(a) Construction.
  (1) Construction, other than minor alterations, shall not commence until the final plan review deficiencies have been satisfactorily resolved, the appropriate licensing fee has been paid, and the department has issued a letter granting approval to begin construction. Such authorization does not constitute release from the requirements contained in this chapter. If the construction takes place in or near occupied areas, adequate provision shall be made for the safety and comfort of occupants.
  (2) The architect of record or the facility owner or operator shall provide written notification to the department when construction will commence. The department shall be notified in writing of any change in the completion schedules.
  (3) Construction shall be completed in compliance with the construction documents including all addenda or modifications approved for the project.
(b) All facilities, including those which maintain certification under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 United States Code, §§1395 et seq.), are subject to construction inspections.
  (1) A minimum of two construction inspections of the project is generally required for the purpose of verifying compliance with Subchapters F and G of this chapter (relating to Fire Prevention and Safety Requirements, and Physical Plant and Construction Requirements, respectively) and the approved plans and specifications. The final plan approval letter shall inform the architect of record and the owner as to the minimum number of inspections required for the project.
  (2) The architect of record or the facility owner or operator shall request an inspection by submitting, at least three weeks in advance of the requested inspection date, an application for inspection for each intermediate inspection, final inspection, and re-inspection requested. Inspection requests by contractors shall not be honored.
    (A) The architect of record or the facility owner or operator shall request an intermediate construction inspection to occur at approximately 80% completion. All major work above the ceiling shall be completed at the time of the intermediate inspection; however, ceilings shall not be installed.
    (B) The architect of record or the facility owner or operator shall request a final construction inspection at 100% completion. One hundred percent completion means that the project is completed to the extent that all equipment is operating in accordance with specifications, all necessary furnishings are in place, and patients could be admitted and treated in all areas of the project.
  (3) Depending upon the number and nature of the deficiencies cited during the final inspection, the inspector may require that a re-inspection be conducted to confirm correction of all deficiencies cited. The inspector may also require a re-inspection, if he determines that the project was not sufficiently complete to warrant a final inspection. The request for reinspection shall be submitted in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(c) Patients and staff shall not occupy a new structure or remodeled or renovated space until approval has been received from the local building and fire authorities and the department.
  (1) The facility owner or operator shall submit the following documents to the department before the project will be approved:
    (A) written approval of the project by the fire authority;
    (B) a certificate of occupancy for the project issued by the local building authority;
    (C) a copy of a letter or certification from a professional engineer (P.E.) licensed in the State of Texas indicating the fire sprinkler working plans, hydraulic calculation, the testing, and field inspection of the installation of the new or modified sprinkler system is in compliance with the requirements of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2002 Edition, if applicable. A copy of a letter or certification of changes in existing fire sprinkler system is not required, when relocation of not more than twenty sprinkler heads and hydraulic calculation is not involved;
    (D) fire alarm system certification (form FML-009A of the State Fire Marshal's Office), if applicable;
    (E) a copy of the test and a letter from the electrical contractor certifying that the electrical system was tested and complies with the standards of NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities, 2002 Edition, §4.3.2.2.8 (Special Grounding) and §4.3.3.1 (Grounding System Testing), if applicable to the project;
    (F) a copy of documentation indicating the flame spread rating and the smoke development rating of any wall covering installed in this project. A signed letter or statement corroborating the installation of the product in the project shall be provided;
    (G) a copy of documentation indicating that draperies, curtains (including cubicle curtains), and other similar loosely hanging furnishings and decorations are flame-resistant as demonstrated by passing both the small and large-scale tests of NFPA 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame-Resistant Textiles and Films, 1999 Edition, as required by NFPA 101, §20-7.5, and a signed letter or statement corroborating the installation of the product in the project;
    (H) a written plan of correction signed by the facility owner or operator for any deficiencies noted during the final inspection; and
    (I) any other documentation or information required or requested due to the type of the project.
  (2) Architectural approval.
    (A) If, during the final inspection, the inspector finds only a few minor deficiencies that do not jeopardize patient health, safety and welfare, the inspector may grant architectural approval contingent upon the documents listed in paragraph (1)(A) - (D) of this subsection being provided to and approved by the inspector at the time of the final inspection.
    (B) Architectural approval allows the facility owner or operator to proceed with licensing. Patients may not be admitted nor patient services provided until a license or modified license has been issued to the facility by the department. However, the facility owner or operator shall submit the documents required in paragraph (1)(E) - (I) of this subsection before the project receives final approval.
  (3) Upon its receipt and acceptance of the documents required in paragraph (1) of this subsection and receipt of an acceptable Plan of Correction of the final inspection report, the department shall issue written final approval of the project.

Source Note: The provisions of this §131.147 adopted to be effective June 1, 2010, 35 TexReg 4400