Construction RegulationReglamento de Construcciones

SECOND: However, Articles 28 and 29 of the Reglamento de Fraccionamiento shall remain ineffective until final resolution of the appeal filed by the Municipalidad against the refusal of approval issued by the INVU Urban Planning Directorate in official letter CDU-373-08- 2026, through the procedures provided for in Articles 13 and 18 of Ley 4240.

THIRD: Consequently, the Regulatory Plan published in La Gaceta No. 74 of 19 April 1991 is repealed.

FOURTH: To avail themselves of the provisions of Transitory Provision II of the Construction Regulations, interested persons must, within ten business days following publication of this Regulatory Plan, submit an application addressed to the Territorial Planning Department.

The application must identify the project by the real-property folio number of the property, include a brief description of the project and of the procedures completed, and attach proof of its submission to one of the institutions identified in that transitory provision.

The application must be signed by the property owner. It may be sent to info@santaana.go.cr.

FIFTH: NOTICE SHALL BE GIVEN to INVU, addressed to Licda. Hilda Carvajal Bonilla, Director of the Urban Planning Department, at planesreguladores@invu.go.cr.” Publish once only.

GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS FIRES 19 SPORTS ................................................................................................................................................71 AGRICULTURAL ...............................................................................................................................109 OUTPATIENT SERVICES, LABORATORY AND DENTAL CONSULTATION, RADIOLOGICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL CENTERS .......................................................................................................117 OCCUPANCY BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ..........................................................................122 URBAN PLANNING ..............................................................................................................................149 MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................................................153 LIST OF TABLES Table 1.

Window percentages for lighting according to the use of the spaces ....................................46 Table 2. Infrastructure required to comply with water-saving measures .............................................47 Table 3. Infrastructure required to comply with bioclimatic-design provisions ....................................48 Table 4. Dimensional criteria for ramps ...............................................................................................51 Table 5. Minimum courtyard dimensions and areas according to room types and the height of the walls enclosing them ................................................................................................................................57 Table 6. Minimum permissible areas for different apartment configurations .......................................60 Table 7. Minimum permissible dimensions for incremental housing ....................................................66 Table 8.

Public gathering places and places for sports activities .........................................................78 Table 9. Minimum number of sanitary fixtures at sports facilities .........................................................98 Table 10. Minimum number of sanitary fixtures for the sanitary facilities of industrial establishments .........................................................................................................................106 Table 11. Minimum kitchen area for restaurants ...............................................................................133 Table 12. Clear height in dining rooms .............................................................................................134 Table 13. Minimum number of sanitary fixtures at establishments providing food-consumption service ................................................................................................................................................135 Table 14.

Minimum aisle widths in supermarkets ............................................................................136 Table 15. Number of access lanes according to the control or payment system .............................140 Table 16. Minimum widths for internal circulation lanes in parking facilities ...................................141 Table 17. Turning-radius lengths for parking spaces .......................................................................141 Table 18. Minimum widths and turning radii for parking ramps ........................................................142 General Considerations

They also incorporate innovative aspects relating to natural hazards, energy conservation, and bioclimatic design, all of which add new requirements to those contained in other regulations, as well as requirements concerning activities important to the specific circumstances of Santa Ana.

Specific Considerations

This is because each of the matters mentioned forms part of the decisions to be made by every professional responsible for the design and execution of a particular project, as a matter of professional ethics and responsibility.

Special care must be taken with materials that emit toxic gases when burned, particularly in interior spaces of buildings.

This has led to a large number of national and international technical standards that are constantly changing and being adapted to new technologies and new circumstances. Including specific regulations on these subjects would prevent the Canton of Santa Ana from keeping these standards current, because the process for amending or adding to the Regulatory Plan is quite complex and time-consuming.

Regulations

Likewise, when required, the professional shall be obligated to justify to the Municipalidad the relevant technical determinations on the basis of the information consulted.

The purpose of these Regulations is to establish standards for the construction of buildings, streets, sports fields, industrial and machinery facilities, and any other works, in relation to architecture and civil, electrical, mechanical, and sanitary engineering, in order to promote, ensure, and protect health, economy, comfort, and the common welfare in the best possible manner through requirements guaranteeing the safety, sanitation, and adequate lighting and ventilation of works, without prejudice to the powers granted by law to other public entities or bodies in this area.

On both public and private property, every new project, as well as every demolition, excavation, intervention, expansion, renovation, modification, or repair of buildings or structures of any kind, and every structure, installation, or component thereof, must comply with the applicable provisions of these Regulations.

For purposes of interpreting and applying these Regulations, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

Access: Infrastructure that permits entry into a specific place.

Low-consumption fixtures: Fixtures that use various mechanisms and technologies to reduce the water flow required for a specific activity without affecting its function or performance. These include faucets for washbasins and sinks, toilets, urinals, and showers.

Sidewalk: The part of a public roadway, normally located along its edges, reserved for pedestrian traffic.

Electrical service connection: The electrical-service connection between the companies providing the service and each building.

Active Conditioning: The process of treating the air inside a place by regulating its temperature, humidity, cleanliness, and movement. Active conditioning is commonly achieved through air-conditioning systems or equipment.

Industrial activity: An activity carried out on covered or uncovered premises intended for the handling, transformation, or use of raw materials or semi-finished products, whether natural or artificial, through physical, chemical, or biological treatment, either manually or through the use of machinery or instruments. This term also includes places intended to receive or store work equipment and materials that are being treated or processed, or the resulting products, as well as all appurtenances of factories or workshops and the warehouses required for their operation.

Aerodrome: A clearly delimited land or water area, surface, or section intended wholly or partly for the arrival, departure, or movement of aircraft.

Airport: Any public- or private-service aerodrome that has permanent facilities and services for handling passenger, cargo, and baggage air traffic.

Thermal insulation: A material used in construction and industry that is characterized by high thermal resistance. It creates a barrier to heat transfer between two environments that would naturally tend toward equal temperatures, preventing heat from entering or leaving the system to be insulated.

Masonry: The craft of building with stone, brick, block, and similar materials.

Storm sewer: Infrastructure that conveys rainwater from adjacent land, drains flowing into it, or other sewer systems to another sewer system, stream, or river.

Eave: The lower part of a roof that projects beyond the wall. A non-walkable projecting element intended exclusively to protect openings and walls.

Setback line: The minimum physical distance or boundary for locating a building in relation to public roads, waterways, streams, springs (nacientes), lakes, lagoons, estuaries, the maritime-terrestrial zone, railways, high-voltage power lines, or special zones, as issued by the competent entity.

Alteration: Any removal, addition, or modification affecting or made to a building or other work.

Building height: The vertical distance measured from the lowest ground level in contact with the building to the crown beam of the highest level. Basements and semi-basements are not included in this calculation.

Clear height: The distance between the finished-floor level and the ceiling. If there is no ceiling, the distance shall be measured to the beginning of the roof-supporting structure.

Expansion: Any work that increases the constructed area through its alteration.

Front yard: The distance between the property line and the building line that must be reserved as a green area. It entails the issuance of a setback line by the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes or the Municipalidad, as applicable, establishing a construction restriction without causing that portion of the parcel to lose its status as private property.

Apartment: A dwelling unit in a building intended for residential use, consisting of 1 or more floors and generally comprising 1 or more rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

Apartment with individual services: A building in which the dwelling units consist of apartments, each having its own bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, clothes-drying area, dining room, and bedrooms.

Apartment with shared services: A building in which the dwelling units consist of apartments, each of which may have certain services but shares common-use areas, such as a laundry room or kitchen.

Circulation and recreation area: A physical space within the area occupied by a building whose purpose is to allow recreation and movement by the people who live in or use it.

Bullring arena: A circular, sandy surface enclosed by a fence or barrier where bullfights take place within a bullring.

Roof terrace: The flat, uncovered upper portion of a house or other building, designed to be walked upon. It is part of the circulation and recreation areas that the occupants of a building may use.

Fire barrier: Walls extending from the foundations to a height of 40 centimeters above the roof.

Base course: A layer of duly stabilized material composed of hard, durable particles, located immediately beneath the surface course or intermediate course and compliant with current regulations. It forms part of the load-bearing structure of a roadway, road, highway, or floor.

Stop: The part of the frame of door leaves, window sashes, and similar items against which they stop and strike when closed.

Bioengineering: The application of knowledge obtained through a productive intersection between engineering science and biology, allowing both to be fully used for the benefit of human beings.

Warehouse: A building or premises intended for storing various goods. It is a non-habitable room.

Burladero: In a bullring, a section of fence placed in front of the barrier as a refuge for the bullfighter.

Stairwell: The entire area or space occupied by a staircase over its full length and width, including landings, determined for this purpose by its projection onto a horizontal plane.

Roadway: The strip between curbs, gutters, or drainage ditches intended for vehicle traffic.

Local roads: Public roads providing direct access to farms and other economically rural activities; they connect hamlets and settlements to the National Road Network and are characterized by low traffic volumes and high proportions of short-distance local trips.

Campgrounds: A type of establishment that, for a daily or monthly fee, rents duly delimited and prepared land to facilitate outdoor living, where guests stay overnight in tents, travel trailers, or similar accommodations.

Viewing chapel: A place where a deceased person is laid out for viewing. It is also known as a mortuary room.

Flow rate: The amount of water flowing through a natural or artificial conduit per unit of time, measured in liters per second or cubic meters per second.

Fitness center: An establishment where activities related to physical exercise, health, sports, rehabilitation, and recreation are conducted through individual and group exercise plans and programs intended to improve and maintain users’ physical fitness.

Holding pen: Each compartment of the bull pen where bulls are confined before a bullfight begins.

Passive climate control: A bioclimatic-design strategy that treats a building as an inert element capable, through its own characteristics, of filtering external environmental conditions to improve interior conditions.

Site coverage: The percentage (%) of land that may be used for construction. This value includes any impervious or roofed surface, vehicle entrances, roads, exits, parking areas, and construction in general.

Runoff coefficient: The proportion of total rainfall that flows over the ground without being retained by any external element, such as vegetation or soil. It is expressed as a fraction of 1.

Itinerant commerce: Any commercial activity routinely conducted on streets or in public places by natural persons who transport their merchandise and stop at a location only for the time strictly necessary to complete the corresponding transaction.

Fixed-stall commerce: Any commercial activity conducted on a public roadway in premises, a stall, or a structure designated for that purpose and anchored or attached to the ground or permanently constructed. The sale of any product through vending machines on public roadways is treated as falling within this category.

Traditional public commerce: Any commercial activity on a public roadway that is conducted in keeping with tradition, folklore, a tourist attraction, or an extraordinary event in the municipality or region concerned and whose place and time are therefore clearly defined. Circuses and fairs are treated as falling within this category.

Condominium: Real property capable of independent use by different owners and having indivisible common elements, the various forms of which are defined in Ley Reguladora de la Propiedad en Condominio, Ley N°7933; its Regulations, Decreto Ejecutivo N°32303-MIVAHMEIC- TUR; their amendments; or the legislation replacing them.

Construction: The erection of an engineering, architectural, or masonry work; a constructed work, including building, reconstruction, alteration, or expansion work intended to remain in place.

Underground construction: Any construction having at least one underground level.

Elevated construction: A building having a system of piles, discontinuous walls, or another construction technology that raises the structure above the ground surface and thereby promotes air circulation around and within the site, while also permitting runoff in areas subject to flooding.

Container: A freight receptacle for maritime, river, land, or multimodal transportation. Once its useful service life has ended, it may be reused and adapted to other purposes, including in the construction of buildings for various temporary or permanent uses.

Riser: In a staircase or step, the vertical plane or vertical rise or descent between treads.

Corral: An enclosed, uncovered place at a house or in the countryside customarily used to keep animals.

Block: A generally quadrangular urban space that is developed or intended for development and is bounded on all sides by street roadways.

Watershed: The territory that channels surface water produced by rainfall and carries it to a particular point in a river or stream.

Right-of-way: A strip of State-owned land in the public domain intended for the construction of road works, vehicle circulation, and other works related to safety, beautification, and pedestrian use, generally located between the boundaries separating it from public or private land adjacent to the roadway. It may not be privately used, occupied, or appropriated or used for private purposes, except for road nomenclature, signs indicating tourist destinations, activities and services, and public-transport or bus stops.

Landslide: The downslope movement of layers of soil or rock caused by the existence of lower-resistance or weak zones in a soil or rock mass.

Bioclimatic Design: Building design suited to the climate and surrounding conditions that uses available resources to reduce environmental impacts and achieve maximum indoor thermal comfort with minimum energy expenditure.

Collective drainage systems: A common drainage area for disposing of wastewater from individual septic tanks, having sufficient dimensions to meet the technical requirements of the CFIA Plumbing and Sanitary Installations Code or the special laws and regulations published and in effect on the subject.

Eco-lodge: A lodging use whose design and operating characteristics are considered environmentally friendly, cause minimal impact, and ensure sustainable use of energy and water resources and proper waste management. The foregoing shall comply with the eco-lodge specifications established in Chapter 29, BUILDINGS FOR LODGING, of the Construction Regulations. It may be type b or c under Reglamento de las empresas de hospedaje turístico Decreto Ejecutivo No. 44256 de 2023.

Building: A structure intended for any activity, including dwelling, work, storage, or protection of personal property.

Residential building: A building designed to shelter one or more families, with independent living areas.

Contractor: The engineer, architect, technician, or master builder authorized by the Municipalidad who is responsible for executing, but not planning, a project.

Generating entity: A public or private natural or legal person responsible for reusing wastewater or discharging it into a receiving body or sanitary sewer.

Erosion: The process by which soil particles are dislodged and carried elsewhere through the continuous action of a chemical or mechanical erosive agent, such as water, wind, or another agent.

Scale: On a plan or map, an element expressing the relationship between the length of the features depicted and their actual length on the surface of the earth. It is generally expressed as a ratio or fraction: 1:50000 or 1/50000. The numerator is the unit and represents the distance in the drawing; the denominator, a larger number, represents the distance on the ground.

Spiral staircases: Curved staircases that form a complete circle over their course, are supported by a vertical pole at the center, and have no landing.

Fan-shaped staircases: Curved staircases that follow a warped course around a circular opening and have radial steps.

Stage: The place or part of a theater or hall where performances are given and on which a cultural performance or presentation takes place.

Geotechnical stability: The capacity of a mass of soil, rock, or a combination of both to maintain its state of rest and equilibrium over time, whether by itself or through the use of external human-made elements.

Industrial Establishment: Buildings associated with the industrial uses permitted in the canton. This category includes industrial buildings, storage tanks, silos, smokestacks, and other infrastructure necessary for industrial activities.

Stable: A covered place where animals, primarily livestock, are housed for rest and feeding.

Fuel-dispensing station: Any public or private facility where flammable substances related to the operation, maintenance, or preservation of land motor vehicles are supplied directly to those vehicles.

Parking space: Any physical space having specific dimensions and intended to hold vehicles for a defined period.

Foot ledge: A step on the inner side of the barrier that helps bullfighters jump over it.

Structure: A system of elements resistant to the effects of all types of external forces that forms the framework of a building or civil-engineering work and receives and transfers loads and stresses to firm ground.

Façade: The elevation or exterior geometry of a building. It may be front or exterior, side or rear, or interior when it faces internal courtyards.

Property: A portion of land recorded as a legal unit in the Registro Nacional, or capable of being recorded, under a number that individually identifies it. It is also referred to as a parcel, lot, tract, or real property.

Subdivision (fraccionamiento): The division of any property through mechanisms authorized by the Costa Rican legal system for the purpose of separately using the resulting parcels. Blocks or lots shall be created for this purpose, and the means necessary to enter each resulting property shall be provided.

Green strip: A strip located between the street and sidewalk that provides greater pedestrian safety and makes the route more comfortable.

Lot frontage: The length of the parcel’s front boundary along a public roadway.

Foundation: The part of a structure whose function is to transfer structural loads properly to the ground and provide the structure with a stable support system. In some instances, it is referred to as the footing system.

Livestock: A group of domestic animals such as horses, pigs, cows, goats, sheep, and chickens, or any other animals designated by the competent authorities.

Subsistence domestic-animal farms: A use comprising enclosures devoted to housing subsistence domestic animals as established by the Servicio de Salud Animal (SENASA) for the following types of livestock: sheep, goats, cattle, horses, rabbits, poultry, and pigs.

Gravel: Natural stone or stone artificially broken by mechanical processes.

Habitable: A building or part thereof that meets safety, hygiene, and comfort requirements appropriate for human occupancy.

Room: A space consisting of a single chamber.

Panic hardware: A type of emergency-door lock that allows the door to be opened merely by pushing it in the direction in which the person exits.

Hydrograph: A graphical representation showing variation in the flow rate at a specific section of a river or stream over a given period.

Lodging: A use that includes all activities through which accommodation services are offered to persons. Lodging facilities may be open to the public or operated by a private organization, in accordance with Reglamento de las empresas de hospedaje turístico Decreto Ejecutivo No. 44256 de 2023 and its amendments or the legislation replacing it.

Tread: The part of a staircase on which the feet rest when ascending or descending. This

Top lighting: Lighting from the upper parts of a room.

Illuminance: The luminous flux received by a surface. Its unit is the lux (lumen/m2).

General Lighting: A form of lighting in which light fixtures are arranged so that the lighting level is uniform throughout a space, which is generally extensive. It is used when different tasks having the same lighting requirements coexist within the space, or when the location of the task varies over time.

Impervious: Not permitting the free penetration of water.

Infiltration: The process by which water penetrates the upper layers of soil.

Installation: In a building, any system intended to provide potable water, drainage, electrical power, vertical transportation, or air-conditioning services.

Electrical installation: A set of electrical equipment and materials used to produce, convert, transform, transmit, distribute, or use electrical energy.

Sanitary Facilities: Rooms used for personal cleansing and the elimination of human urine and feces. They include toilet stalls and shower stalls. Depending on the circumstances, they are equipped with toilets, washbasins, urinals, showers, and other sanitary fixtures. In some instances, they are referred to as bathrooms.

Building line: A line, generally parallel to the front property line, indicating a distance equal to the required front setback.

Property line: The line demarcating the boundaries of a particular property.

Unhealthy places: Places that cause harm to health through air contamination or compression, toxic-dust emissions, excessive noise, offensive odors, or any other condition identified by MINSA.

Lux: A unit of illuminance indicating the amount of luminous flux received by a surface. One lux is equal to 1 lumen/m2.

Clear span: The distance between the inner faces of two structural supports.

Fire-retardant material: Materials having a fire-retardant or fire-resistance rating, available for different periods, such as three hours or two hours. Examples include thermal insulation or passive fire protection: thick, fibrous, or paste-like coatings, or intumescent paint; dry mineral rock-wool coating; and paste-like vermiculite coating composed of iron and magnesium silicates.

Means of vertical circulation: Means ensuring users’ accessibility for travel to different floor levels of a building, such as ramps, stairways, and elevators.

Mobile markets: Any commercial activity conducted on specified days of the week and on predetermined sections of public roadways, in public places, or on privately owned land affecting public roadways, by a group of natural persons organized into vendors’ unions, merchants’ associations, or any other organization established for that purpose.

Roof monitors: Ventilated roof systems that allow air to circulate over the exterior and interior roof surfaces, producing heat loss by convection.

