Technical Handbook for Environmental Health and Engineering · technical handbook for environmental health and engineering volume iii – healthcare facilities design and construction

TECHNICAL HANDBOOK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND ENGINEERING

VOLUME III ndash HEALTHCARE FACILITIES DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PART 24 ndash CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES

CHAPTER 24-25 AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION

24-251 PURPOSE 1 24-252 SCOPE 1 24-253 DEFINITIONS 1 24-254 BACKGROUND 2 24-255 PROCEDURES 4 APPENDIX A ndash OEHE DIRECTORrsquoS MEMORANDA 5

24-251 PURPOSE

This chapter is to designate the Authority Having Jurisdiction(AHJ) for the Indian Health Service (IHS) healthcare facilitiesconstruction activities

24-252 SCOPE

This chapter applies to new IHS construction renovation andoralteration of existing buildings associated with a healthcareprogram regardless of the function of the building ie patientcare administration boiler plant personnel quarters

24-253 DEFINITIONS

A Authority Having Jurisdiction ndash The Authority HavingJurisdiction is the official responsible for codeinterpretation and implementation In this chapterldquoAuthority Having Jurisdictionrdquo is used in two ways In a specific sense the AHJ refers to the official(s) legallydesignated by the Director IHS to formally issue writteninterpretation(s) of the codes for the Agency The AHJ for the Agency as part of its code interpretationresponsibilities shall evaluate and make the determinationson equivalencies variances and waivers All decisions bythe designated AHJ for the Agency shall be final and bindingfor the Agency When AHJ is used in this manner it will bequalified by the phrase ldquofor the Agencyrdquo

Authority Having Jurisdiction also refers in a more general sense to anofficial designated to interpret and implement codes for Area Offices and the Division of Engineering Services (DES) butwho does not have authority to issue interpretations of codethat are binding on the IHS

B Code ndash Any nationally-recognized code standard or guideline

C Enforcement - The act of verifying full compliance with thelatest applicable edition of code andor interpretation of the

June 19 2006 (24-2)1 I-105



AHJ for the Agency Lack of compliance triggers an immediatewritten citation by the enforcing official The citation requires correction of the deficiency to comply with theAgency position on the code in effect

D Equivalency ndash Compliance with the intent of a code in a mannerthat other authorized qualified interpreting officials wouldconcur is equivalent to the code requirement or surpasses theintent of the code

E HFAC ndash Health Facilities Advisory Committee

F Implementation ndash The act of applying code requirements asunderstood by the user

G Interpretation ndash The act of making judgment(s) when coderequirements are called into question Interpretation of acode requires a thorough knowledge that can only be acquiredthrough specialized training and experience

H Variance(s) ndash The act of making judgment(s) that therequirements of a code will not be implemented and insteadanother means will be utilized which is not equal to the codeintent

I Waiver ndash The act of making judgment(s) that the requirementsof an applicable code will not be implemented in a particularsituation

24-254 BACKGROUND

A Code Usage - Codes are utilized by the IHS when determiningthe requirements for new construction as well as renovationsalterations modernizations to and replacement of existingreal andor personal property When requirements aredetermined and implemented into construction of facilitiesprocurement of equipment repairs andor maintenance of thestructure or equipment there is a need to periodically reviewor monitor these requirements To assure compliance withcode IHS conducts periodic surveys at its facilities Codes in place at the beginning of construction installation orrenovation will apply to the completed work until it isreplaced or until the code in effect is superseded by Federallaw

B Code Compliance - Maintaining compliance with codes involves athree step process as follows

June 19 2006 (24-2)2 I-105



(1) Implementation

IHS staff (ie Division of Engineering Services AreaFacilities Engineers Safety Officers) implement codeswhen making decisions on new and replacementconstruction on renovation of structures and equipmentandor on maintenance and repair of personal and realproperty

(2) Enforcement

The Safety Officer at an installation generally enforcessafety-related requirements through periodic documentedinspections

Accreditation bodies (ie Joint Commission onAccreditation of Hospital Organizations) enforce lifesafety requirements of the structure through periodicreviews during accreditation surveys

(3) Interpretation

On rare instances during design and constructionimplementation of codes requires that judgments be madewhen a code is not clear on an application At such time a formal interpretation of the code on thespecific application is required by the AHJ for theAgency

As stated in the OEHE Directorrsquos memoranda of August 191996 and February 9 2004 in Appendix A interpretationof codes rests solely with the AHJ for the Agency This authority from the Director is delegated to theDirector Division of Engineering Services (DES)

C Responsibilities - The OEHE Directorrsquos memorandum of February9 2004 in Appendix A states that the evaluation ofconstruction situations implementation and enforcement ofthe codes is reserved to the office directly responsible forthe management of projects When construction is managed bythe Area Office the Area Office shall be the AHJ withresponsibility for evaluating implementing and enforcing thecodes When construction is managed by the DES the DES shallbe the AHJ with responsibility for evaluating implementingand enforcing the codes Jurisdictional responsibility inthese cases does not include authority to develop finalwritten code interpretation applicable to all of IHS but itdoes extend to all other applications of construction and lifesafety code enforcement including tasks such as shop drawingapproval

June 19 2006 (24-2)3 I-105



Responsibility for code interpretation for the IHS rests withThe AHJ for the Agency which is a joint committee consistingof the Director DES-Seattle and the Deputy Director DES-Dallas The AHJ for the Agency will resolve conflicts betweencodes differing interpretations of code requirements orconflicts between IHS criteria and a code This jointcommittee shall provide final written code interpretation forthe Agency The joint committeersquos decisions shall be bindingon all applicable work These decisions shall be appropriately disseminated

