The patient room general requirements for the prelabor and postpartum room requirements
are quite similar to each other. The requirements are the same for medical and
surgical nursing units. The maximum room capacity is only two patients, with a minimum
of 120 square feet of clear floor area for a double-occupancy room and 100 square
feet for a single-occupancy room. For cesarean delivery suites, the minimum clear floor
area is 360 square feet, and 300 feet for delivery rooms. The required clear floor area
does not include toilet rooms, closets, lockers, alcoves, or furniture. There must be a
minimum of three feet between the sides and foot of the bed, and a four-foot clearance
is required in the case of multiple bedrooms. Each patient room that is intended for 24-
hour occupancy is also required to have a window or vents that can be opened from the
inside. Each room must be configured such that the patient can access a toilet room
without entering a general corridor. One toilet room cannot serve more than four beds,
and in new construction a hand-washing facility is required if a toilet room serves more
than two beds. Hand-washing facilities for patient rooms most likely are located in
patient rooms. The specification on medical gases and climate control are discussed
below