Municipalidad: A State legal entity having jurisdiction over the Canton of Santa Ana and responsible for administering local services and interests in order to promote the comprehensive development of its canton in harmony with national development. It is sometimes referred to as the Municipality or Local Government.

Retaining wall: A wall designed and constructed to resist soil loads perpendicular to its plane.

Structural wall: A wall designed and constructed primarily to resist horizontal loads parallel to its plane.

Nonstructural wall: A wall regarded as non-load-bearing and intended only to enclose or divide spaces.

Official floor level: The finished level of the sidewalk adjoining the land.

For lots having frontage on two or more streets, the interested party may select which frontage corresponds to the official floor level for the project.

Finished floor level: (N.P.T.) The internal floor level of a building, measured from the flooring material used, on which people circulate. It applies to each floor of a building.

Underground levels: Spaces constructed partly or wholly below the official floor level.

Civil-engineering work: A work designed and constructed through the applied sciences and technology belonging to civil engineering.

Maintenance Work: Work involving repair of real property due to deterioration, maintenance needs, or safety concerns, provided that neither the area nor the form is altered and the property is not structurally intervened in or modified. It includes work carried out both outside and inside real property and does not require the mandatory participation of a responsible professional who is a CFIA member unless the Municipalidad provides otherwise.

Provisional work during the construction process: Temporary work that must be built or installed as a short-term service measure to assist in constructing a permanent work.

Temporary work: Provisional premises, stall, section, installation, or structure located in a public or private space for conducting a commercial activity. It may be fixed to the ground or mobile.

Obstacles: Any physical element having mass and volume that could in any way affect the conduct of aeronautical operations. It includes buildings or physical structures, electrical lines, tall plantings, and other elements.

Occupancy: The purpose for which a building, structure, or part thereof is used or intended to be used.

Aeronautical operation: A takeoff or landing occurring at a particular aerodrome or airport.

Lightning rod: A device placed on buildings, ships, and other structures to protect them from the effects of electrical discharges produced in the atmosphere.

Wall: A nonstructural wall. A construction element used to enclose spaces.

Handrail: A safety element installed on railings or on walls bordering a stairway or corridor to support users as they travel along them. In some instances, it is referred to as a railing.

Main aisles: In supermarkets, the aisles into which traffic from the secondary aisles converges. In general, they run perpendicular to the product shelves, although shelving may extend along the full length of one side.

Secondary aisles: In supermarkets, the aisles that run parallel to product shelves and connect to the other secondary aisles and to the supermarket exits through the main aisles.

Pavement: A surface layer of concrete or asphalt designed to withstand the stresses produced by traffic and provide it with an adequate travel surface.

Percolation: The process by which water moves through porous layers of soil. Percolation tests are identified in the CFIA Código de Instalaciones Hidráulicas y Sanitarias en Edificaciones as filtration tests.

Construction permit or construction license: Authorization granted by the Municipalidad de Santa Ana for the execution of permanent or provisional works in the canton, provided that they meet the requirements established in the Regulatory Plan.

Property owner: A natural or legal person who exercises ownership rights over real property, generally established through a public instrument.

Habitable rooms: Rooms intended as living rooms, offices, studies, kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms, and laundry rooms.

Non-habitable rooms: Rooms intended as warehouses, garages, and corridors.

Swimming pool: A set of one or more artificially constructed basins containing a volume of water and ancillary facilities such as a mechanical-equipment room, changing rooms, showers, and everything related to its use and proper operation, intended for recreational bathing, swimming, and other aquatic exercise or sports. Hot tubs located inside dwelling houses are excluded. The applicable conditions are established in Reglamento sobre Manejo de Piscinas, Decreto N.º 35309-S, and in

Floor: A level platform serving as the ground surface and bounded by horizontal planes. The floor at ground level is called the first floor; a one-story building is one having a single floor. In a multi-story building, a floor is understood as the set of rooms bounded by defined horizontal planes.

First floor: The first level of a building immediately above the official floor level. It is generally the level through which the building is entered.

Owner (propietario): A natural or legal person who holds title to real property, generally established through a public deed.

Outdoor advertising (publicidad exterior): Any communication element that conveys information by means of text, inscriptions, drawings, photographs, signs, installations, and other forms of communication, whether permanent or temporary, fixed or mobile, that is displayed or visible from public-use roads and spaces, whether pedestrian or vehicular, on land, in the air, or on water.

Commercial kiosk (quiosco comercial): A small structure used for commercial purposes and installed in areas through which pedestrians pass.

Ramp (rampa): A means of vertical circulation consisting of an inclined plane that facilitates passage for all types of persons and the transport of furniture or other items.

Fill (relleno): A mass of heterogeneous material, predominantly soil, compacted and raised above the original ground level.

Repair (reparación): The renovation of any part of a work to restore it to a condition equal to or better than its original condition.

Plastering (repello): The application of cement, lime, or similar mortar to a wall to improve its surface for aesthetic or protective purposes.

Setback (retiro): An open, unbuilt space between a structure and the boundaries of the respective lot.

Front setback or front yard (retiro frontal o antejardín): An open space on which habitable infrastructure may not be built, located between the front boundary of the lot and the nearest part of the physical structure or construction.

Risk (riesgo): The contingency or probability of an accident, damage, or harm.

Semi-basement (semisótano): A space in a building that is partially below ground level and may be ventilated and illuminated directly and naturally.

Easement (servidumbre): A real right over the property of another that entails authority over a parcel of land for its partial use in some respect. Because an easement constitutes an encumbrance on a property, it remains part of that property, and its owner may perform all acts compatible with the easement’s existence and exercise.

Air-extraction system (sistema de extracción de aire): A ventilation system that removes stale air from within a site and discharges it outside.

Air-supply system (sistema de inyección de aire): A ventilation system that draws fresh air from the atmosphere and introduces it into a site. The air is generally treated or filtered before being conveyed inside.

Public assembly site (sitio de reunión pública): A site at which the specified activities are conducted in accordance with the following uses: recreational swimming-facility use, community use, cultural use types A and B, sports use types 1 and 2, entertainment use, family entertainment use, adult entertainment use, and religious use.

Scour (socavación): The process of progressive erosion of the base of a slope or hillside caused by water or wind.

Basement (sótano): A space in a building located below ground level. Natural means, such as light wells, or artificial means may be used for its illumination and ventilation.

Soil (suelo): Any unconsolidated material composed of different solid particles and containing gases or liquids. In construction, the term normally applies to the ground supporting the works.

Superblock (supercuadra): An urban area formed by city blocks and surrounded by major roads that facilitate the integration of the city. The external streets forming the superblocks would have greater importance within a hierarchical street structure.

Minimum open area (superficie libre mínima): The area resulting from the difference between the total lot area and the area corresponding to the maximum site-coverage percentage.

Partition (tabique): A thin, non-load-bearing vertical element used as an interior division or exterior enclosure for spaces within a building.

Cut or fill slope (talud): An artificial cut or fill created by machinery on natural land, having an inclination different from that of the original terrain.

Storm (tormenta): An extreme rainfall event characterized by large amounts of precipitation over relatively short periods.

Public transportation (transporte público): Transportation systems that operate on fixed routes and predetermined schedules and may be used by anyone in exchange for payment of a previously established fare.

Loophole window (tronera): A small, narrow window.

Urban development (urbanización): The subdivision (fraccionamiento) and improvement of land for residential purposes through the opening of streets and provision of services, under which the developer is required to transfer a certain portion of land to the Municipalidad for public use.

Recreational swimming-facility use (uso balneario): A use encompassing recreational complexes containing swimming pools and all related facilities necessary to provide this entertainment service, for which an admission fee is charged.

Community use (uso comunal): A use relating to facilities in which activities intended for the enjoyment and benefit of community members or residents are conducted.

Commercial use type A (uso comercial tipo A): A use grouping the commercial activities with the greatest impacts and that generate vehicle traffic and noise. In most cases, they require large construction areas and loading and unloading areas because they handle large volumes of goods. Activities within this category are: automotive customization centers, hardware stores, supermarkets, shopping centers, vehicle sales, agricultural machinery sales, and material-storage facilities.

Commercial use type B (uso comercial tipo B): A use grouping activities involving the sale of products that do not require large construction areas but that, compared with commercial uses type C, create nuisances in the neighborhoods where they are located. Examples of activities within this category include: mini-markets, clothing stores, appliance and/or furniture sales, vehicle-parts sales, pawnshops and businesses that buy and sell goods, butcher shops, fish markets, handicraft shops, florists, jewelry stores, liquor stores, furniture stores, restaurants, bars, music sales, pottery sales and production, computer-equipment sales, and artisanal workshops. The latter include workshops for artisanal practices that require little land for their activities and are generally operated on the same property as the artisans’ residence.

Commercial use type C (uso comercial tipo C): A use grouping activities involving the retail sale of products that, because of their manner of operation, the space they require, and the volume of merchandise they handle, create a low impact. Examples of activities within this category include: variety stores, locksmith shops, ice-cream shops, retail perfume sales, bakeries, neighborhood convenience stores, bakeries, pharmacies, produce stores, bookstores, photocopy shops, framing shops, and sodas.

Cultural use (uso cultural): Activities dedicated to promoting culture among the public. They may or may not be conducted for profit. They are classified as follows:

• Cultural A: Includes libraries, information kiosks; museums or centers exhibiting artistic, scientific, or historical objects; cultural centers; and libraries. It also includes art galleries where artistic objects are sold.

• Cultural B: Corresponds to sites dedicated to presenting artistic, cultural, and folkloric activities in any discipline, such as amphitheaters, theaters, and concert halls. Activities conducted at these sites are characterized by generating large gatherings of people at specific times.

Sports use (uso deportivo): A use grouping facilities for practicing a sport or similar activity. It is classified as follows:

• Sports Type 1: A use grouping all facilities for practicing a sport or similar activity. Activities within this category are: stadiums, multisport facilities, sports complexes, and cycling tracks.

• Sports Type 2: A use grouping facilities whose infrastructure and space requirements are smaller than those of Type 1. Activities within this category are: sports courts and fields, physical-fitness gyms, and sports gyms.

Advanced educational use (uso educacional avanzado): A use encompassing all teaching activities for training professionals in the various fields of human knowledge and activities dedicated to research. It is classified as follows:

• Higher Education Institutions: A use encompassing all institutions that provide academic preparation for training professionals or technicians in various fields. This includes universities and para-university institutions.

• Scientific Research Centers: A use intended for scientific and research activities, whether public or private.

Basic educational use (uso educacional básico): A use encompassing all activities that provide academic preparation for students at the preschool, primary, and secondary levels.

Entertainment use (uso entretenimiento): A use that includes recreational activities that, because of their impacts, must be conducted outside urban areas. Activities within this category are: country clubs, retreat camps, amusement parks, and theme parks.

Family entertainment use (uso entretenimiento familiar): A use under which recreational activities for all types of audiences and all ages are classified. Activities within this category are: cinemas, video-game arcades, children’s and youth game rooms, permanent bullrings, event halls, dance halls, roller-skating rinks, bowling alleys, social clubs, training and retreat centers, and pool and billiard halls.

Adult entertainment use (uso entretenimiento adultos): A use encompassing activities characterized as suitable only for adults and that include the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. This category includes nightclubs offering striptease performances.

Residential use (uso habitacional): A use for permanent habitation, with the minimum facilities necessary for that purpose. This includes housing, apartments not subject to a condominium regime, urban developments, and residential condominiums.

Industrial use (uso industrial): A use that includes any industrial activity carried out in covered or uncovered premises intended for the handling, processing, or use of raw materials or semi-finished products, whether natural or artificial, through physical, chemical, or biological treatment, either manually or through the use of machinery or instruments. This designation also includes sites intended to receive or store work implements and materials that are treated, are undergoing processing, or are finished products, as well as all ancillary facilities of factories or workshops and the warehouses required for their operation. These activities are classified pursuant to the Reglamento General para el Otorgamiento de permisos Sanitarios de Funcionamiento del Ministerio de Salud:

• Industry type A: A use that includes activities or establishments that, because of their characteristics, permanently represent or may represent a potential risk to human health or the environment, whether due to their nature; raw materials; intermediate or finished products; storage; machinery, equipment, and systems used in the work; processes; waste; number of workers or animals; or the extent or coverage of their areas.

• Industry B: A use that includes establishments or activities presenting a moderate risk, meaning those that, because of their characteristics, represent a moderate potential danger to human health or the environment, whether due to their nature; raw materials; intermediate or finished products; storage; machinery, equipment, and systems used in their work; processes; waste; number of workers or animals; or the extent or coverage of their areas.

• Industrial C: A use that includes low-risk establishments or activities, meaning those that, because of their characteristics, raw materials, processes, products, and services, do not represent a significant threat to human health and have a low environmental impact.

Religious use (uso religioso): A use encompassing all activities intended for religious worship and/or the performance of religious rituals. This category includes places of religious worship, convents and seminaries, funeral chapels with or without funeral homes, and crematoria.

Basic healthcare (salud básico): A use encompassing all activities intended to provide first aid and treatment for illnesses or specialized care, such as EBAIS and gerontological centers.

Advanced healthcare (salud avanzado): A use that includes activities involving specialized patient care, patient recovery, or inpatient admission, such as hospitals, clinics, clinical laboratories, rehabilitation centers, aesthetic centers (spas), and clinic-hotels.

Services Type A (servicios tipo A): A use encompassing activities intended to provide basic first-response services to the community. Activities within this category are: fire stations, Cruz Roja facilities, police stations, and day centers.

Services Type B (servicios tipo B): A use encompassing activities intended to provide basic services to the community and characterized by minimal impacts and nuisances to neighbors. Activities within this category are: professional offices, hair salons or beauty salons, movie rentals, clothing or footwear repair, automated teller machines, Internet cafés, tattoo parlors, photography studios, laundries, tailor shops, financial agencies for money transfers and currency exchange, brokerage firms, office centers, and travel agencies.

Tank (tanque): An elevated or underground container for storing a liquid other than flammable or corrosive materials or another type of hazardous substance.

Telecommunications use (uso telecomunicaciones): A use grouping all infrastructure used for telecommunications. It is subdivided into the following two categories according to its potential impacts:

Transportation use (uso transportes): A use encompassing all activities related to transportation services in general. It is divided into the following categories:

• Transportation Type 1: Activities that provide services to motor vehicles, including public transportation: parking facilities for light vehicles, bus terminals, car washes, and public or private fuel-dispensing facilities. In the case of fuel-dispensing facilities, their location shall also be subject to the provisions of the Reglamento del suministro de combustibles en estaciones de servicio, approved by Decreto Ejecutivo N° 43449 of 27 April 2022, and its amendments.

Transportation Type 2: Activities that, because of their average size and type of activity, must be conducted in specific, centralized areas, including:

Bus parking facilities and heavy-vehicle parking facilities. A use encompassing all activities related to transportation services in general, such as vehicle parking facilities, bus terminals, car washes, and public or private fuel-dispensing facilities. In the case of fuel-dispensing facilities, their location shall also be subject to the rules contained in the Reglamento del suministro de combustibles en estaciones de servicio, approved by Decreto Ejecutivo N° 43449 of 27 April 2022.

Wall opening (vano): An opening in a wall intended to illuminate or ventilate a space. Generally, the location where a door or window is installed.

Window (ventana): An opening in the wall of a room that provides ventilation, illumination, and a view.

Mechanical ventilation (ventilación mecánica): A controlled air-renewal procedure in which negative or positive pressure is artificially created in air-distribution ducts or areas of a building by means of electromechanical components and devices. It is also known as forced ventilation.

Natural ventilation (ventilación natural): An air-renewal procedure achieved through the appropriate placement of surfaces, passageways, or ducts by using the negative or positive pressure created at a site by wind, humidity, sunlight, thermal air convection, or any other phenomenon, without the need to supply mechanical energy to the system.

Natural cross-ventilation (ventilación natural cruzada): Occurs primarily when a site’s openings are located on different, though not necessarily opposite, façades, promoting air movement at body level so that heat is dissipated through convection and evaporation.

Road (vía): Any publicly owned land in common use that, by administrative decision, is designated for unrestricted travel in accordance with the Ley General de Caminos Públicos, N.º 5060, and its amendments. In some cases, it is referred to as a public road.

Joist (vigueta): A smaller beam designed to support loads generated by floors or roofs.

Dwelling (vivienda): Any fixed or mobile premises or enclosure that is built, converted, or arranged for the permanent or temporary accommodation of persons. It is also known as a housing unit.

Shell dwelling (vivienda cascarón): A utility core and exterior walls.

Social-interest housing (vivienda de interés social): Housing subsidized wholly or partially by the State whose beneficiaries are low-income sectors of the population.

Progressive housing (vivienda progresiva): Any housing unit that begins as a lot with minimum services and evolves over time into a complete dwelling.

Fault-scarp zones (zonas de escarpe de fallas): A zone exhibiting a morphological feature on the Earth’s surface produced by displacement along a fault. These are rectilinear landforms across which the topography changes abruptly.

The following acronyms are established for the application of these Regulations:

ACOPAC: Área de Conservación Pacífico Central (Central Pacific Conservation Area).

ARESEP: Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Public Services Regulatory Authority).

ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

CFIA: Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos de Costa Rica (Federated Association of Engineers and Architects of Costa Rica).

CNE: Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Response).

DIEE: Dirección de Infraestructura y Equipamiento Educativo del Ministerio de Educación Pública de Costa Rica (Directorate of Educational Infrastructure and Equipment of the Ministerio de Educación Pública de Costa Rica).

DGAC: Dirección General de Aviación Civil (General Directorate of Civil Aviation).

ICAA: Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewerage). It is sometimes referred to as AyA.

ICE: Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (Costa Rican Electricity Institute).

ICODER: Instituto Costarricense del Deporte y la Recreación (Costa Rican Institute of Sports and Recreation).

INS: Instituto Nacional de Seguros (National Insurance Institute).

INTECO: Instituto de Normas Técnicas de Costa Rica (Costa Rican Institute of Technical Standards).

IMN: Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (National Meteorological Institute).

INVU: Instituto Nacional de Vivienda y Urbanismo (National Institute of Housing and Urban Development). In some cases, it is referred to simply as the Institute.

MAG: Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock).

MEIC: Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio (Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce).

MEP: Ministerio de Educación Pública (Ministry of Public Education).

MINAE: Ministerio del Ambiente y Energía (Ministry of Environment and Energy).

MINSA: Ministerio de Salud (Ministry of Health).

MIVAH: Ministerio de Vivienda y Asentamientos Humanos (Ministry of Housing and Human Settlements).

MOPT: Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (Ministry of Public Works and Transportation).

MTSS: Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (Ministry of Labor and Social Security).

NFPA: Asociación Nacional de Protección Contra Incendios de los Estados Unidos de América, as abbreviated in English (National Fire Protection Association).

OACI: Organización de Aviación Civil Internacional (International Civil Aviation Organization).

SENASA: Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (National Animal Health Service).

SINAC: Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (National System of Conservation Areas).

Specific Considerations

Regulations

Every building shall be located where the applicable use or uses are permitted. It shall be subject to prior approval by the Municipalidad through the issuance of a certificate of compliant land use (certificado del uso del suelo conforme), in compliance with the zoning and permitted uses governed by the Zoning Regulations of this Regulatory Plan.