24-255 PROCEDURES

A Interpretation Requestor(s) - Any employee in the IHS maysubmit a request for code interpretation through theappropriate jurisdictionrsquos DES Director

Interpretation Occurrences - Any occurrence requiring aninterpretation of a code in IHS shall be reviewed concurredand approved in writing by both Directors of Division ofEngineering Services

Role of DES staff and Consultants - DES staff or consultants may be utilized by the committee to assist in technicalevaluation of a code interpretation

Approved Interpretation(s) - All approved DES codeinterpretations shall be submitted in writing to the IHSHealth Facilities Advisory Committee (HFAC) at HeadquartersOffice of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE) forAgency archival andor publication in the Technical Handbookfor Environmental Health and Engineering as an Agency-established interpretation The DES office initiating therequest for a code interpretation shall be responsible forforwarding the code interpretation and relevant documentationto the IHS HFAC in Headquarters

June 19 2006 (24-2)4 I-105



APPENDIX A ndash OEHE DIRECTORrsquoS MEMORANDA

June 19 2006 (24-2)5 I-105

Faa09llJ04

~~ 401 Area Associate Directors Office of Envirbmn~taJ Health and Bngbieerlng

FROM Acting Director Office ofEriVironmenial Health and Engineering

Authority HavingJurisdiction Clarification

The purpose oftbis memo is t9 clarify the role and re$pOnsibillti~ofthe Authority Having Jurisdiction(AHI) iQrtbelridhmHealthmiddotService (IHS)

The illS TecbnicaJ Handbqok V~lume Ill Part 24 - Construction Guidelines Chapter 24-2 shyApplicability orCodes Construction Codes and S~ Section B DefinitionS (8) defines the Authority Having)~ction (AfJJ) as The official(s) 1~aUy designated bytbc Director Office-ofEnVironmental Health andampgineering to-fonnally issuemiddotwritten inlerpretation(s codes for the agency Decisions shallbe final and binding for ~ agency

The responsibilities of lhe Authority Having Jurisdiction were delegated to the Division of Engineering Services (DES) in Seattle and Dallas (August 19 19960EHE DireCtors memorandUm) These two offices were mandUed to form a joint committee to provide code interpretations

Th~IHS TechnioU HandbOOk Volume X Part 130 - Administnltion and Guidelines Chapter l3Q4AuthQritv Having Jurisdictioladdressesthe committ~middotsstructute rcspollSloilities and operating procedUres Thi~ committee is responsible 10 proviue final fonnal written interpretations of the codes in response to writteo requests on code applkations Additionally the AltJ as putof its code in~on responsibility ~l evaluate and make the dtttnninations on equivalChcies variaiXes and waivers

Generally codemiddot compliance is the responsibility ofthe office that is managing the proj~ When the construction is managedbytbe Area0ffice the Area Office sball bethe AHJandis responsible for eValuating impiemcntingald enforcing the code telative to the application(s) Similarly iftheDivisioo orEngineetfug$rviQes (DES) is in charge ofa construction project themiddotDES is responsible However in the event tbat a coDflictarises on a code applicationbullthe offleein responsible charge shallreqnestin writingtb the DiIcctOr DES that a formal and tmal written interpretation of the rode be provided This interpretation shall be the lHS position on the issue

~R~ BnJCe R Chehkowsky RS

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DlIl~ti_ of AuthorlnlllarlDg oJUri HlctLon to aag-l_rbIg ~_ l bullbull a _Us

This rUlegoItiaD of autbltnlty b t~Y t~ Ili~ture

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AHJ for the Agency Lack of compliance triggers an immediatewritten citation by the enforcing official The citation requires correction of the deficiency to comply with theAgency position on the code in effect

D Equivalency ndash Compliance with the intent of a code in a mannerthat other authorized qualified interpreting officials wouldconcur is equivalent to the code requirement or surpasses theintent of the code

E HFAC ndash Health Facilities Advisory Committee

F Implementation ndash The act of applying code requirements asunderstood by the user

G Interpretation ndash The act of making judgment(s) when coderequirements are called into question Interpretation of acode requires a thorough knowledge that can only be acquiredthrough specialized training and experience

H Variance(s) ndash The act of making judgment(s) that therequirements of a code will not be implemented and insteadanother means will be utilized which is not equal to the codeintent

I Waiver ndash The act of making judgment(s) that the requirementsof an applicable code will not be implemented in a particularsituation

24-254 BACKGROUND

A Code Usage - Codes are utilized by the IHS when determiningthe requirements for new construction as well as renovationsalterations modernizations to and replacement of existingreal andor personal property When requirements aredetermined and implemented into construction of facilitiesprocurement of equipment repairs andor maintenance of thestructure or equipment there is a need to periodically reviewor monitor these requirements To assure compliance withcode IHS conducts periodic surveys at its facilities Codes in place at the beginning of construction installation orrenovation will apply to the completed work until it isreplaced or until the code in effect is superseded by Federallaw

B Code Compliance - Maintaining compliance with codes involves athree step process as follows

June 19 2006 (24-2)2 I-105



(1) Implementation


(2) Enforcement



(3) Interpretation




June 19 2006 (24-2)3 I-105




24-255 PROCEDURES





June 19 2006 (24-2)4 I-105




June 19 2006 (24-2)5 I-105

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(1) Implementation


(2) Enforcement



(3) Interpretation




June 19 2006 (24-2)3 I-105




24-255 PROCEDURES





June 19 2006 (24-2)4 I-105




June 19 2006 (24-2)5 I-105

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24-255 PROCEDURES





June 19 2006 (24-2)4 I-105




June 19 2006 (24-2)5 I-105

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June 19 2006 (24-2)5 I-105

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Documents

Technical Handbook for Environmental Health and Engineering · technical handbook for environmental health and engineering volume iii – healthcare facilities design and construction