The purpose of this section is to provide minimum standards for a safe and efficient patient care environment consistent with other rules. The rules are intended to allow flexibility in achieving desired outcomes and enable birth centers to respond to changes in technologies and health care innovations.

(1) When a licensee or applicant is contemplating new construction or major alteration, the licensee or applicant shall:

(a) Under chapters 70.40 RCW and 246-329 WAC, submit an application and construction documents to the department's construction review services program for all new construction and major alterations, as defined in WAC 246-329-010. In addition to the application and construction documents, the construction review services program may require documentation of approval from local zoning commissions, fire departments, and building departments, if applicable;

(b) Respond in writing when the department requests additional or corrected construction documents;

(c) Not begin construction until the construction documents are approved by the local jurisdictions and same local jurisdictions have issued any required permits;

(d) Complete construction consistent with the final "department approved" documents;

(e) Notify the department in writing when construction is completed; and

(f) Submit to the department a copy of the local jurisdictions' certificate of occupancy.

(2) A childbirth center applicant or licensee must, through its design, construction and necessary permits demonstrate compliance with the following codes and local jurisdiction standards:

(a) The state building code as adopted by the state building code council.

(b) Accepted Procedure and Practice in Cross-contamination Control, Pacific Northwest Edition, 9th Edition, American Waterworks Association; and

(c) If planning on caring for patients with mycobacterium tuberculosis, Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Health Care Facilities, 1994. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), Volume 43, October 28, 1994.