With respect to site coverage, the provisions established in the Zoning Regulations of the Plan Regulador Cantonal de Santa Ana shall be complied with.

The maximum building heights shall be those permitted by the Zoning Regulations of the Plan Regulador Cantonal de Santa Ana.

With respect to the setbacks required on a particular parcel of land, the provisions established in the Zoning Regulations of this Regulatory Plan shall be complied with.

With respect to the regulations applicable to opening windows toward the neighboring lot, the corresponding regulations on side setbacks included in both the Zoning Regulations and the Subdivision, Urban Developments, and Condominiums Regulations of this Regulatory Plan shall apply, as appropriate.

When two or more owners establish a reciprocal easement or exceptional access to form common light or ventilation courts, each shall individually comply with the minimum site-coverage requirements specified in the Zoning Regulations of this Regulatory Plan.

When the owner of a building or lot considers their property threatened by the existence of another building, lot, or construction project due to earthquakes, winds, landslides, stormwater discharge, wastewater discharge, or other causes, the owner may file a complaint with the Municipalidad, which shall conduct an inspection and issue a decision on the matter. If it considers technical studies necessary, it may request advice from other institutions as appropriate, in accordance with their respective authority.

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Specific Considerations

These measures will reduce the consequences of fire for the structure and minimize the possibility of loss of life.

Regulations

The regulations established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos concerning prevention, life safety, and fire protection are mandatory for every construction project, existing building, or any site, whether temporary or permanent. All standards issued by that body shall be observed, particularly those concerning installations, buildings, civil works, or industrial plants, as established in the Reglamento Nacional de Protección contra incendios, as amended, or any regulations replacing it.

In addition, the measures established in the Reglamento del suministro de combustibles en estaciones de servicio, approved by Decreto Ejecutivo N° 43449 of 27 April 2022, as amended, or any regulations replacing it, shall be observed.

Every building shall be classified by occupancy type in accordance with the provisions of the Cuerpo de Bomberos established in the Reglamento Nacional de Protección contra incendios. Based on the resulting occupancy type, each building shall comply with the technical requirements concerning life safety and fire protection.

For purposes of determining equivalencies between the occupancies and uses set forth in the Regulatory Plan, the Cuerpo de Bomberos shall be consulted.

If there are 2 or more occupancies within the same building or structure, it shall be classified as multiple occupancy as follows:

• a)Multiple occupancy
• b)Mixed multiple occupancy
• c)Separated multiple occupancy

Each component of the means of egress (medios de egreso) shall comply with the provisions of the Cuerpo de Bomberos. In addition, they shall be located so as to be accessible at all times; when this provision is not met, continuous passageways, aisles, or corridors shall lead to no fewer than 2 exits by separate routes.

When more than 1 means of egress is required, all of their components shall be located apart from one another and arranged to minimize the possibility that more than one will be blocked by fire or another emergency condition.

The following provisions shall also be complied with:

• a)Exit access shall be arranged so that it is unnecessary to pass through any hazardous area. It shall not contain dead-end corridors unless they do not exceed the limit specified by the Cuerpo de Bomberos 40 Instituto Nacional de Vivienda y Urbanismo
• b)Exit-access corridors shall provide access to no fewer than 2 exits without passing through any intermediate room other than corridors, vestibules, and other spaces opening onto the corridor
• c)Where common paths of travel are permitted, they shall not exceed the limit specified by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

In buildings fully protected by an approved and supervised automatic sprinkler system, the minimum separation between each component of the means of egress shall not be less than one-third of the length of the maximum diagonal dimension of the building or area served.

When 2 means of egress are required in a building, their parts shall be located at a distance from one another of no less than one-half the length of the maximum diagonal dimension of the building or area served, measured in a straight line between the nearest edges of the exits, exit accesses, or exit discharges.

All means of egress shall be fire-resistant in accordance with the specifications issued by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

In addition, exits, exit enclosures, and stair enclosures shall be separated from the building by fire-resistance-rated walls. No openings or penetrations shall be created between the building and the exit enclosures. Interior finishes within exit enclosures shall also be noncombustible.

Walking surfaces of means of egress that, in the judgment of the responsible professional, may present conditions rendering them slippery shall have a fire-resistant, slip-resistant surface.

When there is a difference in level greater than 0,50 m, the change in level shall be addressed by means of a ramp or stairway that complies with the characteristics established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

The width shall be calculated in accordance with the regulations established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos and shall not be less than 0,90 m. The required width of the means of egress shall remain the same throughout the route.

Exit-access doors serving a room not exceeding 6,50 m² and not required to be accessible to persons with mobility impairments shall have a door-leaf width of no less than 0,61 m.

Without prejudice to the requirements established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos, doors in means of egress shall comply with the following provisions:

• a)They shall be side-hinged or pivoted-swinging doors
• b)They shall open in the direction of egress travel when serving a room or area with an occupant load of 50 persons or more
• c)When any door in a means of egress is opened, at least one-half of the required aisle width shall remain unobstructed
• d)The doors shall be arranged so that they can be opened easily from the egress side whenever the building is occupied.

If locks are installed, operation from the egress side shall not require keys, tools, special knowledge, or special effort.

If the doors serve an occupant load of more than 100 persons or high-hazard occupancies, they shall have panic hardware or fire-exit hardware, which shall comply with the requirements established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

Without prejudice to the requirements established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos, stairway means of egress shall be permanent fixed construction; each stairway, platform, and landing shall be made of noncombustible material.

Stairways shall have landings at door openings. Stair treads and landings shall be solid, without perforations, and free of projections or edges that could cause users to trip.

In addition, stairways and intermediate landings shall continue without any reduction in width along the direction of egress travel.

Each landing shall have a dimension, measured in the direction of travel, that is no less than the width of the stairway.

Spiral stairways and winder stairways shall not be used unless specifically permitted for individual occupancies by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

To establish the minimum width, which shall be free of all obstructions, the total occupant load on all floors served by the stairway shall be considered as follows:

• a)Load of fewer than 50 persons: 0,91 m
• b)Load of more than 50 persons but fewer than 2000: 1,12 m
• c)Load of more than 2000 persons: 1,42 m The occupant load assigned to a stairway shall be proportional to the building’s total occupant load, as stipulated in the regulations of the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

Without prejudice to the provisions concerning stairway means of egress in this Chapter, all interior stairways serving as an exit or exit component shall have an enclosure and be protected in accordance with the requirements established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

The use of empty spaces within a stairway enclosure for purposes such as electromechanical ducts, storage, cleaning areas, and other uses is prohibited.

Open space within the exit enclosure shall not be used for purposes that could interfere with egress.

Without prejudice to the provisions concerning stairway means of egress in this Chapter, exterior stairways shall comply with the following requirements:

• a)Exterior stairways more than 11,00 m high shall be provided with an opaque visual obstruction no less than 1,22 m high
• b)They shall be separated from the building interior by fire-resistance-rated construction and shall have self-closing doors
• c)Exterior stairways and landings shall be designed to minimize the accumulation of water on their surfaces
• d)They shall be at least 50% open on one side
• e)They shall be arranged to restrict the accumulation of smoke

Without prejudice to the provisions of the Cuerpo de Bomberos, whenever guardrails are provided, they shall comply with the following requirements:

• a)They shall have a minimum height of 1,07 m, measured from the floor surface
• b)The design shall not allow projections that could catch on users’ clothing Changes in level along means of egress where there is a possibility of falling more than 0,75 m shall always have guardrails.

Without prejudice to the provisions of the Cuerpo de Bomberos, handrails shall comply with the following requirements:

• a)They shall always be installed on both sides of stairways and ramps
• b)They shall have a minimum height of 0,90 m, measured from the floor surface
• c)The ends of handrails shall turn toward the wall or floor or shall terminate at posts
• d)They shall be continuous along the entire length of the route

When means of egress include horizontal exits, the fire barriers separating areas of buildings shall have a 2-hour fire-resistance rating and shall provide separation that is continuous to the floor, without prejudice to any other requirements established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

Ramps shall have landings at the upper end, lower end, and at doors opening onto the ramp; each landing shall have a length of no less than 1,50 m in the direction of travel. Any change in the direction of travel shall occur only at landings. Exterior ramps and landings shall be designed to minimize the accumulation of water on their surfaces.

The foregoing is without prejudice to the provisions of the Ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades para las personas con Discapacidad, Nº 7600, its Regulations, Decreto Ejecutivo N°26831, and their amendments or any regulations replacing them.

The total capacity of the means of egress from any floor, balcony, tier, or other occupied space shall be sufficient for its occupant load.

To calculate their capacity in any building or part thereof, the provisions of the Cuerpo de Bomberos shall be observed.

There shall be 2 means of egress from any balcony, mezzanine, floor, or section thereof. As an exception, a single means of egress may be provided when the requirements established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos for the applicable occupancy are fully met and its approval is obtained.

The minimum number of means of egress from any floor or portion thereof depends on the occupant load and shall be calculated as follows:

• a)For an occupant load greater than 500 persons but not greater than 1000, the number shall be 3
• b)For an occupant load greater than 1000 persons, the number shall be 4

The minimum width of means of egress shall be calculated according to the building’s occupant load, as established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos in its applicable current regulations on the subject.

Without prejudice to the requirements established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos, the travel distance shall be less than the maximum permitted for each applicable occupancy.

If corridors are dead ends, the distance shall be less than the maximum permitted for each applicable occupancy.

The travel distance to an exit shall be measured over the floor or other walking surface along the centerline of the natural path of travel, beginning at the most remote occupiable point and ending at the center of the exit-door opening.

The common travel distance shall be measured to the portion of the exit access that must be traversed before distinct and separate paths to two exits become available.

All exits shall terminate directly at a public road or at an exterior exit discharge. Where stairways continue more than one-half story beyond the exit-discharge level, they shall be interrupted at the exit-discharge level.

Exit accesses and exit doors shall be designed and arranged so that they are clearly recognizable.

Exit access shall under no circumstances pass through kitchens, storage rooms, bathrooms, workrooms, closets, bedrooms, or similar spaces, or through other rooms or spaces that may be locked, unless passage through such rooms or spaces is permitted for the occupancy by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

Means of egress must include accessible areas of refuge for persons with mobility impairments. The number of accessible areas of refuge and their construction characteristics must be those established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos in its applicable regulations on the subject.

Article Record 46

Without prejudice to the provisions established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos regarding compartmentation, all buildings must be divided into compartments to limit the spread of fire and restrict the movement of smoke. The following compartmentation requirements must be met:

• a)In buildings where spaces are subdivided for different uses, the division between each space must be provided by fire partitions having a fire-resistance rating of at least 1 hour.
• b)Where separate occupancies are provided, each part of the building comprising a distinct occupancy must be completely separated from other occupancies by fire-resistant assemblies; otherwise, it is considered a mixed occupancy.

Article Record 47

Fire barriers used to provide enclosure, subdivision, or protection, whether by means of walls, doors, or windows, are categorized according to the following classifications:

• a)Fire-resistance rating of 3 hours
• b)Fire-resistance rating of 2 hours
• c)Fire-resistance rating of 1 hour
• d)Fire-resistance rating of ½ hour The materials used for walls, doors, windows, assemblies, and fire-resistance systems must comply with the requirements established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

Article Record 48

Without prejudice to the provisions established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos, smoke barriers must be used to subdivide spaces within a building in order to restrict the movement of smoke. They must meet the following requirements:

• a)They must be continuous from one exterior wall to another exterior wall, from floor to floor, from one smoke barrier to another smoke barrier, or through a combination of these conditions.
• b)They must be continuous through all concealed spaces, such as those located above a ceiling.

Article Record 49

Openings through floors must be enclosed by walls constituting fire barriers that are continuous from floor to floor or from floor to roof.

Article Record 50

Without prejudice to the provisions established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos, any concealed space between the ceiling and the floor or roof deck above must have barriers against smoke dispersion extending through the full depth of the space along the support line of the structural floor or roof elements.

Article Record 51

Areas requiring special hazard protection include, but are not limited to, those used to store combustible or flammable products, areas containing heat-producing appliances, areas used for maintenance, boiler rooms, furnace rooms, transformers, equipment posing an explosion hazard, and other areas or spaces deemed hazardous by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

Any area that, in the judgment of the responsible professional, presents a higher degree of risk than that considered normal for the general occupancy of a building or structure must be protected in one of the following ways:

• a)By enclosing the area with a windowless fire barrier having a fire-resistance rating of 2 hours; or
• b)By protecting the area with automatic extinguishing systems and an enclosure having a fire-resistance rating of 1 hour.

Article Record 52

Structural and nonstructural elements of buildings, such as load-bearing exterior walls, load-bearing interior walls, columns, beams, joists, arches, structures, floors, intermediate floors, and roofs, must be fire-resistant in accordance with the specifications of the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

When fire resistance is required for intermediate floors, it must encompass the entire assembly of beams, joists, blocks, concrete slabs, and other components used.

Article Record 53

Without prejudice to the provisions of the Cuerpo de Bomberos, emergency lighting is required according to the activities conducted in each building and must be installed along corridors, approaches to emergency exits, stairs, stair discharge areas, and other means of egress. It must also comply with the following provisions:

• a)Lighting must be provided either by self-contained battery-powered emergency lamps or by the building’s ordinary light fixtures when equipped with emergency ballasts.
• b)Exit enclosures must be provided with a permanent primary lighting system that enables occupants to find their way while evacuating the building.
• c)Permanent lighting in exit enclosures must remain continuous for as long as the occupancy conditions require the means of egress to be available.
• d)Automatic motion-sensor lighting switches are permitted, provided that the switch controllers are equipped for fail-safe operation. Lighting timers must be set for a minimum duration of 15 minutes, and the motion sensor must be activated by the passage of any occupant through the area served by the lighting units.

Article Record 54

Signage must comply with the Reglamento Técnico RTCR 285:1997 Seguridad contra Incendios, Señalización de Seguridad Vías de Evacuación [Technical Regulation RTCR 285:1997 Fire Safety, Safety Signage for Evacuation Routes], Decreto Ejecutivo N°26532-MP-MEIC, and the Reglamento Técnico RTCR 292:1997 Seguridad contra incendios, Señalización [Technical Regulation RTCR 292:1997 Fire Safety, Signage], Decreto Ejecutivo, N°26204- MEIC, and their amendments or any regulations replacing them.

In addition, signage must direct occupants to the nearest exit and must be placed along the evacuation route, corridors, approaches to emergency exits, stairs, stair discharge areas, or other means of egress. Doors, corridors, or stairs that do not lead to an exit must be marked with a sign stating “Not an Exit.” Enclosed stairs serving 5 or more floors must have special signage within the enclosure at the landing of each floor, as established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

All of the foregoing is without prejudice to the requirements of the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

Article Record 55

Without prejudice to the regulations established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos, fire detection and alarm systems must comply with the following provisions:

• a)They must be activated by automatic smoke, heat, or flame detectors; manual stations; or automatic sprinkler systems.
• b)They must comply with the CECR.
• c)They must have third-party certification and be approved for the purpose for which they are installed.

Article Record 56

The fire-alarm panel, alarm indicators, and manual communication capabilities must be installed in an accessible and supervised location approved by the Cuerpo de Bomberos, such as the main lobby, security room, or monitoring room.

The plans must show the location of all elements of the system to be installed on a floor-layout plan, and those components and their characteristics must be included in a legend table. The plans must also include a system installation diagram showing all required components.

Article Record 57

All matters relating to portable fire extinguishers must comply with the standards Extintores Portátiles contra el Fuego [Portable Fire Extinguishers], Decreto Ejecutivo N°25986-MEIC-MTSS, and Procedimiento para el mantenimiento y recarga de los extintores portátiles [Procedure for Maintaining and Recharging Portable Fire Extinguishers], Decreto Ejecutivo N°25985-MEIC-MTSS, and their amendments or any regulations replacing them, without prejudice to the provisions established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos on the subject.

Article Record 58

Fixed fire-protection systems must be installed according to the building’s type of occupancy and the provisions established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos. Every fixed system must have construction documents and plans reviewed by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

Article Record 59

When a firefighting water supply is required, it must be provided by a third-party-certified fire pump and must comply with the requirements of the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

If the fire pump is powered by an electric motor, it must have a backup electric generator with a dedicated electrical transfer switch for its use.

Article Record 60

Without prejudice to the regulations established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos, the mechanical room for a fixed fire-protection system must comply with the following provisions:

• a)It must be separated from buildings by 15,00 m.
• b)It must be protected by automatic sprinklers.
• c)The mechanical room may be located less than 15,00 m from buildings, provided that a fire barrier having a fire-resistance rating of 2 hours is installed between the mechanical room and the building.

Article Record 61

It must be sufficient to supply the greater of the following 2 values:

• a)The rated flow of the fire pump for at least 30 minutes.
• b)The duration required for the firefighting water supply applicable to the project.

Article Record 62

When the water tank is shared for production processes, human consumption, and use in the event of a fire, the pump intakes must be installed at different heights so that the water reserve for use in the event of a fire is always available and cannot be used for the building’s normal processes or services.

Article Record 63

Fire-protection system piping must be installed in accordance with the standards established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos. All fittings installed in fire-protection piping, such as valves, elbows, or couplings, must be listed for use in fire-protection systems.

When piping is buried, it must comply with the manufacturing standards established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos. Other types of piping are permitted, provided that they are listed for use in fire-protection systems.

Article Record 64

Every fixed fire-protection system must have design calculations containing the information established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

Article Record 65

Fire hydrants must comply with the law called Declaratoria del Servicio de Hidrantes como Servicio Público y Reforma de Leyes Conexas [Declaration of Fire-Hydrant Service as a Public Service and Amendment of Related Laws], Nº 8641, and its regulations, Decreto Ejecutivo Nº 35206-MP-MINAET, and their amendments or any regulations replacing them, as well as with the provisions established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

Fire hydrants must be certified by a laboratory recognized by the ECA or by another internationally recognized accreditation body for product-certification bodies.

Article Record 66

A fire hydrant connected to the public network is mandatory in the following cases:

• a)A building or group of buildings with a construction area greater than or equal to 2000 m².
• b)A residential building organized as a horizontal condominium, commercial or industrial development, container yard, residential development, or other infrastructure project with a constructed area exceeding 2000 m².
• c)Every service station; in this case, the hydrant must be set back at least 50,00 m from the building.

Article Record 67

The fire-hydrant supply network must comply with the provisions of the Cuerpo de Bomberos. The connection between the hydrant and the potable-water piping network must not contain reductions that restrict the unobstructed nominal diameter to less than the diameter of the pipe supplying the hydrant.

Existing networks may be supplied by pipes having nominal diameters equal to or greater than 0,10 m; new piping networks supplying fire hydrants must have a nominal diameter of no less than 0,15 m.

