Permitting – HCA Healthcare | Capital Deployment

Fire alarm for powered doors

Leave a Comment / Permitting, Construction, Design, MEP, Local AHJ

Facility name: Regional Medical Center Of San Jose

Project name: RMCSAJ-052017M-ASC(OP Surgery)
Location: SAN JOSE, CA
Project classification: Hospital – Renovation
Project type: Acute Care
Project number: 0838500026
Lesson Learned number: 187
Impact: Cost, Schedule

Cost impact: $8,500 Schedule impact: 7 days

Lesson Learned/Best Practice

On this project the fire alarm was designed prior to bid and the completed fire alarm shop drawings were part of the bid package and not created as a deferred submittal by the fire alarm subcontractor. We had numerous doors with auto operators, and the fire alarm shop drawings didn’t capture the code-required relay that triggers those powered doors to close when the alarm activated.

Suggested Actions for Future Projects

Ensure fire alarm design that is included in the Permit/OSHPD documents identifies rated openings and auto operators and include the required Fire Alarm Integration, relays, etc. If fire alarm design is a post Permit/OSHPD approval (like an OSHPD deferred approval), then note this requirement within the specification for integration with the project fire alarm system.

Keywords

Fire Alarm, Doors, Operators

Smoke Control Inspector and Coordination

Leave a Comment / Permitting, Construction, Local AHJ

Facility name: Mountainview Hospital

Project name: MTVLAS-102018M-Rehab Expansion
Location: LAS VEGAS, NV
Project classification: Hospital – Shell
Project type: Rehab
Project number: 3281900024
Lesson Learned number: 171
Impact: Cost, Schedule, Quality

Cost impact: $59,802 Schedule impact: 15 days

Lesson Learned/Best Practice

Early Owner Buyout of 3rd Party Smoke Control Inspector to prevent delays in Final Inspections and Occupancy.

Suggested Actions for Future Projects

Coordinate 3rd Party Special Inspection requirements for Smoke Control Systems during CD’s. Design Team to send RFP’s for Special Inspection Agencies and Provide to HCA CM for Approval. Schedule review of smoke control requirements with the GC prior to Smoke Control Testing. Perform Site walk with Inspector and Testing of Existing Systems early in project schedule to identify existing deficiencies and items to be addressed by Facility or Construction Team.

Keywords

Smoke Control, Special Inspections, Life Safety Report, Testing

VA Coverage Letter

Leave a Comment / Permitting, State AHJ (e.g., AHCA, OSHPD, etc.)

Facility name: CJW Medical Center

Project name: CJWCHP-122018M-OR Expansion
Location: RICHMOND, VA
Project classification: Hospital – Horizontal Expansion
Project type: Acute Care
Project number: 3463200012
Lesson Learned number: 138
Impact: Schedule

Lesson Learned/Best Practice

Cannot begin site excavation until the State of VA coverage letter is in hand. In addition the Building Permit will be withheld until the coverage letter is in-hand. However we can begin storm drainage and all utilities after the City of Richmond has issued their RSMP (Richmond Storm Water Management Plan) Approval

Suggested Actions for Future Projects

Track submission of documents to state and follow up on receipt of letter, meet with inspectors onsite to start storm drainage and utilities prior to letter in hand.

State Recertification Requirements for Renovations

Leave a Comment / Permitting, State AHJ (e.g., AHCA, OSHPD, etc.), Local AHJ

Facility name: North Austin Medical Center

Project name: NRTAUS-022019M-Rehab/Peds Relocation
Location: AUSTIN, TX
Project classification:
Project type: Acute Care
Project number: 0822400025
Lesson Learned number: 130
Impact: Cost, Schedule, Scope

Cost impact: $7,000

Lesson Learned/Best Practice

Better define within the project documents what the state requires for documentation & recertification of existing systems in spaces with only finish upgrades. THHS inspector required several systems which had not been touched to be recertified.

Suggested Actions for Future Projects

Confirmation with the state, stating precisely which state requirements will be applicable to the project, including recertification of existing systems not within project scope, if applicable. Include clarification in bid documents. Discuss with state during Feasibility Conference. Verify with local AHJs as well.

Keywords

Recertification

City of Orlando – Signage Permitting

City of Orlando – As-Built Submission

Fire Alarm Code Issues

Leave a Comment / Permitting, Design, State AHJ (e.g., AHCA, OSHPD, etc.), MEP, Local AHJ

Facility name: Kendall Regional Medical Center

Project name: KENDAL-New Tower
Location: MIAMI, FL
Project classification: Hospital – Vertical Expansion
Project type: Acute Care
Project number: 3594100019
Lesson Learned number: 112
Impact: Cost, Schedule

Lesson Learned/Best Practice

During the permitting process the following items arose.

High rise requirements for fire alarm systems.
- Initially the AHJ required the Kendall fire alarm system be upgraded to cover high rise guidelines. A building is considered a high rise if any floor above 75′ is continually occupied. ICT and the AHJ discussed this and finally came to the conclusion that the building did not have to be upgraded.
- Though this did not require a re-design (which would have been costly), it did delay the permitting process.
Pull station at helipad vestibule was required.
Smoke evacuation system is controlled by the fire alarm system and needed to be added. However, the design is by the mechanical controls contractor.
The review process itself is slow.

During inspections a couple of items arose.

Pull station at helipad vestibule was required.
Spacing between smoke detectors was exceeded in some instances.

Suggested Actions for Future Projects

Bringing the fire alarm vendor on at EDI would allow them to assist with design and code verification. The fire alarm vendor could then produce shop drawings during the EDI process that could be included as part of the CD set. This would make the shop drawings part of the initial building permit application and not a separate application after the permit is obtained. Therefore speeding up the fire alarm system local jurisdiction approval process.

Actions Taken / Current Status

HCA comment: The best practice is to bring the Fire Alarm vendor in during the EDI process at the appropriate time based on the design schedule for a given project.

Smoke Evacuation System

Verifying fire watch requirements with AHJs

Leave a Comment / Permitting, State AHJ (e.g., AHCA, OSHPD, etc.), Constructability (means & methods), Local AHJ

Facility name: Skyline Medical Center

Project name: SKYLMC-052017M-Med Surg, Critical Care, & ED
Location: NASHVILLE, TN
Project classification: Hospital – Horizontal Expansion
Project type: Acute Care
Project number: 3429300007
Lesson Learned number: 50
Impact: Cost

Lesson Learned/Best Practice

Fire Watch Requirement For Expansion – The Metro Nashville Fire Marshal required that a 24/7 fire watch be implemented for Skyline due to the expansion being connected on each floor to an existing occupied facility. During construction there was no active fire sprinkler system or fire detection system. Due to the expansion being horizontally connected to the existing occupied building, fire watch was required. During normal working hours Batten & Shaw dedicated an employee to maintain fire watch and keep updated logs. During off hours (nights and weekends) a 3rd party security company was hired to provide fire watch and update logs. This was an unforeseen cost that was funded from RGC’s. The cost was approximately $2,000 a week for the security company performing off hours fire watch.

Suggested Actions for Future Projects

Verify with the AHJ/local fire marshal at the beginning of a project their interpretation of the fire code and requirement. Depending on the project, this may apply differently. If it were a true vertical expansion and did not tie into the existing building horizontally, the slab would provide a 2-hour fire barrier, and this fire watch would not be required.