Here’s the simple truth: AHCA approval can make or break your project. Successfully navigating the arduous process means your medical facility will be up and running on time and on budget. Conversely, failing to secure appropriate approvals or pass required site inspections will mean your budget goes bust or worse – your facility may not even be unusable.

At Seacoast Construction, we commit to our clients that each and every build we do will be completed on time and on budget with the required approvals secured. As you prepare to undertake an AHCA build, here’s a look into some of the requirements your inspector will need to see during each of the two required site surveys.

Requirements for the 80 percent site survey:

At this inspection, several key members of the project team should be present as well as a hefty set of paperwork and documents demonstrating everything from approval letters and correspondence from AHCA, the life safety plan, sprinkler working drawings, and all change orders and field orders. Your inspector will look at the manufacturer’s data and technical information as well as focus the inspection on these three key areas:

• Architectural – Things like exits, fire safety measures, access panels, door frames, room sizes, windows, and scuppers or auxiliary drains will be reviewed.
• Mechanical – The inspector will look at the plumbing rough-in, sleeves for pipes and ducts, sprinkler piping, equipment location, and damper installations, among other mechanical safety requirements.
• Electrical – Normal main service switchgear, a rough-in of bulk conduits, panel board locations, generator, transfer switches, transformer locations, exit lighting, wiring, access panels, grounding and other electrical systems will all be evaluated.

Requirements for the final site survey:

Much like the 80 percent survey, the inspector will evaluate all of the building systems from top to bottom, inside-out. In addition, important certifications will need to be secured. For example, certification will be needed for flame spread ratings for paint and vinyl wall coverings, flame resistant bedding, flame retardant certification for lumber, draperies, and cubicle curtains, and the list goes on and on.

Because every inch of the facility will be reviewed, it is imperative to maintain thorough documentation throughout the build and ensure that you have an experienced project manager on point. A misstep at the final site inspection is the last thing anyone wants for a project.

If you’re heading into an AHCA project, contact us at Seacoast Construction. Our team has successfully navigated numerous AHCA builds and we know what it takes to get the job done quickly and within budget.