Fire hydrants must provide the flow rates and pressures specified by the Cuerpo de Bomberos. When there is no potable-water network with a minimum nominal diameter of 0,10 m, or the water-supply system cannot provide the required flow rate, a water-storage tank must be built and a suction hydrant or direct intake from the tank must be installed in accordance with the provisions established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

Article Record 68

Fire hydrants must be installed so that they are highly visible and unobstructed. They must not be placed on curves, at corners, or in locations where they may be struck by a vehicle, nor may they obstruct access to residences, garages, or pedestrian walkways. The following requirements must be met when installing a fire hydrant:

• a)The area adjacent to the fire hydrants must allow a turning radius of 15,00 m and support a vehicle weight of 35 tonnes.
• b)They must be installed at least 10,00 m from corners.
• c)Necessary measures must be taken to protect them against vehicle impacts.
• d)The linear distance between fire hydrants must not exceed 180,00 m, measured along the route at the centerline level of the street.
• e)They must be located at least 5,00 m from parking spaces or other obstacles.

For residential buildings organized as horizontal condominiums, residential developments, and infrastructure works having a constructed area greater than 2000 m², a fire hydrant must be placed on the roadway at the main vehicular entrance.

The Cuerpo de Bomberos may require additional fire hydrants or establish such exceptions regarding hydrant location as it deems necessary, based on a technical study considering variables such as the population to be protected, building characteristics, the area’s fire history, characteristics of existing resources, reliability of water sources, and other risk factors.

Article Record 69

LPG systems and their piping must comply with the requirements of the Reglamento para el Diseño, Construcción y Operación de Plantas de Almacenamiento y Envasado para GLP [Regulations for the Design, Construction, and Operation of LPG Storage and Bottling Plants], Decreto Ejecutivo N°28622, and its amendments or any regulations replacing it, as well as the requirements established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

Without prejudice to the foregoing, the location of LPG containers must comply with the following:

• a)They must be placed outside buildings.
• b)They must be ventilated and protected against vehicle collisions.
• c)They must be located away from means of egress, adjacent containers, buildings, groups of buildings, or adjoining property lines on which construction may take place.
• d)The piping and connections must be made of copper, galvanized iron, or hose certified for use in LPG installations.

The plans must show the location of the LPG cylinders, their maximum gas capacity expressed as water volume, the piping route, the location of gas-using equipment, and the location of detectors and safety devices, as well as a diagram of the leak-detection and control system.

Article Record 70

Without prejudice to the provisions of the Reglamento para el Diseño, Construcción y Operación de Plantas de Almacenamiento y Envasado para GLP [Regulations for the Design, Construction, and Operation of LPG Storage and Bottling Plants], Decreto Ejecutivo N°28622, and its amendments or any regulations replacing it, and the requirements established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos, every installation exceeding 250 gallons of rated water capacity, or where the combined capacity of the individual LPG vessels exceeds that amount, must have a gas-leak detection and control system and a seismic shutoff valve so that the supply is shut off in the event of an earthquake or fire.

LPG installations having an aggregate water capacity of 15,1 m³, equivalent to 4000 gallons, and vessels located on roofs must have a fixed water-spray fire-suppression system.

Article Record 71

Access routes for firefighting vehicles, as well as any device designed to regulate and limit vehicular access to any building, complex, or condominium having internal streets with gatehouses, arches, barrier gates, or decorations that could impede access by Cuerpo de Bomberos vehicles, must comply with the provisions of the Cuerpo de Bomberos.

Plans for Cuerpo de Bomberos vehicle access routes must also be submitted, and access routes for Cuerpo de Bomberos vehicles must be provided for each facility, building, or part of a building.

Article Record 72

These consist of roadways or lanes reserved for fire emergencies, or a combination thereof. Access routes must comply with the following provisions:

• a)They must extend to within 15,00 m of at least one exterior door that can be opened from outside and provides entry into the building.
• b)They must provide easy access to buildings as established by the Cuerpo de Bomberos.
• c)They must have an unobstructed width of no less than 5,00 m.
• d)They must have vertical clearance of no less than 5,00 m.
• e)They must be designed and maintained to support the loads imposed by firefighting vehicles.
• f)They must have a drivable surface that remains passable regardless of weather conditions.
• g)They must support at least 35 tonnes on the drivable surface and, where applicable, on the surface of bridges or slabs.
• h)They must have a minimum outside turning radius of 13,00 m.
• i)Internal streets in front of façades must have a clear width of 6,00 m.
• j)Cuerpo de Bomberos vehicle access routes must be identified, or their obstruction prohibited, by signs or other approved notices.

When the Cuerpo de Bomberos determines that access by a single route could be impaired by vehicle congestion, site conditions, weather conditions, or other factors that might restrict entry and exit, more than one access route for firefighting vehicles must be provided.

If access routes for firefighting vehicles cannot be installed because of the location on the site, topography, waterways, unavailable properties, or other similar conditions, the Cuerpo de Bomberos may require additional fire-protection features.

Article Record 73

Specific Considerations Hydrogeology and Extraction

This factor will constrain the extent of project development in the area, particularly if the water supply for the current and future population is to be guaranteed.

Groundwater Contamination

It is therefore essential that individual or collective wastewater treatment be suited to site conditions and that entities generating special wastewater comply with the Reglamento de Vertido y Reúso de Aguas Residuales [Regulations on Wastewater Discharge and Reuse], Decreto Nº 33601.

Wastewater Management

Landslides

Ordinary rainfall or seismic events may trigger soil movement.

Effect of Land-Use Change

Building coverage areas, parking footprints, streets, sidewalks, roofs, and similar surfaces increase the runoff coefficient compared with the original, unpaved site conditions, and this increase can be quantified.

They are required to build systems for storing and managing excess stormwater in order to guarantee a healthy and ecologically balanced environment.

Stormwater Retention and Storage Systems

The outflow hydrograph under the new land cover must resemble the outflow hydrograph under the previous land cover.

Requiring a retention system on a lot smaller than the minimum size would considerably reduce its effective building footprint.

In addition to receiving stormwater falling on private properties, the Municipality must also collect stormwater falling on communal or public areas, including streets, parks, and green areas.

For example, the Municipality may use these spaces when it must build retention ponds, thereby also serving the landscape interest.

Neither the Programa de Investigación en Desarrollo Urbano Sostenible de la Universidad de Costa Rica nor the Municipalidad de Santa Ana will be liable for misuse of this methodology or for designs that fail to meet the stated expectations. The professional is responsible for deciding whether to apply this methodology to the physical changes present in each project and for managing the safety factors and allowances for studies and projects of this type.

Regulations

All regulations currently in force regarding wastewater must be observed, including the Reglamento de Vertido y Reúso de Aguas Residuales [Regulations on Wastewater Discharge and Reuse], Decreto N° 33601, and its amendments; the Reglamento de Aprobación y Operación de Sistemas de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales [Regulations on the Approval and Operation of Wastewater Treatment Systems], Decreto N° 31545, and its amendments; and all other related regulations.

Article Record 74

When it is not possible to convey wastewater to a sanitary sewer having its respective treatment plant, use of a treatment and disposal system suited to the site’s physical conditions and approved by MINSA or another competent entity is mandatory.

Untreated wastewater may not be mixed with stormwater. Wastewater treatment must also take into account the provisions of the Reglamento de Aprobación de Sistemas de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales [Regulations on the Approval of Wastewater Treatment Systems], Decreto Ejecutivo N°39887-S-MINAE, and its amendments or any regulations replacing it.

Article Record 75

Article Record 76

For every building, percolation tests must be performed together with the building’s preliminary studies. All requirements set forth in the applicable regulations issued by MINSA or any other competent entity, and any amendments thereto, must be met in this regard.

Article Record 77

Where the municipal professional responsible for construction inspections determines that the natural conditions of the land on which the percolation tests submitted in the Declaration were conducted have been substantially altered, that professional must consult the competent institution as to whether a new percolation test is required for the final grades and whether the corresponding design modifications must be made.

Article Record 78

The septic tank and drainage field must be designed in compliance with all current technical regulations on the subject issued by the competent authority. The considerations and instructions in the CFIA Código de Instalaciones Hidráulicas y Sanitarias en Edificaciones [Code for Hydraulic and Sanitary Installations in Buildings] may be used for their design, provided they do not conflict with any mandatory regulations.

Article Record 79

The wastewater treatment system and disposal site must be constructed at the front of the lot, within the front setback, and it is advisable for it to include a connection stub for future disposal of wastewater into a sanitary sewer network having its respective treatment plant. If topographic conditions do not permit the treatment and disposal system to be located at the front of the lot, it may be constructed at another location that is safe for both the building itself and neighboring buildings.

Article Record 80

No construction may be performed over the drainage area into which water from the septic tank is discharged, nor may activities be conducted there that could cause significant soil compaction. A layer of grass and shallow-rooted shrubs that increases the soil’s absorption capacity must be maintained over the drainage field.

Article Record 81

Where the site’s physical conditions permit the use of a septic tank and drainage field for a group of social-interest homes or buildings, but space is available only for construction of the septic tank, a properly designed collective drainage system receiving the wastewater from all septic tanks may be used. For this purpose, the provisions of Chapter 22 of the Reglamento de Fraccionamiento, Urbanizaciones y Condominios [Regulations on Subdivisions, Residential Developments, and Condominiums] of this Regulatory Plan must be observed.

Article Record 82

This is mandatory only for projects located at sites satisfying at least one of the following conditions:

a- The water table is very shallow, in accordance with the regulations mentioned in

b- The soil has a percolation rate outside the range considered suitable for wastewater drainage under the CFIA Código de Instalaciones Hidráulicas y Sanitarias [Code for Hydraulic and Sanitary Installations].

Article Record 83

Article Record 84

Any project that impermeabilizes more than 150 square meters of land must construct a stormwater storage tank, retention pond, infiltration system, or another alternative proposed by the designer. It must be located before the water is discharged into the receiving water body or, alternatively, before it enters the sewer system into which the water is discharged. This system will manage the excess runoff volume generated by the impermeabilized area of the land.

Article Record 85

Every residential development and every type of condominium must construct a temporary storage facility based on the full extent of permitted impermeable cover. This may consist of an individual stormwater retention system for each building or a collective system for the entire impermeabilized area of the residential development or condominium.

Article Record 86

Any collective temporary storage system must be located before the water is discharged into the receiving water body or, alternatively, before it enters the sewer system into which the water is discharged. It must be designed based on the full extent of permitted impermeable cover on the land draining into that retention system. This system will manage the excess runoff volume generated by the impermeabilized area of several lots in a residential development or condominium.

Article Record 87

The design of stormwater retention or attenuation systems must be based on a hydrological analysis that includes determination of the flood hydrograph and its routing to the discharge point. The following factors must be considered:

a- The system must attenuate or retain the excess runoff caused by land impermeabilization. At a minimum, it must attenuate the volume of water falling on the impermeabilized area, corresponding to the difference between the volume of surface water contributed by the impermeabilized land, called the final condition, and the volume of surface water contributed by the same land under the former cover, called the prior condition.

b- In all cases, the professional must assume grassland or meadow conditions as the prior land-use condition for design purposes.

c- The system must be designed for a storm having a 25-year return period. It must, however, be capable of properly attenuating storms having shorter return periods.

d- The method used to determine the flood hydrograph and its hydrological routing is left to the discretion of the professional responsible for sizing the facility. The professional must, however, apply a methodology that permits analysis of unsteady-flow conditions.

e- Methodologies derived from application of the rational method may not be used.

f- As a design example, the responsible professional may use the guide in Anexo 4. That annex also contains all minimum rainfall information necessary for sizing retention tanks or ponds.

Article Record 88

The technical studies and design of stormwater retention systems must be performed by a professional who is duly registered with the appropriate professional association and qualified to prepare hydrological, hydraulic, and civil-works designs.

Article Record 89

The stormwater retention system must be detailed and dimensioned in the project’s construction plans.

Otherwise, the Municipality must not endorse the construction plans.

Article Record 90

The Municipality is required to construct collective temporary storage systems capable of collecting runoff produced at the following sites:

a- Consolidated sectors that existed before this Regulatory Plan entered into force, including neighborhoods, cities, towns, hamlets, public areas, parks, streets, and similar areas.

b- Buildings located on lots smaller than the established minimum subdivision size.

c- Social-interest urban-development projects, such as residential developments and condominiums, that existed before this Regulatory Plan entered into force.

The Municipality need not construct a temporary storage system for each lot, but must collect water from such land through the storm-sewer system and locate solutions capable of delaying or attenuating runoff.

Article Record 91

The rate will be defined by municipal regulation, and social-interest housing will be exempt. The charge must take into account whether the lot has a stormwater retention system so that the rate may be reduced for natural or legal persons who invested in a stormwater retention system.

Article Record 92

If an addition is built that increases the impermeabilized area, the Municipality must ensure that the private party adapts the retention system so that it retains or attenuates the effects of the entire impermeabilized footprint, not merely the new area being added. This condition applies to all buildings, not only those approved after this Regulatory Plan was adopted, because any new infrastructure involved in expanding a project is governed by the regulations currently in force. For design purposes, when the tank is designed for these conditions, the previous land use must be assumed to have been pasture.

Article Record 93

Stored stormwater may be reused within the building for suitable activities such as cleaning, maintenance, irrigation, and toilet tanks, among others. Where this stormwater is reused, it must be ensured that it does not cause health problems for users, in compliance with current MINSA regulations.

Article Record 94

All storm-sewer outlets from buildings in general must be protected against erosion that may be caused by the discharge of water into the river. The sewer should preferably be connected to the river at an angle of 45º, measured relative to the riverbank. The water must fall from a height of less than one meter above the river’s average level to prevent scour of the channel or riverbed. The sewer outlet must not be below the river level during a storm. The point where the water enters the river should preferably be protected by an appropriate system to prevent scour from the falling water.

Article Record 95

Article Record 96

Storm-sewer networks must be located within rights-of-way, through or over public-use areas. Their placement through or over easements (servidumbres) for access, maintenance, and use is permitted only when the easements are duly established as municipal easements on cadastral plans.

Article Record 97

The construction of access ramps to homes or buildings generally that in any way obstruct the free passage of water flowing through roadside gutters is prohibited.

Article Record 98

Specific Considerations

Enforcing these regulations would widen the channel, eliminating canyon effects within it and therefore significantly reducing the water’s velocity; this would reduce the rivers’ sediment-carrying capacity and the scouring of their banks by the current.

Regulations

Construction shall be permitted once the respective permits have been issued by the Municipalidad de Santa Ana, in accordance with Article 658 of these Regulations and taking into consideration the following rules regarding slopes:

a- Construction shall be permitted on land with slopes of less than 15%.

b- If the land has a slope between 15% and 40%, a construction permit may be requested, provided that a soil study is submitted determining that the planned building may be constructed.

c- If the land has slopes equal to or greater than 40%, in addition to the soil study mentioned in the preceding subsection, geotechnical and structural-engineering solutions that ensure the stability and safety of the building shall be submitted.

The setback lines that must be processed in connection with these areas shall be established by the Instituto Nacional de Vivienda y Urbanismo.

The placement of any type of infrastructure shall not be permitted, except in particular cases such as projects declared by the Poder Ejecutivo to be in the national interest, as established in Article 34 of Ley Forestal N°7575, its regulations, and amendments.

They shall also correct any erosion problems affecting that strip.

With regard to Protection Areas, the guidelines established in Ley de Aguas N.º 276, as amended, and in Ley Forestal Nº 7575, its regulations, and amendments shall be followed.

In such case, they shall have the characteristics, equipment, and designated use established in Title V of the Reglamento de Fraccionamientos, Urbanizaciones y Condominios of this Regulatory Plan.

Consideration shall be given to ensuring that at least 50% of the vegetation is native to the area and that the stability of the land is improved rather than adversely affected.

On land where earthworks (movimientos de tierras) are necessary for construction, a plan containing at least the following requirements shall be submitted to the Municipality in order to obtain the construction permit.

a- For cuts:

a.1. Thickness of the organic layer to be removed.

a.2. The slopes of each embankment at the end of construction.

a.3. Summary of the results of the embankment-stability analysis, including the resulting safety factors.

a.4. The location where the removed materials will be deposited and the route to be used for transporting them.

a.5. The water-management and erosion-control system to be used during and after the earthworks: drains, pipes, and similar systems.

b- For fills:

b.1. The material to be used for the fill and its quality.

b.2. The method to be used to compact the fill, as well as the laboratory tests supporting the use of that method.

Otherwise, the Municipality shall prohibit construction until the stability of the land is guaranteed.

It may not be used to form fills on which future construction is planned or where green areas are to be located.

All surfaces not used for construction shall have vegetation cover.

If this requirement is not met, the person in charge of the project shall ensure its immediate collection.

The systems used to ensure the stability and restoration of embankments require the following or similar solutions:

c- Infrastructure: includes walls, channels, horizontal and vertical drains, waterproofing, and similar measures.

d- Bioengineering-based systems.

e- Biotechnical systems, consisting of a combination of the two preceding systems.

Such systems shall be shown on the construction plan.

General Considerations

The available transportation options are diverse and include taxis, public transportation, private vehicles, and commercial and freight vehicles. The system’s operation depends on the proper conduct of all drivers. Transportation demand is directly related to the land use in the areas crossed by roads and public-transportation routes. The survival of the latter also depends on having enough passengers traveling to and from the activities conducted near their stops.

Specific Considerations

Therefore, whenever any type of construction or rehabilitation work is being performed on a property, construction materials and debris shall be placed at a location within that property or on another nearby property with the owner’s authorization, so that public roads and sidewalks are not obstructed.

The provisions of Ley General de Caminos Públicos N°5060, as amended, shall also be taken into consideration.

Article 15 of Ley de Correos N° 7768 and Ley de Creación de la Comisión Nacional de Nomenclatura N°3535, as amended. No private person may alter the signs displaying this official nomenclature.

Regulations

The definition, ownership, and inalienability of public roads; the rights of users and adjoining landowners; and the duration of rights or concessions granted for their use shall be governed, as applicable, by Ley General de Caminos Públicos Nº 5060, Ley de Construcciones Nº 833, Ley General de la Administración Pública Nº 6227, Ley Especial para la Transferencia de Competencias Atención Plena y Exclusiva de la Red Vial Cantonal N°9329 and its Regulations, Decreto Ejecutivo Nº40137- MOPT, Ley de Tránsito por Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial N°9078, this Regulatory Plan, and any other current regulations applicable to the subject.

The Municipality is authorized to place urban-nomenclature and street- and lot-numbering signs on walls. If required, the owner shall leave the necessary space on the façade. In the absence of an official sign, the owner may place the corresponding number at the entrance, using characters that make it clearly visible.

Article 117 TER Record

No modifications or repairs may be made to existing roads without a permit from the Municipality or MOPT, as applicable.

For new construction, sidewalks may not be used for the temporary placement of construction materials. Likewise, pedestrian passage along sidewalks shall not be obstructed, except in the following cases:

a- When the construction process may endanger pedestrians, a temporary protective fence shall be installed and shall encompass the sidewalk.

b- When any construction is being performed on the sidewalk, whether for the placement of street furniture or public utilities, or for rehabilitation of the sidewalk.

c- Other exceptional cases that the Municipality considers appropriate.

In each of the foregoing situations, the authorization shall be expressly specified and displayed visibly at the construction site.

The parking of vehicles loading or unloading on a public road shall comply with the guidelines specified in the Reglamento de Vialidad of this Regulatory Plan.

Under no circumstances shall public roads be used for the placement of debris or materials.

