Renovation

(a) Where renovation or replacement work is done within an existing facility, all new work or additions, or both, shall comply, insofar as practical, with applicable sections of these standards and with appropriate parts of NFPA 101, 2000 edition, covering New Health Care Occupancies. Where major structural elements make total compliance impractical or impossible, exceptions may be considered by the Department. This does not guarantee that an exception shall be granted, OAC 310:667 OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 106 September 13, 2019 but does attempt to minimize restrictions on those improvements where total compliance would not substantially improve safety, but would create an unreasonable hardship. These standards shall not be construed as prohibiting a single phase of improvement. For example, a facility may plan to replace a flammable ceiling with noncombustible material but lacks funds to do other corrective work. However, they are not intended as an encouragement to ignore deficiencies when resources are available to correct life-threatening problems. (b) When construction is complete, the facility shall satisfy functional requirements for the appropriate classification (general medical surgical hospital, psychiatric hospital, etc.) in an environment that shall provide acceptable care and safety to all occupants. (c) In renovation projects and those making additions to existing facilities, only that portion of the total facility affected by the project shall comply with applicable sections of these standards and with appropriate parts of NFPA 101, 2000 edition, covering New Health Care Occupancies. (d) Those existing portions of the facility which are not included in the renovation but which are essential to the functioning of the complete facility, as well as existing building areas that receive less than substantial amounts of new work shall, at a minimum, comply with that section of NFPA 101, 2000 edition, for Existing Health Care Occupancies. (e) Conversion to other appropriate use or replacement shall be considered when cost prohibits compliance with acceptable standards. (f) When a building is converted from one occupancy to another, it shall comply with the new occupancy requirements. For purpose of life safety, a conversion from a hospital to a nursing home or vice versa is not considered a change in occupancy. (g) When parts of an existing facility essential to continued overall facility operation cannot comply with particular standards, those standards may be waived by the Commissioner of Health if patient care and safety are not jeopardized. (h) Renovations, including new additions, shall not diminish the safety level that existed prior to the start of the work; however, safety in excess of that required for new facilities is not required. (i) Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed as restrictive to a facility that chooses to do work or alterations as part of a phased long-range safety improvement plan. It is emphasized that all hazards to life and safety and all areas of noncompliance with applicable codes and regulations, shall be corrected as soon as possible in accordance with a plan of correction.