Part XVII. Public Buildings, Schools, and Other Institutions

§101. Definitions

A. Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, the following words and terms used in this Part of the Sanitary Code, and all other Parts which are adopted or may be adopted, are defined for the purposes thereof as follows.

Institution or Institutional Building—a building or buildings housing an organization, foundation, or other entity dedicated to education, culture, or other public service [e.g., public or private schools (nursery schools, trade schools, colleges, or universities), hospitals, nursing homes, jails, and mortuaries].

LSPC—Louisiana State Plumbing Code, i.e., Part XIV (Plumbing) of this Code (LAC 51:XIV).

Public Building—any structure that is owned, leased, or principally used by a government agency for public business, meetings, or other group gatherings, or other building to which the general public has reasonably free access [e.g., including, but not limited to, every public and government building, school (kindergarten, nursery school, trade school, college, or university), office building, store, commercial building, enclosed shopping center, theater, lecture hall, auditorium, hotel, restaurant, boarding house, nursing home, hospital, airport building, bus depot, railroad depot, and other places where people congregate, etc.].

Readily Accessible—having direct access without the need of removing any panel, door or similar covering of the item described and without requiring the use of portable ladders, chairs, etc.

State Health Officer—see definition in Part I, Section 101.B of this Code and apply it in this Part.

Substantial Renovation—see definition in Part I, Section 101.B of this Code and apply it in this Part.

AUTHORITY NOTE: The first source of authority for promulgation of the sanitary code is in R.S. 36:258(B), with more particular provisions found in Chapters 1 and 4 of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. This Part is promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4(A)(10) and R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(4)(5)(16)(17)(19)(21).

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 37:2165 (July 2011), amended LR 38:2925 (November 2012).

§103. Lighting, Heating, and Ventilation Requirements for Public Buildings

A. Every public and government building in this state, including, but not limited to every school (kindergarten, nursery school, trade school, college or university), office building, store, commercial building, enclosed shopping center, theater, lecture hall, auditorium, hotel, restaurant, boarding house, nursing home, hospital, airport building, bus depot, railroad depot, and other places where people congregate, shall be adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated, in accordance with the requirements of this Chapter, and shall otherwise conform to all other requirements of this Part.

B. Every indoor area traversed by people, including halls, stairways, and toilet rooms, shall a minimum of 10 foot-candles of illumination measured at a level 3 feet above the floor.

C. The combustion chambers of all heaters, heating systems, and other fired equipment shall be vented to the atmosphere. Other parts of the heating, cooling, and ventilating system shall be so designed, built, and maintained as to ensure that the pressure in the space from which combustion air is drawn does not become negative with respect to the atmosphere.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4(A)(10) and R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(4)(5)(16)(17)(19)(21).

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 28:1390 (June 2002), amended LR 37:2165 (July 2011).

§105. Plans and Specifications
[Formerly §103]

A. No person shall construct any new facilities for any state agency, or construct any new institutional buildings, or make additions or substantial renovations to such existing facilities until plans and specifications therefore have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the state health officer. Institutions include, but are not limited to the following (whether public or private):

1. schools (nursery schools, trade schools, colleges, or universities);

2. hospitals;

3. nursing homes;

4. jails; and

5. mortuaries.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4(A)(10) and R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(4)(5)(16)(17)(19)(21).

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 28:1390 (June 2002), amended LR 37:2166 (July 2011).

§107. Drinking Water Provisions
[Formerly §103]

A. Drinking water, processed in accordance with Part XII of this Code, shall be made available to all occupants of all public buildings.

B. Drinking fountains shall be provided in public buildings and institutions in the quantities shown in Table 411 of the Louisiana State Plumbing Code (LSPC). Said drinking fountains shall be constructed and installed in accordance with the requirements of §415.C of the LSPC.

C. The use of receptacles for handling and storing drinking water other than bottled water approved by the state health officer is prohibited, except in emergencies, as approved by the state health officer.

D. Drinking Utensils. The use of a drinking cup in common is prohibited. Two types of drinking utensils are acceptable: single-service and multi-use. Single-service utensils are preferable, but multi-use utensils are acceptable so long as they are washed, rinsed and sanitized between uses in accordance with Part XXIII of this Code. Single-service utensils shall meet the requirements of §§2115, 2503, and 2517 of Part XXIII of this Code.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4(A)(10) and R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(4)(5)(16)(17)(19)(21).