Breaking the pavement of a public road to carry out public or private works shall require a prior license from the Municipality or MOPT, which shall establish in each case the conditions under which it is granted. The applicant for the pavement-breaking license, whether a natural or legal person from a public or private entity, shall be required to perform the corresponding repair or reimburse its cost if the Municipality or MOPT must perform the repair because of the applicant’s refusal. In addition, the applicant shall provide a performance guarantee, the amount of which shall be determined by the Municipality through regulations based on the construction cost per linear meter of roadway indicated by the CFIA in its most recent publication, “Lista de Actividades por Unidad de Construcción.”

To place structures of any kind or make temporary installations on urban public roads, the interested party, whether public or private, shall obtain prior municipal authorization.

These roads shall be subject to the requirements established in the Reglamento de Vialidad of this Regulatory Plan and shall comply with all provisions of Ley General de Caminos Públicos Decreto N° 5060, as amended.

Specific Considerations Accessibility

The same shall apply to buildings existing before this Regulatory Plan took effect.

Water and Energy Conservation

Applying sound construction practices in the use of energy and water resources raises awareness among designers and the community in general in order to foster sustainable construction practices that will benefit not only the individuals who apply them but also the community as a whole.

Consequently, supply sources will have a longer useful life, and savings will be achieved in both water consumption and wastewater treatment.

Increasingly widespread use of low-consumption fixtures is optimal, particularly in public places such as shopping centers, hospitals, hotels, and office centers, among others. Their use is also increasingly common in new buildings.

Bioclimatic Design

Bioclimatic-design strategies are considered to provide comfort in buildings while reducing the energy expenditure generated by active cooling measures such as air-conditioning systems.

If the air is not renewed, temperature and humidity rise above outdoor ambient levels, creating thermal discomfort. Furthermore, odors and heat generated by occupants and other sources must be removed from all habitable spaces and bathrooms. The size and location of openings that enable such ventilation must therefore be regulated, in addition to the setbacks established in the Reglamento de Fraccionamiento, Urbanizaciones y Condominios of this Regulatory Plan.

The Reglamento de Arborización y recuperación ambiental de los espacios públicos (aceras y parques comunales) y áreas degradadas en el cantón de Santa Ana recommends native tree species that may be used to provide solar protection near façades or in courtyards, to protect against excessive winds, and as a resource for recreational areas or green areas in the canton of Santa Ana.

Anexo 3 describes strategies for managing temperature in buildings.

Lighting

Likewise, a well-lit location is safer and provides users with a better quality of life.

This Chapter requires new commercial and office buildings, industrial establishments, educational buildings, scientific-research centers, and lodging buildings to comply with the lighting-service values established in the INTECO Standard identified as INTE 31-08-06-2000, “Lighting Levels and Conditions Required in Workplaces.”

Noise Control

Foundation and Embankment Design

This code governs the design and construction of foundations covered by Código Sísmico de Costa Rica.

In practical terms, this code is intended to serve all professionals working on the design of geotechnical works and to remedy gaps in the knowledge of those whose training does not include the fundamental concepts.

Electrical-System Design

Design of Water-Supply and Sanitary Installations

This code covers potable-water installations, whether for cold or hot water; sewage drainage; sanitary ventilation; stormwater drainage; fire-protection water installations; and other water-supply and sanitary installations associated with buildings.

Regulations

Any unoccupied lot adjoining a public road may be fenced only with natural barriers, such as shrubs or low-growing trees, or with elements made from materials such as wooden fences, barbed-wire fences, mesh fencing, or combinations thereof. Completely enclosing a lot shall be avoided so that the free flow of water is not impeded in the event of flooding.

Every building, even if temporary, shall have prior municipal authorization. Materials and construction systems that facilitate its removal and guarantee safety, hygiene, and a suitable appearance shall be used.

To perform partial or total demolition work or excavations on a private lot, the responsible professional shall obtain the corresponding municipal permit and comply with Articles 51 through 59 of Ley de Construcciones Nº 833, as amended, and Reglamento de Seguridad en Construcciones N.º 25235 issued by INS, as amended. Debris resulting from demolitions shall be disposed of in accordance with Ley de Gestión Integral de Residuos, Ley N.º 8839, as amended, or any regulations replacing it. When demolition work or excavations are to be performed on private property, the responsible professional shall obtain the corresponding SETENA permit when applicable.

With regard to the brightness and noise generated by construction, the nighttime schedule established in Reglamento para el Control de la Contaminación por Ruido N° 39428-S shall apply.

Noise-level limits shall be governed by Reglamento para el control del ruido ambiental Decreto Ejecutivo 44486-S for both nighttime and daytime hours.

Within construction sites, lighting shall comply with the recommendations of the INTECO Standard identified as INTE 31-08-06-2000, “Lighting Levels and Conditions Required in Workplaces.” Nighttime lighting at construction sites shall not adversely affect the neighbors of the worksite.

Sidewalks shall be subject to the specifications established in Title IV, Pedestrians and Bicycles, of Reglamento de Vialidad of this Regulatory Plan.

The location of buildings with different uses shall conform to the details set forth in Reglamento de Zonificación and Mapa Oficial of Plan Regulador Cantonal de Santa Ana.

The provisions of Reglamento de Vialidad of these Regulations shall be complied with. Consideration shall also be given to Ley Especial para la Transferencia de Competencias Atención Plena y Exclusiva de la Red Vial Cantonal, Ley N° 9329 and its Regulations, Decreto Ejecutivo Nº 40137-MOPT, as well as Ley de Tránsito por Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial, Ley N° 9078.

The NPT of the first floor shall comply with the following:

a- Residential uses: For a conventional dwelling, the NPT shall be at least 10 cm above street level.

b- Nonresidential uses: For a conventional establishment, the NPT shall be at least 10 cm above street level.

c- Wooden floors on a ground floor shall be at least 40 centimeters above ground level after the topsoil has first been removed. They shall also be 15 centimeters above sidewalk or garden level for ventilation purposes. Wooden floors known as pisos sordos are exempt from this provision.

The provisions of Chapter 5, Zoning and Road Regulations, of Reglamento de Vialidad of this Regulatory Plan shall also be complied with.

In all cases, regardless of the construction system proposed by the developer or builder for use in a building, the design shall be prepared by a professional qualified for that purpose and shall follow the guidelines established in Código Sísmico de Costa Rica, Código de Cimentaciones de Costa Rica, Código de Instalaciones Hidráulicas y Sanitarias, Código Eléctrico de Costa Rica para la Seguridad de la Vida y de la Propiedad, Reglamento Nacional de Protección Contra Incendios del Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica, the INTECO standards mentioned in these Regulations, and all other applicable regulations, in their current versions. This does not apply to the hydrogeological and hydrological considerations mentioned in CHAPTER 4 of these Regulations. Compliance with the applicable standards shall be demonstrated in accordance with

Every structural or ornamental element of a building, as well as every sign or commercial advertisement affixed to such elements, shall, at its point nearest to electrical transmission lines, maintain the minimum distances specified by ARESEP. The professional in charge of the work is also responsible for knowing the required technical specifications.

All matters concerning electrical service connections shall comply with all specifications of the Technical Standard issued under the authority of Ley N.º 7593, entitled Instalación y Equipamiento de Acometidas Eléctricas (AR-NTACO) of ARESEP, Resolución 2444 of 21 December 2001, as amended.

In any building, electrical and/or mechanical installation systems may be exposed, provided that they are properly differentiated from one another.

Underground networks or installations for public telephone, lighting, traffic-signal, energy, water, storm-sewer, sanitary-sewer, gas, and any other services shall be located along streets, sidewalks, or medians. When located beneath sidewalks, they shall be housed within a strip 1,50 meters wide, measured from the edge of the curb.

All water-supply and sanitary installations in a building shall comply with current official regulations. Código de Instalaciones Hidráulicas y Sanitaras may be used for the design of these elements, provided that it does not conflict with more recent mandatory regulations.

The free discharge of stormwater onto public roads shall not be permitted; stormwater downpipes shall therefore be installed from roofs, balconies, overhangs, and any other projections. In this regard, Article 74 of Código Municipal and Articles 85 through 98 of CHAPTER 4, Hydrogeological and Hydrological Matters and Landslides, of these Regulations shall be complied with.

All construction shall comply with all standards established in CHAPTER 4 of these Regulations, as well as all current wastewater regulations.

The regulations governing the opening of windows toward an adjoining lot shall be those of Reglamento de Zonificación and Reglamento de Fraccionamiento, Urbanizaciones y Condominios of Plan Regulador Cantonal de Santa Ana, as applicable.

Lobbies or dispersal areas in buildings shall have the following characteristics:

a- The main lobbies of any building shall be at least 2 meters wide by 2 meters long.

b- Secondary lobbies or circulation corridors with doors shall be at least 1,70 meters long and shall have a width equal to the width of the door plus 0,50 meters, added on the side opposite the hinges.

c- The following minimum percentages of dispersal area relative to the building’s total area shall be provided, as applicable:

c.1. Office buildings: 15%; however, this may vary slightly, down to 10%, provided that the corridors and lobby comply with the required minimum dimensions.

c.2. School, secondary-school, or university buildings: 20%.

c.3. Hotels: 15%.

c.4. Commercial buildings: 15%.

These percentages may be distributed among floors as deemed most appropriate, but the dispersal and lobby area on each floor may never be less than 10%. The dispersal area shall be the sum of the areas of lobbies, open courtyards, plazas, and corridors.

d- In performance halls and assembly centers, the dispersal area shall be at least 0,8 square meters per attendee; at least one quarter shall be adjacent to the public road, and up to three quarters of the minimum area may consist of interior lobbies. If the hall’s capacity has not been defined, one attendee shall be calculated for every 0,50 square meters of interior area.

e- In industrial buildings, dispersal areas shall be determined by MINSA and are usually calculated according to the number of persons served.

f- Dispersal areas in mixed-use buildings shall be at least equal to the sum of the areas required for each purpose, unless it is demonstrated that their operating hours do not overlap. Such demonstration shall be made through a sworn declaration by the building owner, which shall be submitted to the Municipality when applying for the construction permit.

In every building, public sanitary facilities shall be located no more than 75 meters apart and shall be designed in accordance with the standards established in these Regulations.

The smaller dimension of each window shall not be less than 30 centimeters for ventilation and lighting purposes. Openings in walls that do not necessarily constitute windows may be counted for such purposes, provided that they are capable of providing ventilation and lighting.

For natural-lighting purposes, the following guidelines shall apply:

a- The means of providing natural lighting shall have a minimum area percentage based on the floor area of the room or any other space requiring illumination, as indicated in the table below:

Table 1. Window percentages for lighting according to space use b- Every opening shall face directly onto courtyards, uncovered setback areas, or public space.

c- For Student Residences and Buildings with Common Areas, Industrial Establishments, Educational Buildings, and Scientific-Research Centers, the minimum lighting area for habitable rooms shall be 20% of the floor area.

d- The minimum lighting-area percentages indicated in Table 1 may be met by means of windows, skylights, or a combination of both, except for buildings corresponding to the following uses: Residential, Community, Lodging, Eco-Lodge, Childcare, Basic Healthcare, and Small Service Establishments located outside shopping centers. For those buildings, the minimum lighting-area percentages shall be met through window area.

e- In every building corresponding to the following uses—Residential, Community, Lodging, Eco-Lodge, Educational, except Research Centers, Childcare, Basic Healthcare, and Small Service Establishments—that has more than one exterior wall, the area percentage indicated in Table 1 shall be distributed among more than one exterior wall, where possible on walls opposite one another.

The indoor environments of commercial and office buildings, parking facilities, industrial establishments, educational buildings, scientific-research centers, transportation terminals, and lodging buildings shall comply with the lighting-service values established in the most current version of the INTECO Standard identified as INTE 31-08-06-2000, “Lighting Levels and Conditions Required in Workplaces,” or any other regulations issued by entities with authority over the subject.

Table 2. Infrastructure required to comply with water-conservation measures

a- All toilets installed shall have a maximum capacity of 6 liters per flush.

b- At locations where urinals are required, they shall have low water consumption, using no more than 3 liters per flush.

c- All faucets installed in sanitary facilities shall incorporate a water-saving feature, such as a flow regulator, timer, infrared sensors, or another fixture, provided that its effectiveness is demonstrated.

d- All faucets to be installed in food-preparation and kitchen-utensil-washing areas shall have aerators to reduce water consumption or another water-saving accessory.

Table 3. Infrastructure required to comply with the bioclimatic design provisions.

a- Installation of thermal insulation material on roofs.

b- In addition to the lighting requirements described in Article 153, at least 50% of the windows shall allow natural cross-ventilation, whether through casement systems or louvers, preferably using bronze-colored, light-gray, or reflective glass.

c- If one or more façades consist of glass over more than 80% of the façade area, special solar-control glass shall be used, or solar-control films shall be applied to the glass.

In all types of buildings, tree species and green screens may be used to shade the buildings while also cooling breezes and enhancing the beauty of the landscape.

In addition, these systems shall have appropriate protection from exterior noise in accordance with the applicable standards.

For artificial ventilation using air-conditioning equipment, the refrigerant used shall comply with the current environmental regulations issued by MINAE or any government entity competent in the matter. The systems shall also receive periodic maintenance so that they operate efficiently.

Exits to interior circulation areas and travel distances to the outdoors shall comply with the provisions established in the 2013 version of the Reglamento Nacional de Protección Contra Incendios of the Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica, as amended.

When doors serve more than 40 persons or provide evacuation from public assembly areas, they shall open outward.

Revolving doors shall have a radius no smaller than the width of a standard swinging door, according to the type of building specified in the respective chapters of this Regulation.

In any type of building, main stairways shall be located immediately adjacent to corridors, circulation areas, or courtyards with direct access.

No main stairway may evacuate an area with a radius greater than 20 meters; additional stairways shall therefore be required in such cases. The following provisions shall also be met:

a- The tread-to-riser ratio and their minimum and maximum dimensions shall be those specified in the most recent version of the Reglamento Nacional de Protección Contra Incendios of the Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica, but in no case shall the width be less than 1.20 meters.

b- Along all flights of stairs, including landings, rigid-material enclosures together with protective railings shall be installed on both sides, each at a minimum height of 1.07 meters measured from the tread surface. However, the enclosure may have an auxiliary railing at a lower height for use by children.

c- There shall be a landing at least every 8 steps, with a minimum length of 120 centimeters (1.20 meters).

These shall be as specified for each type and use of building in the most recent version of the Reglamento Nacional de Protección Contra Incendios of the Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica.

If ramps are used in any type of building, their dimensional characteristics shall be those presented in Table 4.

They shall also comply with the requirements established in the Reglamento Nacional de Protección Contra Incendios of the Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica, as amended, and in the Ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades para Personas con Discapacidad, Decreto Ejecutivo N°26831-MP.

Table 4. Dimensional criteria for ramps

Every building of four or more floors shall have an elevator capable of transporting at least 12% of its population within five minutes. The following criteria shall be used to calculate the building’s population:

a- Offices, hotels, and industrial facilities: One person for every 6 square meters of gross construction area. If there are escalators, the population calculated as elevator users shall be reduced by 15%.

b- Apartments: According to the number of apartments and their capacity.

c- Shops and stores: One person for every 2.50 square meters of sales area accessible to the public. If there are escalators, the total estimated population of elevator users shall be reduced by 15%.

d- The number, size, speed, optimal location, and operation of elevators in any type of building shall be determined responsibly and professionally, with reference to specialized literature and appropriate technical experts.

e- The minimum internal dimensions of elevator cars shall be:

e.1. Door width: 110 centimeters.

e.2. Clear width: 130 centimeters.

e.3. Clear depth: 150 centimeters.

e.4. The interior space of the elevator shall be sufficient for a wheelchair to enter and be positioned without difficulty, meaning at least 1.35 meters deep by 1.1 meters in effective width. It shall contain no obstacles that prevent the wheelchair’s free movement.

e.5. Elevator controls shall be located at a height between ninety centimeters and one meter.

Except in dwelling houses, door locks, light switches, suitable doorbell buttons, alarm controls, or other controls intended for general use shall be installed at a minimum height of 0.80 meters and a maximum height of 1.0 meter.

When two or more owners establish a reciprocal easement (servidumbre) or exceptional access to create shared light or ventilation courtyards, each shall individually comply with the minimum percentage-coverage requirements specified in the Reglamento de Zonificación of this Plan Regulador.

When the owner of a building or lot believes that the property is threatened by the existence of a building that is dangerous because of earthquakes, wind, or other causes, the owner may request that municipal technical experts study the case. They shall issue an assessment in accordance with the codes and, if the danger is established, order measures to eliminate it and set a deadline for compliance with the order.

Stormwater shall be managed as provided in Articles 85 through 98 of CHAPTER 4, Hydrogeological, Hydrological, and Flooding Matters, of this Regulation.

Boilers, water heaters, and similar appliances shall be installed in a manner that neither causes a nuisance nor endangers occupants, in accordance with the standards established by the Reglamento de Calderas, Decreto N.º 26789, as amended, of the Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social.

Every water heater used shall comply with national energy-saving standards issued by MINAE or any other entity competent in the matter. The use of solar water heaters or any other efficient technology is recommended.

Specific Considerations

Some key elements are emergency stairways and lighting, whose purpose is to facilitate the safe evacuation of the users of these buildings when necessary.

This allows solid waste to be managed more effectively.

Regulations

The location of buildings intended for commercial use shall be subject to prior approval by the Municipalidad in accordance with the Reglamento de Zonificación of this Plan Regulador.

Courtyards used to provide lighting and ventilation to commercial and office buildings shall have the same minimum dimensions as those for residential buildings, with offices and retail areas considered habitable rooms. The setbacks with which buildings must comply are specified in the Reglamento de Zonificación of this Plan Regulador.

Offices and commercial premises in a building shall have a direct exit to the street or to passageways and corridors leading directly to stairways or exits to the street. Passageways and corridors shall have a minimum width of 1.2 meters and shall never be narrower than the stairways that discharge into them.

The minimum floor-to-ceiling height for offices and premises shall be 2.40 meters, measured from finished-floor level, when the roof structure contains thermal insulation material. When there is no ceiling and the roof has no thermal insulation, the minimum height shall be 2.7 meters.

Interior walls, partitions separating dwelling units from one another or from common corridors, and ceilings shall use materials having a fire-resistance rating of no less than one hour.

In buildings that are not of fireproof construction or do not have fire protection, portions intended for commercial use shall be separated from those intended for residential use by partitions and ceilings constructed of materials having a fire-resistance rating of at least one hour.

Commercial and office buildings with more than one floor shall always have stairways connecting all levels, even when they have elevators. The number of stairways shall vary according to the number of floors, as follows:

a- Buildings with two floors shall require more than one stairway in the following cases:

a.1. If the construction area of the second floor exceeds 1000 square meters, there shall be at least two stairways providing access to the second floor.

a.2. In addition to the preceding subsection, one additional stairway providing access to the second floor shall be installed for every additional 750 square meters of construction on the second floor.

b- Buildings with three floors shall require more than one stairway in the following cases:

b.1. If the construction area of the third floor exceeds 750 square meters, the building shall have at least two stairways providing access to all floors of the building.

b.2. In addition to the preceding subsection, one additional stairway shall be installed for every additional 750 square meters of construction area on any floor, providing access from that floor to all floors of the building.

c- Buildings with four or more floors:

c.1. They shall have two stairways serving all floors.

c.2. In addition to the preceding subsection, when the construction area on any floor from the fourth floor upward exceeds 750 square meters, one additional stairway shall be installed to provide access to all floors of the building.

