Chapter DHS 134

DHS 134.84 Note Note: Requirements for wheelchair access to toilets in health care facilities are contained in ch. SPS 362.

DHS 134.84(3)(f) (f) Resident toilet and bathing facilities. In all facilities:

DHS 134.84(3)(f)1. 1. Separate toilet and lavatory facilities shall be provided for males and females in at least the following numbers:

DHS 134.84(3)(f)1.a. a. One toilet and one lavatory for every 8 female residents; and

DHS 134.84(3)(f)1.b. b. One toilet and one lavatory for every 8 male residents. One urinal may be substituted for one toilet for every 24 ambulatory male residents.

DHS 134.84(3)(f)2. 2. One bathtub or shower shall be provided for every 20 residents, but in no case may there be fewer than 2 bathing facilities.

DHS 134.84(3)(f)3. 3. Each bathtub, shower and toilet shall be separated in such a manner that it can be used independently and afford privacy, unless specifically contraindicated by program needs, and shall be located on the same floor as the bedrooms of the residents who use it.

DHS 134.84(4) (4) Dining, recreation and activity areas.

DHS 134.84(4)(a) (a) Multipurpose room area. Each facility and each building housing residents within a facility complex shall have at least one furnished room or area, located near the residents’ bedrooms, which can be used for dining, activity therapy or social activities of residents. This room or area, exclusive of walkways, shall provide a minimum of 15 square feet per resident except that in new construction minimum square footage per resident shall be as follows:

DHS 134.84(4)(a)1. 1. For facilities with 16 or fewer residents, 60 square feet per resident;

DHS 134.84(4)(a)2. 2. For facilities with 17 to 25 residents, 50 square feet per resident;

DHS 134.84(4)(a)3. 3. For facilities with 26 to 50 residents, 30 square feet per resident; and

DHS 134.84(4)(a)4. 4. For facilities with more than 50 residents, 25 square feet per resident.

DHS 134.84(4)(b) (b) Sufficiency of space in multipurpose rooms or areas. If a multipurpose room is used for dining, diversional, social and other resident activities, there shall be sufficient space in the room for these activities or the activities shall be scheduled in such a way as to accommodate all activities and minimize their interference with each other.

DHS 134.84(4)(c) (c) Dining area. Every facility or every building housing residents within a facility complex shall have at least one furnished dining room large enough to seat at least half of the residents at one time. Television trays or portable card tables may not be used as dining tables. Under no circumstances may the dining room be used as a bedroom.

DHS 134.84(5) (5) Food service.

DHS 134.84(5)(a) (a) General. Every facility shall have a kitchen which shall be adequate to meet food service needs and shall be arranged and equipped for the refrigeration, storage, preparation and serving of food, as well as for dish and utensil cleaning and refuse storage and removal.

DHS 134.84(5)(b) (b) Type I facilities. In type I facilities:

DHS 134.84(5)(b)1. 1. The kitchen shall be located on the premises, or a sanitary method of transporting food shall be provided;

DHS 134.84(5)(b)2. 2. Kitchen and food preparation areas may not open into resident rooms, toilet rooms or a laundry room or area;

DHS 134.84(5)(b)3. 3. Adequate and convenient handwashing facilities shall be provided in the kitchen for use by food handlers, including hot and cold running water, soap and sanitary towels. Use of a common towel is prohibited;

DHS 134.84(5)(b)4. 4. At least a 2-compartment sink for manual dishwashing shall be provided in kitchen or dishwashing areas. A 3-compartment sink shall be provided when replacement is necessary; and

DHS 134.84(5)(b)5. 5. Rooms subject to sewage backflow or to condensation or leakage from overhead water or waste lines may not be used for food storage or preparation unless the food is effectively protected from contamination, which may involve storing the food a minimum of 6 inches above the floor, insulating water pipes or providing another means of preventing contamination of the food.