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 28:1390 (June 2002), amended LR 37:2166 (July 2011), amended LR 38:2925 (November 2012), repromulgated LR 38:3233 (December 2012).

§109. Plumbing and Sewage Disposal Requirements

A. All public buildings shall be provided with sewage disposal facilities and plumbing in compliance with the provisions of Parts XIII and XIV of this Code.

B. Toilet rooms shall be provided in all public buildings for use by the general public. Facilities for hand-washing and cleaning purposes shall be located in these places and shall be provided with soap, mechanical hand-drying devices or disposable paper towels, and toilet paper. In addition, said toilet rooms shall meet the requirements of the following Sections, and those of Part XIV of this Code. Showers, if provided, shall meet the requirements of Part XIV of this Code.

C. The site of all public buildings shall be well drained, such that no water will collect.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4(A)(10) and R.S. 40:52)(3)(4)(5)(16)(17)(19)(21).

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 28:1390 (June 2002), repromulgated LR 29:1099 (July 2003),

§111. Housekeeping Requirements
[Formerly §109]

A. Public buildings shall be kept clean. Sweeping, vacuuming and mopping should be done when the building is free of occupants, if possible. Sweeping shall be done in such a manner as to minimize the spread of dust. Mops shall be cleaned after use and before storage in a well ventilated area. Vacuum cleaners should be equipped with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter that is maintained per manufacturer’s specifications.

B. No absorbent floor covering shall be used in assembly halls, dining rooms, halls and stairways. Any carpeting installed in such areas shall be made of non-absorbent fibers.

C. Garbage and trash shall not be allowed to accumulate anywhere on the premises except in containers designed and maintained in accordance with Part XXVII of this Code. Garbage and other discarded putrid materials shall be stored in impervious cans with tight fitting covers. Oily rags and other materials subject to spontaneous combustion shall be stored in tightly covered metal containers. Other trash shall be stored in non-combustible containers.

D. Garbage cans shall be washed weekly or more often if residues accumulate or odors become offensive. Said washing shall be done on a concrete or other impervious surface sloping toward a drain so that none of the wash water escapes the controlled area. Any liquid wastes from compacting garbage or trash shall be disposed of as sewage. Said drain shall be equipped with a strainer and shall be connected to a sanitary sewage treatment system which meets the requirements of Part XIII of this Code. If this area is located outdoors, methods shall be used to prevent rainwater and surface water runoff from entering the sewerage system, such as elevating the cleaning pad/compacting area, curbing the cleaning pad/compacting area, enclosing and/or covering the cleaning pad/compacting area such that the surrounding parking lot, street, or ground area, etc., is not allowed to drain into the sewerage system. If the discharge of cleaning or compacting contains fats, oils, or grease, such drain shall first discharge into a grease trap or oil interceptor (designed in accord with Part XIV of this Code), as appropriate, before connecting to the sewerage system.

E. Spitting in or about any public building is prohibited.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4(A)(10) and R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(4)(5)(16)(17)(19)(21).

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 28:1391 (June 2002), repromulgated LR 29:1099 (July 2003), amended LR 37:2166 (July 2011).

Chapter 3. Special Sanitary Requirements for Schools and Other Institutions

§301. Toilet Rooms in Schools and Other Institutions

A. For primary schools, and other special types of institutions with classrooms, for children through 12 years of age, separate boys' and girls' toilet room doors shall not be further than 200 feet from any classroom doors. For secondary schools, and other special types of institutions with classrooms, for persons of secondary school age, separate boys' and girls' toilet room doors shall not be further than 400 feet from any classroom door. In multi-storied buildings, there shall be boys' and girls' toilet rooms on each floor, having the number of plumbing fixtures as specified in Part XIV of this Code for the classroom population of that floor.

B. The state health officer may require additional or alternate facilities as necessary to serve persons with special needs.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4(A)(10) and R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(4)(5)(16)(17)(19)(21).

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 28:1391 (June 2002), amended LR 37:2167 (July 2011).

§303. School Lunchrooms and Concession Stands

A. All school lunch rooms and school concession stands shall comply with the general sanitary requirements for public eating places as specified in Part XXIII of this Code.

