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The program reviews soil surveys for on-site disposal systems, plans and specifications for water supply and sewage disposal systems to serve all types of public and commercial facilities. Additionally, the Program reviews total facility construction for various types of facilities, as mandated by law or regulation. These include mobile home parks, day care centers, nursing homes, schools, hospitals, correctional facilities, and mental health facilities. Todd Hite is the Manager of Sanitary Engineering. Contact Todd Hite

Commercial Sewage Disposal

Plan Review Program (section) staff review and approve plans and specifications for onsite sewage disposal systems (i.e., septic systems) serving Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgery Outpatient Centers, Schools, State Correctional Facilities, Mental Health Facilities, child Care, and Long Term Care. An onsite sewage disposal system is one that treats only domestic sewage onsite, with final disposal via absorption into the soil. Disposal of petrochemicals and other industrial wastes (in whole or in part) is regulated by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). Likewise, sewage treatment systems that discharge to a stream or other surface water body are the purview of IDEM. Examples of commercial facilities are apartments, subdivisions, mobile home parks, churches, schools, factories, gas stations, groceries, convenience stores, post offices, restaurants, taverns, golf course clubhouses, campgrounds, and veterinary, dental, and medical offices. If a sanitary sewer is available within a reasonable distance to the proposed facility (410 IAC 6-10) installation of an onsite sewage disposal systems is prohibited, and a connection must be made to the sewer.

Drafting of plans is not the first step, however. Before plans can be developed, a soil report for the proposed site must be prepared by an Registered Soil Scientist and submitted to Plan Review Section, in duplicate. The extra copy of the soil report is forwarded to the local health department to solicit input about the project site. The report must specify in detail the kinds of soil encountered at the proposed site, and should include information about the facility operation sufficient for us to estimate the design maximum daily sewage flow that must be treated. The soil survey is entered into the section's log and a summary of that information is available at Plan Review Project Status.

Once the section receives the necessary information, staff will work with the designated engineer or architect to determine the best type of onsite sewage disposal system for those soils; where the system should be constructed and how it should be positioned; establish drainage requirements and minimum system size; and outline other design requirements important to proper functioning of the sewage disposal system. Once the architect or engineer submits plans and specifications they are reviewed for compliance with the design requirements that were agreed upon and state standards (Bulletin SE 13). State law requires each page of the sewage disposal plans and specifications to be stamped by an engineer or architect registered to practice in Indiana. State law prohibits registered land surveyors from preparing sewage disposal system plans, although it is legal for them to design gravity storm and sanitary sewers.

The final permitting for some commercial onsite sewage disposal systems maybe referred to some local health departments if it is determined that they have staff capable of handling certain onsite systems. Most local health departments are approved to handle conventional (gravity) systems. A smaller number of departments are approved to handle more complex systems and in those cases we limit the referral to those systems that are designed to handle 750 gallons per day or less.

Technology New to Indiana

The Indiana State Department of Health (department) encourages development of sewage treatment or disposal methods, processes and equipment new to Indiana which may merit application (the department classifies technology as "new" to Indiana if it is not described in Indiana administrative code). The department may approve the use of a technology new to Indiana if documented research, testing or field performance demonstrate that the technology meets or exceeds the requirements of 410 IAC 6-8.1-31(g), 410 IAC 6-10-8, and applicable standards and best practices of the department.

Information on the department's program for technology new to Indiana can be found at Technologies New to Indiana. This web page provides general information on the department's review and approval process. It also contains links to web pages containing information on technologies that have been approved (with links to the standards that apply to each technology) and technologies that are under review.

Regulated Institutions

The section staff review and approve plans and specifications for Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgery Outpatient Centers, Schools, State Correctional Facilities, Mental Health Facilities, child Care, and Long Term Care.

Hospitals and Ambulatory Surgery Outpatient Centers

The section under 410 IAC 15-1 and 410 IAC 15-2 is required to conduct the initial site survey for a new hospital and health care facilities and approve any new construction and renovation of hospitals and Ambulatory Outpatient Surgery Centers (AOSC).

The site survey approval process is initiated when the section receives a request from an applicant who wants to have a site surveyed. The applicant must submit sufficient information to allow the surveyor to check the site for drainage or other problems that might make the site not suitable for locating a hospital or AOSC. The section has 30 days to complete the survey and present its findings back to the applicant. If there are problems, then the applicant may offer a plan to mitigate them, such as a drainage plan. If the site is deemed acceptable, then the project can proceed. It is recommended that a site not be purchased until the section approves the site. A hospital site survey information sheet is available to help identify the information needed to conduct a proper site survey.

