R 325.1961 Plans and specifications.
Rule 61. (1) A floor plan of the home, with a description of rooms showing size, use,
door locations, window area, and a number of beds shall be on file in the home.
(2) Complete plans, specifications, and an operational narrative for new buildings,
additions, major building changes, and conversion of existing facilities to use as a home
shall be submitted to the department for review to assure compliance with the law and
these rules.
(3) An operational narrative shall describe the operational characteristics and special
needs of the home that dictate the design of renovation, construction, or conversion
needed to support the home’s program statement as defined by R 325.1901(15). An
operational narrative may include any of the following:
(a) Each function to be performed in the home.
(b) Functional space requirements.
(c) Number of staff or other occupants anticipated for the various functional units.
(d) Type of equipment to be required and utilized.
(e) Interrelationship of functional spaces.
(f) Services and equipment to be brought into the home from outside the home and
not requiring duplication in the home.
(4) Plans and specifications meeting the requirements of the law and these rules shall
be approved by the department.
(5) Construction of new buildings, additions, major building changes, and conversion
of existing facilities to use as a home shall not begin until the plans and specifications are
approved by the department and written approval to begin construction is issued.
R 325.1962 Exteriors.
Rule 62. (1) The home shall be located in an area free from hazards to the health and
safety of residents, personnel, and visitors.
(2) The premises shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition and in a
manner consistent with public health and welfare.
(3) Sufficient light for an exterior ramp, step, and porch shall be provided for the
safety of persons using the facilities.
(4) Exterior steps shall have a handrail on both sides. An above-grade porch shall
have a railing on open sides.
R 325.1963 Accessibility.
Rule 63. (1) New construction or a home undergoing addition, major building
modification, or conversion shall comply with all of the following:
(a) Applicable statutory accessibility requirements.
(b) Applicable accessibility requirements for common and shared facilities.
(c) Accessibility requirements for 10% of all resident sleeping rooms and the
connecting bathing or toilet rooms.
R 325.1964 Interiors.
Rule 64. (1) A building shall be of safe construction and shall be free from hazards to
residents, personnel, and visitors.
(2) A part of a building in use as a home shall not be used for any purpose which
interferes with the care, well-being, and safety of residents, personnel, and visitors.
(3) An occupied room shall have a minimum ceiling height of 7 feet, 6 inches, except
as otherwise provided in R 325.1964(4) and (5).
(4) Floor area under a part of a drop or slant ceiling which is less than 6 1/2 feet from
the floor shall not be used in computing the usable floor space or a maximum number of
beds allowed in any sleeping room.
(5) Abed and the working space around a bed shall not be directly under a part of a
drop or slant ceiling that is less than 6 1/2 feet from the floor.
(6) Each area of the home shall be provided with lighting commensurate with the use
made of each area and in accordance with generally recognized standards.
(7) A stairway or ramp shall have a handrail on both sides.
(8) A room used for living or sleeping purposes shall have a minimum total window
glass area on outside walls equal to 10% of the required floor area of the room. Forty ve percent
of the window glass area shall be openable unless the room is artificially ventilated.
(9) Ventilation shall be provided throughout the facility in the following manner:
(a) A room shall be provided with a type and amount of ventilation that will control
odors and contribute to the comfort of occupants.
(b) Bathing rooms, beauty shops, toilet rooms, soiled linen rooms, janitor closets, and
trash holding rooms shall be provided with a minimum of 10 air changes per hour of
continuously operated exhaust ventilation that provide discernable air flow into each of
these rooms.
(10) A resident room shall open to a corridor, lobby, or day room. Traffic c to and
from any room shall not be through a sleeping room, kitchen, bathroom, toilet room, or
storage room, except where a toilet room, bathroom, or storage room opens directly off
the room or rooms which it serves.
(11) A doorway, passageway, corridor, hallway, or stairwell shall be kept free from
obstructions at all times.
(12) A floor, wall, or ceiling shall be covered and finished in a manner that will permit
maintenance of a sanitary environment.
(13) A basement shall be of such construction that it can be maintained in a dry and
sanitary condition.
(14) A minimum of 15 square feet of fl oor space per licensed bed shall be provided
for day room, dining, recreation, and activity purposes.
(15) A basement or cellar shall not be used for sleeping or living quarters, except
that recreation and activity space may be provided in a basement in addition to the 15
square feet per licensed bed required in subrule (14) of this rule.
(16) A room or compartment housing a water closet shall have a minimum width of 3
feet.
(17) Emergency electrical service shall provide, at a minimum, battery-operated
lighting units sufficient to light corridors and exits.