DHS 134.84(5)(c) (c) Type II facilities. In type II facilities:

DHS 134.84(5)(c)1. 1. Kitchen and dietary facilities shall be provided to meet food service needs and shall be arranged and equipped for proper refrigeration, heating, storage, preparation and serving of food. Adequate space shall be provided for proper refuse handling and washing of waste receptacles, and for storage of cleaning compounds;

DHS 134.84(5)(c)2. 2. Only traffic into and through kitchens incidental to the receiving, preparation and serving of food and drink shall be permitted;

DHS 134.84(5)(c)3. 3. Toilet facilities may not open directly into the kitchen;

DHS 134.84(5)(c)4. 4. Food day storage shall be provided adjacent to the kitchen and shall be ventilated to the outside, except in small facilities;

DHS 134.84(5)(c)5. 5. A separate handwashing sink with soap dispenser, single-service towel dispenser or other approved hand-drying device shall be located in the kitchen, except in small facilities;

DHS 134.84(5)(c)6. 6. A separate dishwashing area, preferably a separate room with mechanical ventilation, shall be provided, except in small facilities;

DHS 134.84(5)(c)7. 7. For manual dishwashing:

DHS 134.84(5)(c)7.a. a. At least a 2-compartment sink shall be provided; and

DHS 134.84(5)(c)7.b. b. For all new construction or replacements, a 3-compartment sink with adequate drainboards at each end is required. In addition, a single-compartment sink located adjacent to the soiled utensil drainboard is recommended for prewashing. In lieu of the additional sink for prewashing, a well-type garbage disposal with overhead spray wash shall be provided. The additional sink may also be used for liquid waste disposal. The size of each sink compartment shall be adequate to permit immersion of at least 50% of the largest utensil used;

DHS 134.84(5)(c)8. 8. Except in small facilities, mechanical dishwashers, where provided, shall be on the national sanitation foundation’s list of approved food service equipment, or shall be approved by the department;

DHS 134.84 Note Note: The National Sanitation Foundation’s “Listing of Food Service Equipment” is kept on file and may be consulted in the offices of the Department’s Bureau of Public Health and the Legislative Reference Bureau. The publication may be purchased from the National Sanitation Foundation, NSF Building, P.O. Box 1468, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106.

DHS 134.84(5)(c)9. 9. Except in small facilities, temperature gauges shall be provided in the wash compartment of all mechanical dishwashers and in the rinse water line at the machine of a spray-type mechanical dishwasher or in the rinse water tank of an immersion-type dishwasher. The temperature gauges shall be readily visible, fast-acting and accurate to plus or minus 2º F. or 1º C;

DHS 134.84(5)(c)10. 10. Except in small facilities, approved automatic fire extinguishing equipment shall be provided in hoods and attached ducts above all food cooking equipment;

DHS 134.84(5)(c)11. 11. The walls of the kitchen shall be of plaster or equivalent material with smooth, light-colored, nonabsorbent and washable surfaces;

DHS 134.84(5)(c)12. 12. The ceiling in the kitchen shall be of plaster or equivalent material with smooth, light-colored, nonabsorbent and washable surfaces;

DHS 134.84(5)(c)13. 13. The floors of all rooms in which food or drink is stored, prepared or served, or in which utensils are washed, except the eating areas of dining rooms, shall be of a construction that is nonabsorbent and easily cleaned;

DHS 134.84(5)(c)14. 14. All openings to the out-of-doors from kitchen or food service areas shall be effectively screened. Screen doors shall be self-closing;

DHS 134.84(5)(c)15. 15. All rooms in which food or drink is stored or prepared or in which utensils are washed shall be well-lighted; and

DHS 134.84(5)(c)16. 16. Rooms subject to sewage backflow or to condensation or leakage from overhead water or waste lines may not be used for food storage or preparation unless the food is effectively protected from contamination, which may involve storing the food a minimum of 6 inches above the floor, insulating water pipes or providing another means of preventing contamination of the food.

DHS 134.84(6) (6) Storage.

