchens, and similar work areas, shall have a slip-resistant surface and floor-to-base intersections shall be watertight.
Carpet and padding in resident areas shall be stretched tight, in good repair and free of loose edges or wrinkles that might create hazards or interfere with the operation of wheelchairs, walkers or wheeled carts.
Basic wall construction in areas not subject to conditioned air shall be constructed of masonry, cement plaster or moisture-resistant gypsum wallboard.
The finishes of all exposed ceilings and ceiling structures in the dietary facilities area shall be readily cleanable with routine housekeeping equipment.
Wall coverings that promote the growth of mold and mildew shall be avoided on exterior walls or on walls that are located in normally wet locations.
All smoke partitions, horizontal exits and exit passageway partitions shall be constructed prior to the construction of intervening walls.
Smoke barriers shall be constructed so as to provide a continuous smoke-tight membrane from exterior wall to exterior wall and from the floor to the underside of the deck above. This includes interstitial space and the area above solid fire-tested membranes.
Where it is not possible to visually inspect a fire-rated partition, wall or barrier or a smoke barrier that extends through the attic or interstitial space to the roof or floor deck above because of the location of a monolithic ceiling membrane, ceiling access panel(s) shall be installed adjacent to each side of the partition, wall or barrier at intervals not exceeding 30 feet (9.0 m) and in such locations as necessary to view all surfaces of the partition, wall or barrier. Other ceiling access panels shall only be installed as required by other sections of the code. Partitions, walls and barriers requiring protected openings or penetrations shall be identified in accordance with Section 703 of this code.
Where electrical conduits, cable trays, ducts and utility pipes pass through the smoke partition, the utilities shall be located so that access is maintained to adjacent wall surfaces and to all damper access panels. The details shall show the studs and reinforcing half studs so that proper support is provided for the wall surfacing material. There shall be a minimum clearance of 6 inches (152 mm) between all conduits, piping, and duct work at corridor walls to facilitate the inspection of these walls.