All matters concerning treads, risers, stairway widths, railing heights, among others, shall comply with CHAPTER 7, General Provisions for Buildings, of this Regulation.

The relevant provisions of CHAPTER 7, General Provisions for Buildings, of this Regulation shall apply.

The relevant provisions of CHAPTER 7, General Provisions for Buildings, of this Regulation shall apply.

Sanitary facilities in commercial and office buildings providing services to the public shall have the following characteristics:

a- Areas with less than 150 square meters of construction shall have at least one stall for use by both men and women, which may be used by both staff and the public. This stall shall be equipped with a toilet and washbasin and shall comply with the provisions for persons with physical disabilities stated in Article 318 of this Regulation, making it a stall that may be used by men, women, or persons with physical disabilities.

b- Commercial premises providing food services to the public shall comply with Articles 565 through 567 of CHAPTER 30, Places for the Sale, Preparation, and/or Consumption of Food, of this Regulation.

c- Areas with more than 150 square meters of construction shall have at least two sanitary-facility stalls per floor, one for men and one for women. If they are adjacent, they shall be designed to ensure adequate separation. Each stall shall be equipped with a toilet and washbasin and shall comply with the provisions for persons with physical disabilities stated in Article 318 of this Regulation.

d- At least one toilet, one urinal, and one washbasin for men shall be installed for every 400 square meters or fraction thereof of constructed area; Article 315 concerning sanitary facilities for persons with disabilities shall also be observed.

The foregoing applies to each floor.

e- At least one toilet and one washbasin for women shall be installed for every 300 square meters or fraction thereof of constructed area; Article 315 concerning sanitary facilities for persons with disabilities shall also be observed. The foregoing applies to each floor.

f- In commercial premises or office buildings larger than 150 square meters that receive large numbers of members of the public, such as supermarkets, department stores, bank branches, and government buildings providing services to the public, staff sanitary facilities shall be separate from those used by the public and exclusive to each sex, in compliance with Article 190 of this Regulation.

The number of sanitary fixtures to be installed for the staff of commercial and office buildings shall be based on the number of workers on duty at the same time: one toilet and one washbasin shall be installed for every 15 women, and one toilet, one urinal, and one washbasin shall be installed for every 20 men.

Sanitary facilities in office and/or commercial buildings shall comply with the following:

a- If more than one group of sanitary facilities is required per floor, they shall be arranged so that the distance between them does not exceed 75 meters.

b- For commercial premises or offices located inside shopping centers, every interior point of the premises or office shall be no more than 75 meters from any sanitary facility, whether belonging to the shopping center or privately provided for the premises or office.

Sanitary facilities for persons with physical disabilities shall comply with the characteristics established in

A minimum work area of 2 m2 per person is established for office buildings.

Every commercial and office building shall have a space fitted out for workers to prepare and consume food, in compliance with the regulations established in Articles 552 through 559 of CHAPTER 30.

Ventilation and lighting in commercial and office buildings shall comply with CHAPTER 7, General Provisions for Buildings, of this Regulation.

Emergency lighting shall be provided in passageways and stairways serving as exits for more than ten offices or commercial premises.

All commercial and office buildings shall have a covered area for the centralized placement of solid-waste receptacles, accessible to all premises in the building, where recyclable waste is separated in accordance with Article 38 of the Ley para la Gestión Integral de Residuos, No 8839, as amended. The capacity of this area shall be calculated according to the quantity of waste generated in the building and substantiated by a solid-waste-generation study. Its location shall likewise be readily accessible from the public roadway to facilitate final collection.

Specific Considerations

It is likewise important to consider natural ventilation and lighting and comply with the matters stated in CHAPTER 7, General Provisions for Buildings, of this Regulation. This helps reduce the facilities’ electricity consumption and improves the comfort of dwelling users.

At sites without sanitary sewers, it is preferable for mechanical installations to include a connection stub located at the front of the property to facilitate future connection to a sanitary sewer system.

Regulations

In every building intended for residential use, the areas designated as courtyards that provide lighting and ventilation to the various rooms shall remain unbuilt; these areas may not be covered by overhangs, corridors, passageways, or stairways.

MINSA and the Municipalidad may deem rooms habitable when their use may reasonably be presumed from their location and dimensions, even if they are not identified as such on the plans.

The following minimum dimensions shall apply to every dwelling unit, with the sole exception of social-interest housing governed by this Plan Regulador. The dimensions represent usable areas and do not include the width of enclosure elements:

a- Area per dwelling: 40 square meters for one-bedroom units intended for 2 persons, plus 10 square meters above the 40-square-meter minimum for each additional bedroom.

For dwellings that are not part of an urban-development project, the minimum area may be 36 square meters for a one-bedroom dwelling intended for no more than 2 persons.

b- Bedrooms: One bedroom shall measure at least 9 square meters; the remaining bedrooms may have a minimum area of 7.5 square meters and a width of no less than 2.5 meters.

c- Kitchens: They shall have a minimum area of 5 square meters and a minimum width of 2 meters, except when food is prepared or cooked in a space integrated into the living or dining room, in which case the area may be smaller.

d- Full bathrooms (toilet, shower, and washbasin): They shall have a minimum area of 3 square meters and a minimum width of 1.25m.

e- Living-dining room: It shall have a minimum area of 10 square meters and a minimum shorter dimension of 2.5 meters. If separate living and dining rooms are planned, their areas shall be no less than 6.5 square meters and 7.5 square meters, respectively.

f- Laundry room (interior): It shall have a minimum area of 3.75 square meters and a minimum shorter side of 1.5 meters.

g- Floor-to-ceiling height: When there is a ceiling or thermally insulating roofing material, the minimum floor-to-ceiling height shall be 2.4 meters. When there is no ceiling and the roof has no thermal insulation, the minimum height shall be 2.7 meters.

h- Door size: The minimum door height is 2 meters; the width shall be 90 centimeters, except for non-habitable rooms, in which case it may be 80 centimeters.

i- Courtyard dimensions: Courtyards used to provide lighting and ventilation shall have the minimum dimensions and areas shown in Table 5, based on the type of room and the height of the walls enclosing them.

Table 5. Minimum courtyard dimensions and areas according to room type and the height of the enclosing walls For walls higher than 14.00 m, the courtyard’s minimum dimension shall be one-quarter of the maximum height of the walls enclosing it.

j- Circulation areas (passageways). They shall comprise no more than 10% of the dwelling’s total area. Stairways are not included in this percentage. Passageways shall have a minimum width of 90cm.

k- Minimum setbacks: The setbacks shall be those specified in the Reglamento de Zonificación and the Reglamento de Fraccionamiento, Urbanizaciones y Condominios of this Plan Regulador.

Residential buildings shall comply with the ventilation and lighting requirements established in CHAPTER 7, General Provisions for Buildings, of this Regulation.

Emergency lighting shall be provided in passageways and stairways serving as exits for more than ten dwellings.

Partitions separating dwelling units from one another, separating dwelling units from common passageways, or separating them from sections intended for other uses shall be made of material with a fire-resistance rating of at least one hour, extending to the height of the roof covering. Article 130

Residential buildings with more than one floor shall have stairways connecting all levels, even when elevators are provided. These stairways shall be constructed with the following characteristics:

a- Each stairway may serve no more than twenty dwelling units on each floor.

b- Interior stairways shall have a minimum clear width of 90 centimeters, and general-service stairways shall have a minimum width of 1.2 meters.

c- Treads shall be no less than 28 centimeters and risers no more than 18 centimeters, and they shall be constructed with materials having a fire-resistance rating of at least one hour. They shall also be protected by railings at least 1.07 meters high, measured from the tread surface. Additional railings may be added at a height of 60 centimeters for use by persons of short stature and children.

All residential buildings shall comply with the requirements established in CHAPTER 7, General Provisions, of this Regulation.

All residential buildings shall be provided with potable-water installations having the capacity to supply the allocations specified in the Manual Técnico del Departamento de Aguas del IMN, published in La Gaceta Nº 98 of 20 May 2004, as amended. Under no circumstances shall these pipes be made of asbestos cement.

They shall be readily accessible for interior cleaning.

The provisions of CHAPTER 4, Hydrogeological, Hydrological, and Landslide Matters, shall be observed.

The provisions of CHAPTER 4, Hydrogeological, Hydrological, and Landslide Matters, shall be observed.

Stormwater from roofs, terraces, and courtyards shall be conveyed to stormwater attenuation systems before being discharged into the storm-sewer network or natural watercourses, in compliance with Articles 85 through 98.

Water-storage tanks shall be constructed so as to prevent contamination and water spillage.

They shall be readily accessible for interior cleaning.

Chimneys for combustion appliances shall extend at least 5 meters above the tallest building within a radius of 25 meters and shall terminate in an iron pipe with wire mesh covering its opening to prevent the escape of ignited material. The foregoing dimensions are subject to subsequent change if MINSA or another competent body establishes different dimensions.

Specific Considerations

These buildings are found mainly in population centers because of their proximity to services and employment centers.

This will meet the needs of a diverse range of occupants while also providing more price options for purchasing or renting housing.

Regulations

The following are the different types of apartment rooms contemplated in this Regulation:

a- Single room: A room for one person or a couple sharing a bed.

b- Double room: A room for two persons with separate beds.

The following are the different types of apartments, classified according to their internal configuration:

a- Studio or open-plan apartment: An apartment without internal divisions except for the enclosures surrounding the sanitary facilities.

b- Apartment with a single room: An apartment containing only one or more single rooms.

c- Apartment with a double room: An apartment containing only one or more double rooms.

d- Mixed apartments: Apartments containing both single and double rooms within the same dwelling unit. In this particular case, each double room shall be counted as 1.5 single rooms.

Table 6 presents the minimum areas for various apartment configurations, taking into account the number and type of rooms they contain.

Table 6. Minimum permissible areas for different apartment configurations

When an accessible full bathroom is required, its dimensions shall be as follows: a minimum area of 5 square meters, with a minimum width of 2.20m.

Each apartment must have appropriate noise protection that meets the current minimum requirements. Anexo 1, Control de ruido en unidades habitacionales, provides a list of materials and their absorption coefficients that may be used to reduce noise transmission from one space to another, together with the recommended permissible noise levels for the spaces. The responsible professional shall endeavor to use alternatives suited to the relevant needs and consider new construction systems and trends that provide the structure with adequate noise protection.

Every apartment shall comply with the following fire-protection standards established in the Reglamento nacional de protección contra incendios of the CUERPO DE BOMBEROS DE COSTA RICA.

If the apartments do not have a laundry room in each dwelling unit, a laundry facility may be created to serve all apartments or those whose internal layout does not include such a space.

There shall be a covered area for the centralized placement of solid-waste receptacles, accessible to all tenants and readily accessible from the public roadway, where recyclable waste is separated in accordance with Article 38 of the Ley para la Gestión Integral de Residuos, No 8839, as amended. This area shall provide 0.15 cubic meters per dwelling unit, calculated for one week. For any other type of use, the capacity shall be substantiated by a study.

Likewise, if the complex is mixed-use, each use shall be permitted in the zone.

Specific Considerations

In the specific case of student residences, the sanitary requirements contemplate that this area may consist of either a single bed or a bunk bed for two persons.

Regulations

The following types of rooms or apartments intended for student residences may exist in the canton of Santa Ana:

a- Individual rooms with collective services: Those intended to accommodate one person per room.

b- Multiple-occupancy rooms with collective services: Those intended to accommodate more than one person per room.

c- Apartments with individual services: Those having areas for food preparation, personal hygiene, and laundry exclusively for each apartment.

d- Apartments with collective services: Those having separate areas within the building for food preparation, personal hygiene, and laundry that serve all apartments.

a- Kitchen: For collective or individual use.

b- Dining room: For collective or individual use.

c- Laundry facility: For collective or individual use.

d- Clothes-drying area.

e- A group of collective sanitary facilities or separate facilities for each dwelling unit. These shall have finishes and characteristics as established in Articles 304 and 305 of this Regulation.

f- A group of showers or separate showers for each dwelling unit. The provisions of Articles 304 and 305 of this Regulation shall be observed.

g- Study room or rooms, preferably including a room in which computer equipment may be installed.

h- Cleaning-supply rooms.

i- Garbage-storage areas.

j- Recreation areas.

k- Green areas.

l- Storage rooms.

m- Mechanical-equipment room.

The minimum areas, whether per room or per apartment as applicable, are established below:

a- Rooms. For single rooms with shared facilities and multiple-occupancy rooms with shared facilities:

a.1. Single rooms shall have a minimum area of 12 square meters.

a.2. If the rooms are double rooms with separate beds, the minimum area shall be 14 square meters.

a.3. If the rooms are for three persons, with one bunk bed and one separate bed, the minimum area shall be 15 square meters.

a.4. If the rooms have three separate beds, the minimum area shall be 18 square meters.

a.5. If the rooms are for four persons with two bunk beds, the minimum area shall be 16 square meters.

b- Apartments. In apartments with individual facilities and apartments with shared facilities, the rooms shall comply with the minimum area indicated in subsection (a-) of this Article; the minimum apartment area in these cases shall be:

b.1. For one tenant, 24 square meters for the dining room, kitchen, living room, and circulation areas, plus the corresponding room area.

b.2. For two tenants, 28 square meters for the dining room, kitchen, living room, and circulation areas, plus the corresponding room area.

b.3. For three tenants, 32 square meters for the dining room, kitchen, living room, and circulation areas, plus the corresponding room area.

b.4. For four tenants, 36 square meters plus the room area.

b.5. For five or more tenants, 4 square meters per person shall be added for the dining room, kitchen, living room, and circulation areas, plus the corresponding room area.

Bedroom capacity shall be calculated at a minimum rate of 10 square meters per bed.

Each dwelling unit shall have appropriate noise protection that complies with the current minimum requirements; see Anexo 1.

If the apartments do not have a utility room for each dwelling unit, a central laundry area may be created to serve all apartments or those that do not have this space within their internal layout.

a- One toilet for every 19m2 allocated to beds, or its equivalent of 20 beds or fraction of 20.

b- One urinal for every 28m2 allocated to beds, or its equivalent of 30 beds or fraction of 30.

c- One washbasin for every 13m2 allocated to beds, or its equivalent of 10 beds or fraction of 10.

d- One shower for every 13m2 allocated to beds, or its equivalent of 10 beds or fraction of 10.

This full bathroom shall have a minimum area of 5 square meters and a minimum width of 2,20m.

There shall be a covered area for centralized solid-waste receptacles, accessible to all tenants, where recyclable waste is separated in accordance with Article 38 of Ley para la Gestión Integral de Residuos N°8839 and its amendments. The size of this space shall be 0,15 cubic meters per dwelling unit, calculated for one week.

Specific Considerations

Increasing the built area of a dwelling is a necessity; this condition must be taken into account in the design of these dwellings so that the infrastructure can be adapted more easily to the needs of users.

Do not build on or create impermeable surfaces over the supplementary drainage areas for septic tanks, leaving this space unobstructed to allow wastewater to percolate properly.

Provide appropriate ventilation and lighting to ensure quality of life for occupants.

This conflicts with the concept of “incremental housing,” which is intended to allow housing to evolve over time.

This will benefit them economically through savings in materials and labor and by facilitating access to subsidies or loans for a second level. In addition, a variety of construction systems are available for the second level and stairs, and these vary in price and design (particularly in the case of lightweight enclosures).

Regulations

Social-interest dwellings shall be designed and constructed so that they can structurally support a second story without requiring an additional supporting structure in the future. For this purpose, the following requirements shall be met:

a. The foundation shall correspond to the foundation for a two-story house established in the Single-Family Housing chapter of the Código Sísmico de Costa Rica.

b. The columns and walls designed for the dwelling shall be designed so that they can support a future second story.

c. The floor system shall consist of a rigid diaphragm that distributes seismic forces optimally throughout the structure. This diaphragm may consist of:

b.1. A monolithic concrete slab.

b.2. Joists cast in place.

b.3. Prefabricated steel joists with a topping slab of at least 5 centimeters to stiffen the system.

b.4. Prefabricated reinforced or prestressed concrete joists with a topping slab of at least 5 centimeters to stiffen the system.

d. The stairs necessary to access the second story shall be located outside the dwelling to avoid penetrating the building’s floor system. These stairs shall be built when the second story is constructed.

e. The necessary geotechnical studies shall be performed to determine whether the soil has sufficient bearing capacity to support a two-story dwelling.

Regardless of the number of stories, incremental and social-interest housing shall always have a roof structure and a proper gutter and downspout system.

The following dimensions are established as the minimum permissible dimensions for each space. These areas do not include wall thickness and therefore consist solely of usable area.

Table 7. Minimum permissible dimensions in incremental housing

The minimum dwelling area shall be established as follows:

a- Shell dwelling: 40 square meters if it is designed to support a second level. Otherwise, it shall have a minimum area of 45 square meters.

b- Finished dwelling: the minimum area shall be 45 square meters.

The minimum building width for social-interest housing shall be 6 meters.

The construction materials used and the dwelling’s configuration shall be suited to the climatic and morphological conditions of the location.

Each dwelling unit shall have appropriate noise protection that complies with the current minimum requirements; see Anexo 1.

The responsible professional shall endeavor to use alternatives that are appropriate to the needs and shall take into account new construction systems and trends that provide appropriate noise protection within the structure.

Specific Considerations

Regulations

The minimum floor-to-ceiling height for structures built with containers shall be 2.30 meters, measured from the finished-floor level, where the roof structure contains thermal-insulation material. If there is no ceiling and the roof does not have thermal insulation, the minimum height shall be 2,7 meters.

The permitted height for buildings constructed with containers shall comply with the height provisions established in the Zoning Regulation of this Plan Regulador.

Container structures may be used only for the uses defined in this Regulation as single-family housing, apartments, student residences, incremental housing, food-service establishments, commercial premises, and offices. These structures shall comply with the corresponding requirements established in this Regulation and shall be adapted to meet the required minimum internal dimensions if they do not already do so.

Residential projects using this construction system shall comply with Article 199 of this Regulation concerning open areas.

For rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, and living rooms made with shipping-container structures, the minimum usable width shall be 2,34 meters.

Specific Considerations

These matters must be taken into account in the project’s design and construction to verify that the building will neither damage these installations nor be adversely affected by them.

In the case of mechanical ventilation in underground parking facilities, an auxiliary power-supply system is important so that smoke can be removed in the event of a fire, preventing users at the site from inhaling the toxic smoke generated and losing the visibility necessary to reach escape routes.

Regulations

Likewise, during the construction process for any underground work, appropriate temporary support structures shall be installed and all relevant occupational-safety measures required for this type of construction shall be followed.

They shall be impermeable and shall provide protection against chemical attack from soil or groundwater (acid attack, sulfates, chlorides, among others).

For any type of underground construction, the use of public roads to increase the construction’s usable area is prohibited.

All construction with underground levels shall have a system for collecting and discharging water that accumulates inside and interferes with the proper functioning of the site. Likewise, all underground construction shall treat any wastewater it generates for its corresponding disposal into the subsoil, a sanitary-sewer system, or a body of water.