DHS 134.84(6)(a) (a) Residents’ storage. One or more central storage areas shall be provided within the facility for storing residents’ possessions such as trunks, luggage and off-season clothing. In new construction storage space shall total at least 50 cubic feet per resident bed.

DHS 134.84(6)(b) (b) General storage. A general storage area shall be provided in the facility for supplies, equipment, wheelchairs and mechanical devices.

DHS 134.84(6)(c) (c) Linen.

DHS 134.84(6)(c)1. 1. A type I facility shall provide clean linen and dirty linen storage areas of adequate size for each living unit.

DHS 134.84(6)(c)2. 2. A type II facility shall provide a clean linen closet or cabinet and a dirty linen closet or cabinet for each floor or wing.

DHS 134.84(7) (7) Family and employee living quarters. Any family and employee living quarters shall be in an area of the facility separate from resident areas.

DHS 134.84(8) (8) Employee facilities. The following shall be provided for employees but may not be located in food preparation, food storage or utensil washing areas or resident rooms:

DHS 134.84(8)(a) (a) Space for employee wraps, with lockers or other means for securing purses and other personal belongings when on duty;

DHS 134.84(8)(b) (b) Handwashing sinks in employee locker areas, each with a soap dispenser, and with a single-service towel dispenser or other approved hand-drying equipment, except in small facilities; and

DHS 134.84(8)(c) (c) Toilet facilities separate from those used by residents, except in small facilities.

DHS 134.84(9) (9) Janitor closets. In type II facilities, a ventilated closet shall be provided on each floor for janitor supplies. The closet shall be equipped with hot and cold running water and a service sink or receptor.

DHS 134.84(10) (10) Laundry.

DHS 134.84(10)(a) (a) Laundry room space shall be provided unless commercial laundry facilities are used. If laundry service is provided, laundry facilities shall be located in areas separate from resident areas and shall be provided with necessary washing, drying and ironing equipment.

DHS 134.84(10)(b) (b) Soiled linen may not be transported through or washed or rinsed in food preparation, serving or storage areas, nor may clean linen and clothes be dried or stored in the kitchen.

DHS 134.84(10)(c) (c) Where commercial laundries are used, a room for sorting, processing and storing soiled linen shall be provided. The room shall be mechanically ventilated.

DHS 134.84(10)(d) (d) All soiled linen, unless washed immediately after removal, shall be placed in non-absorbent, closed storage containers.

DHS 134.84(11) (11) Administration and resident activity areas. Areas or rooms shall be provided in the facility for administration and resident activities. These areas or rooms shall be adequate in size to meet the needs of the facility and residents. The areas or rooms may be combined, provided that the resulting arrangements do not threaten the safety of residents or interfere with resident care and nursing practices or with meeting the social needs of residents.

DHS 134.84(12) (12) Mixed occupancy. Rooms or areas within the facility may be used for occupancy by individuals other than residents and facility staff if the following conditions are met:

DHS 134.84(12)(a) (a) The use of these rooms does not interfere with services provided to residents; and

DHS 134.84(12)(b) (b) The administrator takes reasonable steps to ensure that the health, safety and rights of residents are protected.

DHS 134.84(13) (13) Location of facilities.

DHS 134.84(13)(a) (a) The site of the facility shall conform to local zoning regulations and shall be free from noise, odors and other environmental nuisances.

DHS 134.84(13)(b) (b) Employees and visitors shall have easy access to the facility site. The facility’s location shall promote the health, treatment, comfort, safety and well-being of residents. The site shall be located so that an organized fire department can quickly respond to fire emergencies.

DHS 134.84(13)(c) (c) A minimum of 15 square feet per resident bed shall be provided around the facility for an outdoor recreation area, exclusive of driveways and parking area.

DHS 134.84 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1988, No. 390, eff. 7-1-88; CR 04-053: am. (5) (c) 12. Register October 2004 No. 586, eff. 11-1-04; CR 20-068: am. (3) (c) Register December 2021 No. 792, eff. 1-1-22.