When a hospital or AOSC has completed final plans for the facility to be constructed or renovated, it submits them to the section along with a completed application and appropriate fee. If the plan submittal is complete, it is logged into the section's electronic log and given a project number. In order for the submittal to be complete the plans must be certified by an Indiana registered architect or professional engineer. Each page of the plans must be stamped. The appropriate fee must be received and the application must be completed and received. The section has five days to review the submittal and approve it or ask for additional information. If it is approved a letter is sent to the applicant notifying them the section has received their submittal and assigned a project number. It the submittal is not approved a letter and/or telephone call is made requesting the missing item(s).

Once the submittal is approved, it is assigned to a reviewer. On average the reviewer has twenty days to complete the review. Large complex projects will take additional time to review. The plans are reviewed per regulatory standards, AIA 2001 Edition, Ten States Standards (water and sewage) and Life Safety Code NFPA 101, 2000 Edition. Review comments are submitted to the firm the prepared the design. They are given 60 days to respond. If a response is not received within sixty days, the submittal maybe discarded and the project canceled. Usually a telephone call is made to the firm before such action is taken. If the review doe not identify deficiencies, then an approval is issued and copied to the Acute Care Division.

The firm may respond to the reviewer that they are addressing the deficiencies and/or that they are making application for a waiver(s) from the Acute Care Division. If the deficiencies are properly addressed, then the section will issue an approval that is copied to the Acute Care Division. If the applicant requests waivers and Acute Care recommends approval of the waivers and the section concurs, an approval is issued and is copied to the Acute Care Division. Occasionally, it is necessary to meet with the applicant, design firm and Acute Care to resolve deficiencies and discuss waivers. Where there is disagreement on waiver between Acute Care and the section, the Assistant Commissioner makes the call. If the waiver(s) are not accepted by Acute Care or the Assistant Commissioner, then the design firm must address the deficiencies before the section issues and approval. Approvals may also be issued as a conditional approval, which is the approval is issued but the applicant will need to address the deficiencies within a given period of time. Usually Acute Care will check during their inspections to determine if the deficiencies have been addressed.

The current status of plans for hospitals and ambulatory surgery outpatient centers can be checked here.

Schools

Under 410 IAC 6-5.1 the section is required to conduct a site survey for a new school. The site survey approval process is initiated when the section receives a request from an applicant that they wish to have a site surveyed. The applicant is required to submit sufficient information such as acreage, number of students, utilities and type of school. The surveyor will check the site for drainage or other problems that might make the site not suitable for locating a school. The section as 20 days to respond to the request for the site survey.

Once the site is approved, the school needs to submit plans and specification prepared by a registered architect or engineer. There is no fee, but an application (School Construction Application) must accompany the plans. The plans will be reviewed and if necessary changes may be requested. Once the section issues an approval and after the construction is completed, the section will conduct a final onsite inspection to make sure construction comports with the approval.

On a five-year cycle Department of Education provides the section a list of schools, and requests Plan Review to determine whether or not they should continue to be accredited. Schools that have outstanding problems related to safety and sanitation manner will not be approved for accreditation until all outstanding issue have been resolved.

A Charter School is a public school that is nonsectarian and nonreligious and operates under a charter. Under Indiana Code, charter schools are established to serve the different learning styles and needs of public school students, to offer public school students appropriate and innovative choices, to afford varied opportunities for professional educators, to allow freedom and flexibility in exchange for exceptional levels of accountability, and to provide parents, students, community members, and local entities with an expanded opportunity for involvement in the public school system. Charter School Facilities, as all public school facilities are subject to Rule 410 IAC 6-5.1 Sanitary Schoolhouse Rule

The Plan Review Section has developed a informational flyer that discusses the approval process for establishing new or remodeling Charter School facilities. The flyer (Charter School Facility Flyer) discusses site approval, construction, inspection for occupancy and the contact person that handles Charter School Facilities."

The department has developed a new guideline to assist school officials and local health departments who must respond to a water outage, or issuance of a boil water order, during the school day.

Child Care

The Family Social Services Agency (FSSA) requires that child care facilities have plans (new or as built) approved by Plan Review Section. We require a Child Care Construction Application and scaleable plans for the facility. The plans must be detailed to show all aspects of the facility including site utilities. In some cases a registered engineer or architect maybe required by the Department of Fire and Building Services to prepare the plans.

Long term Care

Under 410 IAC 16.2 the section is required to review facility plans for compliance with environmental and physical plant standards for licensure. An application and fee along with plans prepared by registered engineer or architect need to be submitted to the section.

Mental Health Facilities

The architectural plans for Private Secure Facilities which are licensed by the Division of Mental Health, FSSA are required to be approved by Plan review prior to start of construction. An application along with plans prepared by registered engineer or architect need to be submitted to Plan Review.

State Correction Facilities

Architectural plans for State Correction Facility are required to be reviewed by the section for compliance with environmental and physical plant standards for licensure.

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