The number of access points on underground levels shall be governed by the following rules:

a- Every underground level shall have at least two access points or means of egress, each with a minimum width of 1,20m.

b- If the level’s occupant capacity is greater than 500 persons but no greater than 1000, there shall be at least 3 access points, each with a minimum width of 1,50m.

c- If the level’s occupant capacity is greater than 1000, there shall be at least 4 access points, each with a minimum width of 1,75m.

Underground construction shall comply with the following general access requirements:

a- The access ramp shall begin within the property boundaries.

d- The vehicular access ramp shall have a slope no greater than 1 in 8.

e- All design aspects shall comply with CHAPTER 33, Parking Facilities and Washing Sites, of this Plan Regulador.

Every underground parking facility shall have an appropriate mechanical supply-and-exhaust ventilation system providing a minimum outdoor-air replacement rate of 12 cubic meters per hour per square meter of surface area, including the circulation area, while maintaining at least one complete air change every twelve minutes. If there is only one underground level, natural ventilation may be used as the sole system, provided that at least one of the following two conditions is met:

a- It is demonstrated that the natural ventilation is sufficient to remove the carbon monoxide emitted by vehicles, through the corresponding study indicating that carbon-monoxide concentrations during peak periods will be below 50 parts per million (ppm). This report shall be submitted to the Municipalidad de Santa Ana when the construction permit is requested.

b- A minimum outdoor-air replacement rate of 12 cubic meters per hour per square meter of surface area, including the circulation area, is provided, while maintaining at least one complete air change every twelve minutes.

Ventilation in underground buildings shall comply with the following:

a- For sites that require forced-ventilation systems, air-supply points shall be located so as to ensure the minimum intake of contaminated air and air containing insects or solid waste. Air-exhaust points shall be located no less than 3 meters from pedestrian-traffic areas.

b- For every type of underground construction using natural ventilation and/or forced ventilation, no point on the ventilated surface shall be located more than 25 meters from an access point or air-exhaust point.

c- All construction with underground levels that requires forced-ventilation systems shall have an auxiliary supplementary power-supply system capable of keeping at least 50% of the fans operating for a minimum of two hours.

Every basement or semi-basement shall have an appropriate lighting system providing the lighting conditions necessary for the activity to be conducted at the site. The minimum lux levels shall be those indicated in Article 154 of this Regulation.

Every basement or semi-basement level shall have emergency lighting located along the evacuation route, hallways, stairs, stair discharge areas, and access points to emergency exits. Likewise, it shall have an auxiliary power system designed to maintain at least 50% of the lighting for two hours. The foregoing shall not apply to dwellings with one basement or semi-basement level.

In addition to the measures indicated in this Regulation, the following provisions shall be observed specifically for underground construction.

a- All structural elements of underground levels shall be fire-resistant or protected against fire for a duration of one hundred eighty minutes.

b- All means of vertical circulation connecting underground areas with the floor level that provides access to the public road shall be constructed with materials having a fire resistance of at least two hours, and their doors shall have a fire resistance of at least one hour.

c- Any construction with at least one underground level whose area, including hallways and ancillary areas, is greater than 500 square meters shall require the installation of automatic fire-water sprinklers on each level, in addition to an automatic fire-detection alarm. Likewise, it shall have a sewer and drainage system on each floor capable of discharging the maximum water flow anticipated when the fire-protection system is operating at full capacity.

If a basement or semi-basement level has automatic water sprinklers as a fire-protection system, it shall have a sewer and drainage system on each level capable of discharging the maximum water flow anticipated for a fire when the system is operating at full capacity.

In all underground construction, ducts and mechanical installations shall be made of noncombustible, impermeable, and corrosion-resistant materials.

General Considerations

In addition, with respect to safety, they shall provide the measures necessary for the appropriate evacuation of the facilities during emergencies and for the fire protection of materials.

Accordingly, the design of this infrastructure shall comply with the provisions established by that Institute or by any other competent entity or body.

Specific Considerations

For this reason, this Chapter regulates matters including minimum dimensions for exits, doors, stairs, hallways, ventilation, and emergency lighting, among others, to facilitate evacuation in the event of an emergency.

Regulations

To obtain a license for the construction, expansion, adaptation, or modification of buildings intended wholly or partly as sites for public assembly, those buildings shall be located in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Regulation of the Plan Regulador Cantonal for the canton of Santa Ana.

Sites for public assembly shall mean all sites at which the specified activities are conducted in accordance with the following uses established in the Zoning Regulation of this Plan Regulador: religious, cultural A and B, community, swimming facilities, sports type 1, sports type 2, entertainment, family entertainment, and adult entertainment.

The capacity of sites for public assembly shall be calculated according to Table 8 in Article 311 of this Regulation, based on the activities to be conducted.

The separation distance between sites for public assembly and service stations shall be observed at all times, as established in the Reglamento del suministro de combustibles en estaciones de servicio and its amendments or any regulations replacing it.

The volume of auditoriums, social centers, and places of worship shall be calculated at a minimum rate of 2,5 cubic meters per spectator. Their clear height shall be no less than 3,0 meters at any point. These dimensions may be varied if MINSA or another competent public body or institution so provides.

Sites for public assembly shall have direct access to and an exit onto the public road and may be connected to it by hallways having a minimum width equal to the sum of the widths of all circulation spaces converging upon the hallway.

Revolving or sliding doors shall be permitted, provided that sufficient emergency doors ensuring rapid evacuation of the building during emergencies exist elsewhere in the building.

The relevant provisions of CHAPTER 7, General Provisions for Buildings, of this Regulation shall apply. In addition, none of the exit doors installed for this purpose may obstruct the public road.

The relevant provisions of CHAPTER 7, General Provisions for Buildings, of this Regulation shall apply.

Emergency doors shall mandatorily comply with the requirements established in the Reglamento Nacional de Protección Contra Incendios and its amendments, as well as any other mandatory regulations that may be enacted.

In places intended for public occupancy or circulation, simulated doors or mirrors that cause confusion and make the premises appear larger than they actually are are prohibited.

Sites for public assembly shall have lobbies connecting them with the public road or with hallways providing access to it. These lobbies shall have a minimum surface area of 0,8 square meters per attendee. Hallways shall open into the lobby at the same level as its floor. The total width of the doors leading to streets or hallways shall be at least 1,2 times the sum of the widths of the doors connecting the interior of the auditorium with the lobbies.

Ticket booths shall not obstruct circulation through entrances and shall be located in visible places. They shall be positioned so that they do not interfere with free circulation along the public sidewalk or streets.

In places where fixed barriers are required for spectators to form lines, the minimum width between them shall be 90 centimeters.

Only seats may be installed in auditoriums. Bleachers may not be used as seating except in sports buildings. The following conditions shall be met when installing seats:

a- The minimum width of seats shall be 50 centimeters, and the distance between their backrests shall be no less than 85 centimeters.

b- There shall be a minimum clear space of 40 centimeters between the front of one seat and the backrest of the next, measured between vertical planes when the seats are unfolded.

c- The distance from the first row of seats to the nearest point of the screen or stage shall be less than 24 meters (the maximum distance at which a person can be recognized), but under no circumstances shall it be less than 7 meters.

d- Seats may not be installed in areas with defective visibility.

e- Seats shall be secured to the floor, except those located in boxes.

f- Seats shall be folding.

g- Rows opening onto two aisles may not have more than fourteen seats, and those opening onto only one aisle may not have more than seven.

Every building in which cultural, sporting, or recreational activities are conducted shall be accessible to all persons in accordance with Ley 7600 de la Igualdad de Oportunidades para Personas con Discapacidad, its Regulation, and amendments. In addition, Article 2 of Ley N.º 8306 Ley para Asegurar, en los Espectáculos Públicos, Espacios Exclusivos para personas con Discapacidad and its amendments shall be observed so as to ensure that at least 5% of the capacity at public shows consists of spaces reserved exclusively for persons with disabilities.

The fronts of galleries and balconies shall be protected by solid guardrails having a minimum height of 1 meter above floor level. In galleries, balconies, and other locations where chairs are placed on stepped platforms and the difference in height between one platform and the one immediately below it exceeds 50 centimeters, a solid guardrail having a minimum height of 70 centimeters shall be installed along the edge of the platform and the full length of the row of chairs. Balconies and galleries shall be constructed with materials having a fire-resistance rating of no less than three hours.

Longitudinal aisles with seats on both sides shall have a minimum width of 1,2 meters. Those with seats on only one side shall have a width of 0,9 meters at their point of origin, with 5 centimeters added for each meter of aisle length from the point of origin to an exit door or main aisle.

Steps shall not be used within interior aisles; instead, ramps with slip-resistant surfaces and a slope of less than 1 in 10 shall be constructed.

Signs bearing the word “exit” shall be placed on all doors leading outside, and illuminated directional indicators shall be placed in hallways to indicate the direction of the exits. The letters shall have a minimum dimension of 15 centimeters and shall be displayed on illuminated signs connected to the emergency electrical system so that they remain visible even when the hallway is full of people.

The relevant provisions of CHAPTER 7, General Provisions for Buildings, of this Regulation shall apply.

Stages, dressing rooms, kitchens, storage rooms, workshops, machine rooms, and projection booths shall be separated from one another and from assembly halls by walls, ceilings, floors, curtains, and doors made of materials having a fire-resistance rating of no less than three hours. The doors shall have devices that keep them closed while allowing them to be opened easily and quickly.

In the case of auditoriums, stages, dressing rooms, storage rooms, workshops, machine rooms, and projection booths shall have exits independent from the assembly halls or spaces.

Projection, announcing, recording, or similar booths shall have the following characteristics:

a- The minimum dimensions of a booth shall be 2,50 meters wide by 3 meters long and 2,25 meters high.

b- When the booth contains two projectors, its minimum dimensions shall be 4,25 meters wide by 3 meters long and 2,25 meters high, with a minimum space of 80 centimeters left to the right and rear of each projector.

c- It shall be designed so that there is no direct connection with the auditorium; there shall be only small windows through which the projected light beams pass.

d- The maximum dimension of these openings in any direction shall be 30 centimeters, and there shall be two openings for each projector.

e- Each service window shall be equipped with gravity-operated closing systems capable of functioning automatically in the event of fire.

f- They shall have artificial ventilation and shall be duly protected against fire.

g- The booths shall have at least two doors, located on opposite sides, with minimum dimensions of 75 centimeters wide by 2 meters high, constructed of fire-retardant materials with a minimum one-hour rating. They shall be equipped with a mechanism that keeps them closed but allows them to be easily opened outward from the booth.

The general electrical installation at every public assembly venue shall have an automatically activated emergency lighting system, powered by an energy source independent of the venue’s electrical system, that provides the auditorium, lobby, circulation corridors, and signs with the necessary lighting until the general lighting begins operating if the public electricity service is interrupted.

Sanitary facilities at public assembly venues shall have the following characteristics:

a- They shall be separate for each sex. There shall be at least one drinking-water fountain in the common lobby or in the lobby of each facility. If the water-supply system includes storage tanks, they shall have a minimum capacity of two liters per person, based on the venue’s maximum capacity.

b- Impermeable materials shall be used for floors, with adequate drainage. The walls shall be covered to a minimum height of 1.6 meters with tile or a similar material that is impermeable, smooth, and easy to clean, with rounded or chamfered wall angles and corners so that they are easy to clean and maintain.

c- The number of sanitary facilities shall be calculated in accordance with Table 8 of Article 311 of these Regulations.

The applicable provisions of the Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos National Fire Protection Regulations shall apply.

They shall also have a fire-suppression system in accordance with the regulations in force of the INS Fire Engineering Department. The provisions governing fire detection and alarm systems shall likewise be observed.

Circulation spaces at public assembly venues shall meet the following requirements:

a- No seat in spectator stands may be located more than 7 meters from the nearest stairway. The stairway shall have a minimum width of 1.20 meters, a minimum tread depth of 30 centimeters, and risers of 20 centimeters; the stairs shall be constructed with uniform riser heights and tread depths.

b- After every ten rows there shall be aisles parallel to the tiers, with a minimum width equal to the combined widths of the stairways leading into them, between two adjacent doors or exits.

c- Doors and exits shall be constructed in accordance with the standards specified in this chapter.

Buildings for sporting and religious events shall have suitable premises for a first-aid room.

They shall comply with the Reglamento para el funcionamiento sanitario de templos o locales de culto, Decreto N° 33872-S, and its amendments.

Acoustic insulation systems for noise control shall also be mandatory, so as to comply with the Reglamento para el control del ruido ambiental Decreto Ejecutivo 44486-S and its amendments.

Extra sheet, do not print Table 8. Public assembly venues and venues for sporting activities Category Components by category Capacity according to m2 and number of persons Notes SPORTS

• Internal Circulation: see Article 307, included in CHAPTER 15, Public Assembly Venues, of these Regulations.

• The provisions established in Ley 7600, Ley igualdad de oportunidades para las personas con discapacidad, and its Regulations apply to this space.

• See Article 312 through Article 319, included in CHAPTER 16, Public-Use Sanitary Facilities, of these Regulations.

• One person requires 1.0 x 1.5 = 1.5 square meters of floor area to engage in aerobic activity.

• To determine the capacity of components added to the basic design of the proposed space, the parameters specific to each component shall be used.

• See Article 551 through Article 568 in CHAPTER 30, Sodas and Restaurants, of these Regulations.

(see note 1.5)

(see 1.6)

• A sports stadium holds a minimum of 1000 persons (this average is defined on the basis of the stadiums existing in the country). For stadiums with a capacity greater than 1000 persons, sanitary facilities shall be added to the number established as the basic requirement. If the number of spectators (persons) increases, the number of sanitary facilities shall be increased. For each 100 m2 designated for spectators (200 additional persons), the women’s sanitary facilities shall have 3 toilets and 2 washbasins, and the men’s facilities shall have 2 urinals, 1 toilet, and 2 washbasins. In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

• The total number of players includes starters and substitutes on the bench (not reserves). The number is the minimum for each sport.

• To determine the number of changing rooms in a stadium designed for a single sport, the total number of participants per team shall be used as the reference.

• If a stadium is designed for multiple sports, the sport with the greatest number of participants shall be used as the reference for defining the number of changing rooms.

• An athletics track has an average of 8 lanes, and 2 persons may practice in each lane. A jumping track has 4 lanes for different jumps, with three persons per lane.

• To determine the capacity of components added to the basic design of the proposed space, the parameters specific to each component shall be used.

• See Article 551 through Article 568 of CHAPTER 30, Places for the Sale, Preparation, and/or Consumption of Food, of these Regulations.

The women’s facilities shall have 6 toilets and 4 washbasins. In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

(see note 2.2)

Soccer 44 persons in total / 22 persons per changing room (see notes 2.4 and 2.5) Baseball 26 persons in total / 13 persons per changing room (see notes 2.4 and 2.5) Athletics 28 persons in total.

(see note 2.6)

A minimum of two teams shall be used

Women: 1 toilet and 1 washbasin / Men: 1 toilet and 1 washbasin for each changing room (2 for women and 2 for men)

1 common changing room with space for 4 persons. Two showers and one toilet.

(see note 2.7) 7. Sodas and Restaurants (see note 2.8)

• For a sports gymnasium with a capacity greater than 1000 persons, sanitary facilities shall be added to the number established as the basic requirement. If the number of spectators (persons) increases, the number of sanitary facilities shall be increased. For each 100 m2 designated for spectators (200 additional persons), the women’s sanitary facilities shall have 3 toilets and 2 washbasins, and the men’s facilities shall have 2 urinals, 1 toilet, and 2 washbasins. In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

• The sports included in the list are those generally practiced in a covered space.

• The total number of players includes starters and substitutes on the bench (not reserves). The number is the minimum for each sport.

• If the gymnasium has a single-purpose court (for one sport), the minimum number of participants per team shall be used as the reference.

• If the gymnasium has a multipurpose court (for several sports), the sport with the greatest number of persons per team shall be used as the reference.

The women’s facilities shall have 6 toilets and 4 washbasins. In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

(see note 3.2)

A minimum of two general changing rooms for women and two for men shall be provided, whose dimensions and capacity shall be determined by the minimum number of players for each sport:

Category Components by category Capacity according to m2 and number of persons Notes

Basketball 24 persons in total / 12 persons per changing room

Handball 24 persons in total / 12 persons per changing room Volleyball 24 persons in total / 12 persons per changing room Futsal 24 persons in total / 12 persons per changing room 3.9 An average group consists of 20 persons; any increase in capacity is determined by the space in which the activity takes place. A minimum of 1.5x1.5m = 2.25 square meters per person is required for practicing a martial art, plus a circulation allowance that shall not be less than 10% of the activity area.

Gymnastics 20 persons in total (see note 3.8) Martial arts 20 persons in total (see note 3.9) Boxing 4 persons in total (see note 3.10)

A minimum of two teams shall be used

Women: 1 toilet and 1 washbasin / Men: 1 toilet and 1 washbasin for each changing room (2 for women and 2 for men)

1 common changing room with space for 4 persons. Two showers and one toilet. • To determine the capacity of components added to the basic design of the proposed space, the parameters specific to each component shall be used.

• See Article 551 through Article 568 of CHAPTER 30, Places for the Sale, Preparation, and/or Consumption of Food, of these Regulations.

spaces: 8. Sodas and Restaurants (see (see note note 3.12)

In the case of a sports complex, which 4.1 Provisions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5, previously mentioned in is the aggregate of several spaces, the this column, apply to the design of a sports complex.

capacity of each component shall be 4.2 To determine the capacity of components added to the basic determined separately in order to establish the number of changing rooms, showers, and sanitary facilities: design of the proposed space, the parameters specific to each component shall be used.

See the information for

Physical Fitness Gym, described in this Table. • See Article 386 through Article 393 of CHAPTER 22, Cycling Tracks on Natural Surfaces, of these Regulations.

• See Article 551 through Article 568 of CHAPTER 30, Places for the Sale, Preparation, and/or Consumption of Food, of these Regulations.

• For a sports complex with a capacity greater than 1000 persons, sanitary facilities shall be added to the number established as the basic requirement. If the number of spectators (persons) increases, the number of sanitary facilities shall be increased. For each 100 m2 designated for spectators (200 additional persons), the women’s sanitary facilities shall Sports courts See the information for Category 5. Sports Courts, described in this Table.

Swimming and bathing facilities See the information for Category 9.

Swimming and Bathing Facility, described in this Table.

and 2 washbasins. In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

The women’s facilities shall have 6 toilets and 4 washbasins. In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

(see note 4.5)

(see note 4.2) 4. Bicycle motocross track (see note 4.3)

(see note 4.3)

Soccer 22 persons per team 5.1 Provisions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5, previously mentioned in this column, apply to the design of a stadium.

Futsal 10-12 persons per team 5.2 In the case of tennis, there are no substitutes.

Five-a-side soccer 10-12 persons per team

Nine-a-side soccer 15 persons per team essential for 1. Type of court 5.4 To determine the capacity of components added carrying out the Baseball 18 persons per changing room to the basic design of the proposed space, the parameters principal activity specific to each component shall be used.