(18) A home shall provide functionally separate living, sleeping, dining, handwashing,
the toilet, and bathing facilities for employees and members of their families who live on the
premises.
R 325.1965 Elevators and space requirements for certain homes.
Rule 65. (1) A new construction, addition, major building change, or conversion after
November 14, 1969, shall provide all of the following:
(a) An elevator if resident bedrooms are situated upon more than 1 floor level. An
elevator shall have a minimum cab size of 5 feet by 7 feet, 6 inches.
(b) A sleeping, day, dining, recreation, and activity room with a minimum ceiling
height of 8 feet.
(c) In a room requiring windows, a clear unobstructed horizontal view of 20 feet
from the windows. One additional foot shall be added to the minimum distance of 20
feet for each 2-foot rise above the first story up to a maximum of 40 feet of required
unobstructed view.
(d) A minimum of 30 square feet of fl oor space per licensed bed for day room, dining,
recreation, and activity purposes.
R 325.1966 Public and employee areas.
Rule 66. (1) A lobby or waiting area for visitors shall be separate from resident
rooms.
(2) Employees shall have adequate toilet facilities that are separate from resident
living quarters.
R 325.1967 Resident rooms.
Rule 67. (1) A resident bedroom shall have the floor surface at or above grade level
along exterior walls with windows.
(2) A single resident room shall have at least 80 square feet of usable floor space.
(3) A multi-bed resident room shall have at least 70 square feet of usable floor space
per licensed bed.
(4) A toilet room or closet shall not be included in usable floor space.
(5) A multi-bed resident room shall be designed to allow for a 3-foot clearance
between beds.
(6) Residents may have their own rooms arranged in a manner that is comfortable
and reflects their preferences, provided that the arrangement does not create an
unreasonable fire safety risk or unsanitary conditions.
(7) A resident room shall have at least 2 duplex electrical receptacles.
(8) Each resident-occupied floor shall have a janitor’s closet.
R 325.1968 Toilet and bathing facilities.
Rule 68. (1) Resident toilet facilities shall be located in separate rooms or stalls and
shall be provided in the ratio of 1 handwashing facility and water closet for every 8
resident beds per floor.
(2) A bathing facility shall be provided for every 15 resident beds.
(3) All water closets and bathing facilities shall have substantially secured grab bars
at least 1 foot long.
(4) A resident toilet room or bathroom shall not be used for storage or housekeeping
functions.
R 325.1969 Additional resident area requirements in certain homes.
Rule 69. (1) A new construction, addition, major building change, or conversion after
November 14, 1969, shall provide all of the following:
(a) A resident room with not more than 4 beds.
(b) A minimum of 100 square feet of usable floor space in single resident rooms.
(c) A minimum of 80 square feet of usable floor space per licensed bed in multi-bed
resident rooms.
(d) A resident room with a minimum of 5 square feet of floor space per licensed bed
for wardrobe and closet in addition to other requirements for usable floor space per
licensed bed. A bathing or toilet room or vestibule shall not be included in usable floor
space.
R 325.1970 Water supply systems.
Rule 70. (1) A home located in an area served by a public water system shall
connect to and use that system.
(2) If a public water system is not available, then the location and construction of a
well and the operation of the private water system shall comply with the Safe Drinking
Water Act, 1976 PA 399, MCL 325.1001 et seq.
(3) A physical cross-connection shall not exist between water systems that are safe
for human consumption and those that are, or may at any time, become unsafe for
human consumption.
(4) Minimum water pressure available to each plumbing fixture shall exceed 20
pounds per square inch.
(5) The plumbing system shall be designed and maintained so that the possibility of
backflow or back-siphonage is eliminated.
(6) The plumbing system shall supply an adequate amount of hot water at all times to
meet the needs of each resident and the functioning of the various service areas.
(7) The temperature of hot water at plumbing fixtures used by residents shall be
regulated to provide tempered water at a range of 105 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
R 325.1971 Liquid wastes.
Rule 71. (1) Liquid wastes shall be discharged into a public sanitary sewage system if
such a system is available.
(2) Homes that use a private wastewater disposal system shall be approved by the
department.
(3) A private wastewater disposal system shall consist of a stabilization lagoon or
approved “package” treatment plant. Subsurface disposal systems such as septic tanks
with tile fields are not allowed.
(4) The licensee shall obtain a discharge permit issued by the Michigan department of
environmental quality pursuant to MCL 324.3101 et seq.
R 325.1972 Solid wastes.
Rule 72. All garbage and rubbish shall be kept in leakproof, nonabsorbent containers.
