1General Conditions and Administration

1.1.1These provisions shall be known as the Health's Work Standard, referred to herein as "this standard" or "HWS." This standard is developed and maintained by Health's Code under its published editorial procedures.

1.1.2Abbreviations used throughout: HWS, Health's Work Standard; HC, Health's Code; AHJ, authority having jurisdiction.

1.2.1Revised in v0.2The purpose of this standard is to establish minimum requirements for the planning, design, construction, readiness for occupancy, and operation and maintenance of health facilities, for the protection of patients, occupants, workers and communities.

1.2.2This standard is written for adoption by jurisdictions and for voluntary use. Where adopted, it is enforced by the AHJ as part of the adopting law. Where used voluntarily, it supplements, and shall not be construed to replace, amend or waive, any code, statute, rule or standard adopted by an AHJ.

1.3.1This standard applies to projects in the following sectors: Clinical & Medical; Research & Education; Residential; Infrastructure; Wellness & Performance; and cross-sector medical specialties, as defined in Section 2.

1.3.2Revised in v0.2This standard applies across the following phases: planning and programming; design; construction; commissioning; readiness for occupancy; and operation and maintenance for the life of the facility.

1.3.3This standard applies to new construction, additions, alterations, renovations within occupied facilities and changes of occupancy.

1.3.4New in v0.2The requirements of Section 10 apply to the owner and the operator of a facility for as long as the facility is occupied under this standard.

1.4.1PrerequisiteProjects shall comply with all codes, statutes, rules and standards adopted and enforced by the AHJ. The requirements of this standard are in addition to that baseline.

1.4.2No provision of this standard shall be interpreted to permit a requirement less stringent than the baseline.

1.4.3Where a privately developed guideline or standard is adopted and enforced by a state or federal authority, it forms part of the baseline for projects within that jurisdiction.

1.5.1Codes and standards referenced in this standard are incorporated by reference as listed in Section 3, by title, publisher and edition.

1.5.2Where the AHJ has adopted a different edition of a referenced code or standard, the adopted edition shall govern for that jurisdiction.

1.5.3References are made by section. The text of copyrighted codes and standards is not reproduced in this standard.

1.6.1Where a provision of this standard conflicts with an adopted code or law, the adopted code or law shall govern.

1.6.2Where this standard and the baseline address the same subject differently and both can be satisfied, the more stringent requirement shall apply.

1.6.3Where a general provision and a specific provision of this standard conflict, the specific provision shall govern.

1.6.4Where this standard is adopted, the AHJ shall interpret it for enforcement. Formal interpretations of this standard are issued by Health's Code under its published editorial procedures and are advisory to the AHJ.

1.7.1The licensees of record remain responsible for the design and construction of the project and for its compliance with this standard and the baseline.

1.7.2New in v0.2After occupancy, the owner and the operator are responsible for operating and maintaining the facility in compliance with this standard and the baseline.

1.8.1An alternative method, material or design may be used where it is demonstrated to provide performance equal to or better than the intent of the provision. Where this standard is adopted, the alternative shall be approved by the AHJ.

1.9.1Each edition of this standard is identified by year and version. A project shall comply with a single edition in its entirety; provisions from different editions shall not be combined.