scope:

The requirements in this standard apply to patient care areas, resident care areas, and related support areas within health care facilities.

This standard applies to new buildings, additions to existing buildings, and those alterations to existing buildings that are identified within this standard.

This standard considers chemical, physical, and biological contaminants that can affect the delivery of medical care to patients and residents; the convalescence of patients and residents; and the safety of patients, residents, health care workers, and visitors.

This standard establishes design requirements for temperature and humidity.

This standard establishes design requirements for odor control and asepsis.

This standard establishes design requirements for ventilation rates, including, but not limited to, outdoor air to serve health care facilities.

This standard does not establish comprehensive thermal comfort design requirements.