The containers shall be kept covered with tight-fitting lids and shall be removed from the
home daily and from the premises at least weekly.
R 325.1973 Heating.
Rule 73. (1) A home shall provide a safe heating system that is designed and
maintained to provide a temperature of at least 72 degrees Fahrenheit measured at a
level of 3 feet above the floor in rooms used by residents.
(2) A resident’s own room or rooms in the home shall be maintained at a comfortable
temperature.
R 325.1974 Laundry and linen.
Rule 74. (1) A home that processes its own linen shall provide a well ventilated
laundry of sufficient size which shall be equipped to meet the needs of the home.
(2) A home that uses a commercial or other outside laundry facility shall have a soiled
linen storage room and a separate clean linen storage room.
R 325.1975 Laundry and linen requirements.
Rule 75. (1) A new construction, addition, major building change, or conversion after
November 14, 1969 shall provide all of the following:
(a) A separate soiled linen storage room.
(b) A separate clean linen storage room.
(c) A separate laundry processing room with handwashing facilities in a home that
processes its own linen.
(d) Commercial laundry equipment with a capacity to meet the needs of residents in a
home that processes its own linen.
R 325.1976 Kitchen and dietary.
Rule 76. (1) A home shall have a kitchen and dietary area of adequate size to meet
the food service needs of residents. It 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.
(2) The kitchen and dietary area shall be equipped with a lavatory for handwashing.
Each lavatory shall have a gooseneck inlet and wrist, knee, or foot control. Soap and
single service towels shall be available for use at each lavatory.
(3) The kitchen and dietary area shall be restricted to the kitchen and dietary activities.
(4) Separate personnel dining space shall be provided.
(5) The kitchen and dietary area, as well as all food is stored, prepared, served, or
transported, shall be protected against potential contamination from dust, flies, insects,
vermin, overhead sewer lines, and other sources.
(6) Food and drink used in the home shall be clean and wholesome and shall be
manufactured, handled, stored, prepared, transported, and served so as to be safe for
human consumption.
(7) Perishable foods shall be stored at temperatures that will protect against
spoilage.
(8) A reliable thermometer shall be provided for each refrigerator and freezer.
(9) An individual portion of food that is served and not eaten shall be destroyed.
(10) A separate storage area for poisonous material shall be provided away from food service
and food storage areas. Poisonous material shall be identified as such and shall
be used only in a manner and under such conditions that it will not contaminate food or
constitute a hazard to residents, personnel, or visitors.
(11) Foodservice equipment and multi-use utensils shall be of such design and
material as to be smooth, easily cleanable, and durable.
(12) Foodservice equipment and work surfaces shall be installed in such a manner as
to facilitate cleaning and be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, and in good
repair.
(13) A multi-use utensil used in food storage, preparation, transport, or serving shall be
thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each use and shall be handled and stored in a
the manner which will protect it from contamination.
(14) A single service eating or drinking article shall be stored, handled, and dispensed
in a sanitary manner and shall be used only once.
(15) Ice used in the home for any purpose shall be manufactured, stored, transported,
and handled in a sanitary manner.
(16) A storage area for housekeeping items and a janitor’s closet shall be provided
convenient to the kitchen and dietary area.
(17) If food service is provided from an outside service, then that service shall be
licensed under the requirements of the citation.
R325.1977 New construction, addition, major building modification, or
conversion after the effective date of these rules.
Rule 77. (1) Exhaust ventilation shall be designed as central systems with the fan at
the building exterior and at least 10 feet from all doors, operable windows, and domestic
outside air intakes.
(2) Facilities for dispensing of medications shall be designed to be under the control
of responsible residents or designated staff. Central dispensing locations shall keep
medications locked and equipped with handwashing, work counter, and storage
facilities.
(3) Bathing facilities shall have access to handwashing, toilet, and bathing supply
storage facilities without entering a common corridor.
R 325.1978 Insect and vermin control.
Rule 78. (1) A home shall be kept free from insects and vermin.
(2) Pest control procedures shall comply with MCL 324.8301 et seq.
R 325.1979 General maintenance and storage.
Rule 79. (1) The building, equipment, and furniture shall be kept clean and in good
repair.
(2) A room shall be provided in the home or on the premises for equipment and
furniture maintenance and repair and storage of maintenance equipment and supplies.
(3) Hazardous and toxic materials shall be stored in a safe manner.
R 325.1980 Soap and towels.
Rule 80. Soap and single-use towels shall be available for the use of employees and
visitors. Use of the common towel is prohibited.