Basketball 12 persons per team of sanitary facilities shall be increased. For each 100 m2 designated for spectators (200 additional persons), the Handball 12 persons per team women’s sanitary facilities shall have 3 toilets and 2 washbasins, and the men’s facilities shall have 2 urinals, 1 toilet, and 2 washbasins. In both Category Components by category Capacity according to m2 and number of persons Notes Volleyball 12 persons per team cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

Tennis 4 persons in total

Women: 1 toilet and 1 washbasin / Men: 1 toilet and 1 washbasin for each changing room (2 for women and 2 for men)

1 common changing room with space for 4 persons. Two showers and one toilet.

(see note 5.4)

The women’s facilities shall have 4 toilets and 3 washbasins. In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

(see note 5.5)

(see note 6.2)

(see note 6.3) this column, apply to the design of an equestrian facility.

One common changing room with space and a locker for each rider and staff member.

(see note 6.4) 6.2 The dimensions of a show-jumping arena and enclosure are 75x50m; the arena accommodates 6 horses with their riders, 6 trainers, and 6 staff members.

Men’s sanitary facilities: 1 toilet, 1 urinal, and 2 washbasins. Women’s facilities: 2 toilets and 2 washbasins.

There are 2 general caretakers for each module. If the number of modules increases, the requirements for each shall increase proportionally.

to the basic design of the proposed space, the parameters

The women’s facilities shall have 6 toilets and 4 washbasins. In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

(see note 6.6) specific to each component shall be used.

of sanitary facilities shall be increased. For every 200 additional persons: Women (3 toilets and 2 washbasins) and Men (2 urinals, 1 toilet, and 2 washbasins).

Sale, Preparation, and/or Consumption of Food, of these

(see note 6.5) 8. Sodas and restaurants (see note 6.7) Regulations.

(see note 6.8) Buildings for Lodging, of these Regulations.

(see note 7.2) See the information for Category 5. Sports Courts, described in this Table.

Swimming and Bathing Facility, described in this Table. 7.2 Because this is a space for multiple sports, the sport with the greatest number of persons

containing the components essential for carrying out the principal activity 7.3 If the number of spectators (persons) increases, the number of sanitary facilities shall be increased. For every 200 additional persons: Women (3 toilets and 2 washbasins) and Men (2 urinals, 1 toilet, and 2 washbasins).

The women’s facilities shall have 6 toilets and 4 washbasins. In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

(see note 7.3)

to the basic design of the proposed space, the parameters specific to each component shall be used.

Sale, Preparation, and/or Consumption of Food, of these

(see note 7.4) 5. Sodas and restaurants (see note 7.5) Regulations.

SOCIAL

Sports Courts, described in this Table.

Category Components by category Capacity according to m2 and number of persons Notes principal activity (see note 8.2) this column, apply to the design of a sports gymnasium or arena.

• See Article 320 through Article 332 in CHAPTER 17, Community and Multipurpose Halls, of these Regulations.

• See Article 551 through Article 568 of CHAPTER 30, Places for the Sale, Preparation, and/or Consumption of Food, of these Regulations.

• To determine the capacity of components added to the basic design of the proposed space, the parameters specific to each component shall be used.

(see note 8.3)

Swimming and Bathing Facility, described in this Table.

(see note 8.4) 5. Dance hall (see note 8.2)

Equestrian Facility, described in this Table.

1 person = 1.5 square meters of

(see note 9.2) 9.1 Provisions 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5, previously mentioned in this column, apply to the design of a swimming and bathing facility.

One washbasin for every sixty bathers. In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

(see note 9.3) essential for carrying out the principal activity 9.3 If the number of spectators (persons) increases, the number of sanitary facilities shall be increased.

to the basic design of the proposed space, the parameters specific to each component shall be used.

Regulations.

(see note 9.4) 5. Sodas and restaurants (see note 9.5) 9.6 See Article 320 through Article 332 in CHAPTER 17, Community and Multipurpose Halls, of these Regulations.

(see note 9.6)

(see note 10.2) 10.1 Provisions 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5, previously mentioned in this column, apply to the design of an amusement park.

(see note 10.3) 1 person = 1 square meter of surface area 10.2 One person is calculated for each position on each

essential for carrying out the

The women’s facilities shall have 6 toilets and 4 washbasins. In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

(see note 10.4) Amusement rides Dimensions Capacity principal activity 1 ride:

Flying chairs Diameter = 18 meters 24 persons 1 ride: Carousel Diameter = 6 meters 10 persons 1 ride: Tagada Diameter = 5 meters 30 persons 1 ride: Pirate ship 10 x 6 meters 32 persons

(see note 10.6) 10.3 See Article 551 through Article 568 of CHAPTER 30, Places for the Sale, Preparation, and/or Consumption of Food, of these Regulations.

(see note 1000 persons, sanitary facilities shall be added to the number established as the basic requirement for every 2000 additional persons.

to the basic design of the proposed space, the parameters specific to each component shall be used.

Community and Multipurpose Halls, of these Regulations.

One person requires 0.64 square meters 11.1 Notes 1.3, 1.4,

of corridor area. and 1.5, previously mentioned in this column, apply to the design of a theme park.

(see note 11.2) 11.2 Depending on the design and the scale and complexity variables

(see 11.3)

The women’s facilities shall have 6 toilets and 4 washbasins. In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

(see note 11.4) essential for carrying out the principal activity 11.3 See Article 551 through Article 568 of CHAPTER 30, Places for the Sale, Preparation, and/or Consumption of Food, of these Regulations.

of sanitary facilities shall be increased. For every 200 additional persons: Women (3 toilets and 2 washbasins) and Men (2 urinals, 1 toilet, and 2 washbasins).

(see note 11.6) 11.5 To determine the capacity of components added

(see note 11.5) 6. Laboratories or research centers (see note 11.7) to the basic design of the proposed space, the parameters specific to each component shall be used.

Scientific Research Centers, of these Regulations.

(see note 12.2) 12.1 Provisions 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5, previously mentioned in this column, apply to the design of a retreat facility.

Category Components by category Capacity according to m2 and number of persons Notes principal activity.

(see note 12.3) • See Article 515 through Article 550 in CHAPTER 29, Buildings for Lodging, of these Regulations.

• See Article 320 through Article 332 in CHAPTER 17, Community and Multipurpose Halls, of these Regulations.

• To determine the capacity of components added to the basic design of the proposed space, the parameters specific to each component shall be used.

(see note 12.4)

See the information for Category 5. Sports Courts, described in this Table.

1 person requires 0.72 m2 of area

(excluding the circulation allowance) (see note 13.2)

column, apply to the design of a library.

principal activity

In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

(see note 13.4) 13.3 The minimum space for one person to use a computer is 0.90x1.20 = 1.08 square meters.

of sanitary facilities shall be increased for every 400 persons.

In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

principal activity 14.3 See Article 551 through Article 568 of CHAPTER 30, Places for the Sale, Preparation, and/or Consumption of Food, of these Regulations.

spaces: 5. Sodas and restaurants (see (see note note 14.3)

(see note 15.2)

containing the components essential for carrying out the principal activity • To determine the capacity of components added to the basic design of the proposed space, the parameters specific to each component shall be used.

• See Article 551 through Article 568 of CHAPTER 30, Places

In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

for the Sale, Preparation, and/or Consumption of Food, of these Regulations.

Educational Buildings, of these Regulations.

Sodas and restaurants (see spaces: note 15.4) (see note 7. Classroom or classrooms (see note 15.5)

of sanitary facilities shall be increased. For every 200

The women’s facilities shall have 6 toilets and 4 washbasins.

In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

(see note 16.2) additional persons: Women (3 toilets and 2 washbasins) and

containing the components essential for carrying out the principal activity (*) Because of the complexity involved in developing a museum or art museum, responsibility for the spatial and functional requirements of each space rests with the designer.

Category Components by category Capacity according to m2 and number of persons Notes

public skating, figure skating, and of skating-rink area.

dancing. (see note 17.2) 17.1 Notes 1.1,

principal activity

The women’s facilities shall have 6 toilets and 4 washbasins. In both cases, 1 toilet and 1 washbasin shall be provided for use by persons with disabilities.

(see note 17.3) 17.3 If the number of spectators (persons) increases, the number of sanitary facilities shall be increased. For every 200 additional persons: Women (3 toilets and 2 washbasins) and Men (2 urinals, 1 toilet, and 2 washbasins).

for one person on a bench, 0.6x0.8m = 0.48 square meters.

• To determine the capacity of the additional components, the specific parameters for each component are applied to the basic design of the proposed space.

• See Article 551 through Article 568 of CHAPTER 30 Sites

(see observation 17.6) for the sale, preparation and/or consumption of food under these

spaces: 17.7 The requirements established for the design of a skating rink (See observation do not apply to community halls that

For these, see Article Record 311 Article text not found Article Record 312

and Multipurpose Halls of these Regulations.

For women: 6 toilets and 4 washbasins. In both cases, they must include 1 toilet and 1 washbasin for use by persons with disabilities.

(see observation 18.2) essential 18.2 If the number of spectators (persons) increases, the number components for carrying out of sanitary facilities must be increased. For each additional 200 the principal activity persons: Women (3 toilets and 2 washbasins) and Men (2 urinals, 1 toilet, and 2 washbasins).

Bowling lanes 4 persons per lane (see observation 19.2) 19.1 The provisions in 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5 previously mentioned in this column apply to the design of a bowling alley.

with the components 2. Rest tables/chairs 1 person requires 0.64 square meters of table area 19.2 The average number of bowling lanes depends on the available essential for carrying out the area. A lane may accommodate 4 persons.

principal activity 19.3 If the number of spectators (persons) increases, the number

(see observation 19.3) of sanitary facilities must be increased. For each additional 200 persons: Women (3 toilets and 2 washbasins) and Men (2 urinals, 1 toilet, and 2 washbasins).

the specific parameters for each component are applied to the basic design of the proposed space.

(see observation 19.5)

the sale, preparation and/or consumption of food under these Regulations.

Category Components by category Capacity according to m2 and number of persons Observations principal activity 2. Bar and table area 1 person requires 0.64 square meters of table area 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5 previously mentioned in this column apply to the design of a billiard room.

Both cases must include 1 toilet and 1 washbasin for use by persons with disabilities.

RELIGIOUS

A place of worship for 400 persons requires 1. Spectators—participants 1 person occupies a seated space of 0.6x0.8m = 0.48 square meters • The provisions in 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5 previously mentioned in this column apply to the design of a place of worship.

• If the number of spectators (persons) increases, the number of sanitary facilities must be increased. For each additional 200 persons: Women (3 toilets and 2 washbasins) and Men (2 urinals, 1 toilet, and 2 washbasins).

• To determine the capacity of the additional components, the specific parameters for each component are applied to the basic design of the proposed space.

• See Article 551 through Article 568 of CHAPTER 30 Sites for the sale, preparation and/or consumption of food under these Regulations.

• See Article 428 through Article 454 in CHAPTER 25 Educational Buildings of these Regulations.

• See Article 320 through Article 332 in CHAPTER 17 Community and Multipurpose Halls of these Regulations.

For women: 6 toilets and 4 washbasins. Both cases must include 1 toilet and 1 washbasin for use by persons with disabilities.

(see observation 21.2)

(see observation 21.3) 4. Sodas and restaurants (see observation 21.4)

(see observation 21.5)

(see observation 21.6)

See the information for Category 5. Sports courts, described in this Table.

Article Record 320

Specific Considerations

If no connection to the sanitary sewer system exists, the most appropriate treatment must be selected according to the volume of wastewater and the type of soil at the site, while always complying with current regulations of the Ministerio de Salud or any other competent entity.

Regulations

Every sanitary facility must be located at a site where wastewater can be properly disposed of through the use of a sanitary sewer system and its respective treatment plant, or an individual system suited to the site’s physical conditions, in compliance with the Reglamento de Vertido y Reúso de Aguas Residuales, Decreto N°33601-MINAE-S, and its amendments.

Article Record 313

In every building, public sanitary facilities must be located no more than 75 meters apart and must be designed according to the standards established in this Chapter.

Additionally, public sanitary facilities must be located near the buildings’ principal circulation routes.

Article Record 313

They must be separate for each sex and must also have at least one toilet for persons with disabilities for each sex and comply with Article 189 and Article 312 of these Regulations.

Article Record 314

All public sanitary facilities must have at least one accessible stall adapted for persons with disabilities, for both men and women, equipped with at least one toilet and one washbasin. They must comply with the dimensions established in Article 318 of this Chapter. The foregoing does not apply to public sanitary facilities in commercial premises and offices smaller than 150 square meters, as established in Article 189 of these Regulations, where one stall shall be provided for use by men, women, and persons with physical disabilities.

Article Record 315

All sanitary facilities for public use must be provided with at least one floor drain to facilitate proper cleaning of those facilities.

Article Record 316

For design and construction purposes, the minimum dimensions shall be those established below, which shall always be clear dimensions and shall not include wall thickness:

a- Toilet stall with an inward-opening door: it must meet the following dimensions:

a.1. Minimum width: 0.90 meters.

a.2. Minimum depth: 1.40 meters.

a.3. Minimum height: 2.40 meters.

b- Toilet stall with an outward-opening door: it must meet the following dimensions:

b.1. Minimum width: 0.90 meters.

b.2. Minimum depth: 1.20 meters.

b.3. Minimum height: 2.40 meters.

c- Toilet stall for persons with disabilities: it must meet the dimensions established in Article 318 of this Chapter.

d- Urinal: it must meet the following center-to-center dimensions:

d.1. Minimum width: 0.75 meters d.2. Minimum depth: 0.80 meters d.3. Maximum mounting height of the lower edge: 0.70 meters d.4. Maximum mounting height of the lower edge for children: 0.45 meters e- Washbasins: they must meet the following dimension:

e.1. Minimum height: 0.80 meters e.2. Minimum height for children: 0.55 meters f- Washbasins for persons with disabilities: they must meet the dimensions established in Article 318 of this Chapter.

g- Shower stall: it must meet the following dimensions:

g.1. Minimum width: 0.90 meters g.2. Minimum depth: 0.90 meters g.3. Height of controls: between 1.0 and 1.2 meters Article Record 317

For design and construction purposes, the minimum dimensions required to provide access for persons with physical disabilities shall be those established below, which shall always be clear dimensions and shall not include wall thickness:

a- Toilet stall with the toilet installed offset to one side of the rear wall: it must meet the following dimensions:

a.1. Minimum depth: 2.25 meters a.2. Minimum width: 1.55 meters.

b- Toilet stall with the toilet installed at the center of the rear wall: it must meet the following dimensions:

b.1. Minimum depth: 2.25 meters.

b.2. Minimum width: 2.25 meters.

c- Shower stall: it must meet the following dimensions:

c.1. Minimum depth: 1.75 meters.

c.2. Minimum width: 1.50 meters.

c.3. The bathtub shall have no steps or curbs on the floor.

d- Doors: In toilet, urinal, and shower stalls, doors must have the following characteristics:

d.1. Minimum clear width: 0.90 meters.

d.2. Door opening: outward or sliding. Outward-opening doors must have a doorstop.

d.3. Lock: lever type, 0.90 meters above finished floor level (N.P.T.).

e- Accessories and shelves: electrical outlets, towel racks, sanitary-napkin holders, and wastepaper bins must meet the following dimensions:

e.1. Minimum height: 0.75 meters.

e.2. Maximum height: 0.90 meters.

f- Mirrors: The maximum height of the bottom edge shall be 0.80 meters above N.P.T.

g- Grab bars: They must be constructed of rigid and unalterable materials; their outer surfaces must have a smooth-to-the-touch, slip-resistant texture. If exposed to extreme temperatures, they must be suitably coated to prevent injuries or accidents. The clear separation between a grab bar and the wall or another element must be greater than or equal to 5 centimeters; they must be firmly secured and capable of withstanding a concentrated force of at least 1.5 kilonewtons (153 kilograms) at the most unfavorable position. The ends of the grab bars must have a curved design.

They must have circular or ergonomic cross-sections, with the cross-sectional dimensions, defined by the diameter of the circumscribed circle, ranging from 3.5 centimeters to 5 centimeters. Toilet, urinal, and shower stalls must have the following characteristics, as stipulated in the code:

g.1. Toilet or bidet stall: Horizontal or vertical grab bars may be installed. Horizontal grab bars must be at least 90 centimeters long and must be located beside the toilet, 30 centimeters above the seat and 32 centimeters from the toilet’s centerline. If a second horizontal side grab bar is installed, it must be folding and must comply with the foregoing requirement regarding its distance from the toilet; it must also be at least 75 centimeters long. Where two side transfer spaces are provided, both grab bars must be folding.

The vertical grab bar must be 75 centimeters long and must be installed beginning at a height of 80 centimeters above floor level.

Figure 1 contains a diagram showing the placement of grab bars in relation to toilets.

g.2. Washbasin: At least one horizontal or vertical grab bar, 75 centimeters long, must be installed beginning at a height of 80 centimeters measured from finished floor level.

g.3. Showers: An “L”-shaped grab bar, 75 centimeters long, must be installed for the shower at a height of 76 centimeters above finished floor level. Figure 2 contains a diagram showing the placement of grab bars in relation to the shower.

g.4. Bathtub: Four horizontal grab bars, 60 centimeters long, must be installed; two of them at the short ends of the bathtub, at the same height between 84 centimeters and 92 centimeters above finished floor level. The remaining two must be installed on the side wall, one at a height of 20 centimeters and the other at a height between 38 centimeters and 45 centimeters, both measured from the upper edge of the bathtub. Figure 3 contains a diagram showing the placement of grab bars in relation to the shower.

g.5. Urinal: Two vertical grab bars, 80 centimeters long, must be installed at a height of 70 centimeters above finished floor level.

They must be placed on both sides of the urinal, equidistant at 40 centimeters from the fixture’s centerline. Figure 4 contains a diagram showing the placement of grab bars in relation to the urinal.

h- Floors: All floors in sanitary facilities must be made of slip-resistant material, including the interior floors of shower stalls. They must also be free of irregularities.

i- Emergency call: In public sanitary-facility areas, an emergency call device or button for persons with physical disabilities must be installed 0.45 meters above N.P.T. and must be readily identifiable and accessible.

Article Record 318

If a building provides services to the public, its sanitary facilities for public use must have a diaper-changing station, at least one for each sex, or must have a family-type sanitary facility that includes a diaper-changing station.

Article Record 319

Specific Considerations

For these halls to function properly, it is important to have minimum physical requirements and suitable facilities capable of meeting users’ needs when carrying out specific activities.

For example, some community halls may be equipped with stages and bleachers, although this is not a mandatory requirement. Nevertheless, all must comply with noise-containment regulations and minimum-facility equipment requirements.

Regulations

For a license to construct, expand, adapt, or modify community halls to be issued, the halls must be located in accordance with the Reglamento de Zonificación del Plan Regulador Cantonal of the canton of Santa Ana.

Article Record 320

The activities and uses of the hall are subject to the uses permitted under the Reglamento de Zonificación and to the hall’s physical accommodations.

Article Record 321

In each case, the construction drawings, whether for a new structure or a renovation, must specify the uses for which the facilities are intended.

Article Record 322

Every community and multipurpose hall must comply with the Reglamento para el control del ruido ambiental, Decreto Ejecutivo 44486-S, and any regulations currently in force concerning this subject.

Article Record 323