B. [Formerly paragraph 17:023] Single-service utensils, made of paper or approved plastic, shall be used in school lunchrooms whenever equipment is deemed inadequate by the state health officer to provide proper sanitization for multiple-use utensils.

C. [Formerly paragraph 17:024] In all schools and in other special types of institutions with classrooms, hand-washing facilities (for student and staff use before eating) shall be readily accessible in a common area and shall not be further than 50 feet from the lunch room, dining area or cafeteria. Said facility shall be provided with hot and cold running water delivered via a mixing faucet(s) or a mixing valve at a water temperature not to exceed 120⁰F [utilizing an approved temperature control device(s) as required under LAC 51:XIV.623], soap, and disposable paper towels or mechanical hand-drying devices.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4(A)(10) and R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(4)(5)(16)(17)(19)(21).

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 28:1391 (June 2002), amended LR 37:2167 (July 2011), amended LR 38:2925 (November 2012).

§305. Space and Lighting Requirements for Classrooms
[formerly paragraph 17:025]

A. In all schools, and in other special types of institutions with classrooms, a minimum of 20 square feet of floor space shall be provided in every classroom for each student.

(1) Direct lighting refers to light that is being directed in a downward direction towards the surface being illuminated.

(2) Indirect lighting refers to light that is directed at least partially in an upward direction or is reflected in some manner towards the surface being illuminated.

1. General Notes on Lighting System Design and Enforcement of Table 305.B

a. For design in new and significantly renovated schools, the designer shall utilize the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Lighting Handbook; however, the standards contained in Table 305B of this Part shall control if there is a conflict.

b. Enforcement of the lighting standards is based upon the average illumination level in each room or area.

c. For instructional spaces utilizing digital “smart boards” or outfitted for audio-visual presentations, the designer should consider the installation of lighting controls readily accessible to the instructor having capability to reduce the illumination on the screen to seven footcandles or less, while maintaining an average of 20 footcandles within the remaining functional areas of the room or area.

d. For instructional spaces utilizing dry-erase whiteboards, the designer should consider the installation of separately controlled, dedicated luminaries mounted parallel

to the whiteboard, providing 30 footcandles average on the vertical plane of the whiteboard.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4(A)(10) and R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(4)(5)(16)(17)(19)(21).

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 28:1391 (June 2002), amended LR 37:2167 (July 2011).

§307. Outdoor Play Areas

A. For elementary schools and other schools with children under 12 years of age, all pieces of playground equipment with play surfaces four feet or higher from the ground shall have an appropriate energy absorptive surface such as wood chips at a depth of 8-10 inches or rubber mats, manufactured for such use meeting A.S.T.M. Standard F355-10a, under the fall zone of the equipment. A swing with the seat four feet above the ground when at a 90 degree arc shall meet this requirement.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4(A)(10) and R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(4)(5)(16)(17)(19)(21).

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 37:2168 (July 2011).

Chapter 5. Health Requirements for Schools

§501. Employee Health and Student Health
[formerly paragraph 17:028]

A. [Formerly paragraph 17:028] The requirements of Part I, §117 and Part II, §§111 and 503 shall be met.

B.1. [Formerly paragraph 17:029] All students in the health care professions shall be free of tuberculosis in a communicable state as evidenced by either:

a. a negative purified protein derivative test, five tuberculin unit strength, given by the Mantoux method;

b. a normal chest X-ray if the skin test is positive; or

c. a statement from a Louisiana licensed physician that the person is noninfectious to others if the chest X-ray is other than normal.

2. If the student has a positive purified protein derivative skin test for tuberculosis, five tuberculin unit strength, given by the Mantoux method, or a chest X-ray other than normal, the student shall complete a course of chemotherapy for tuberculosis as prescribed by a Louisiana licensed physician, or present a signed statement from a Louisiana licensed physician stating that chemotherapy for tuberculosis is not indicated. In any case, the student shall not be denied access to an institutional learning experience or work solely on the basis of being infected with tuberculosis, provided the infection is not communicable.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4 (A)(2)(10) and R.S. 40:5 (1)(2)(10)(17).

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 28:1392 (June 2002), repromulgated LR 29:1099 (July 2003).




Title 51

Public Health―SaniTary Code