The Board of Housing and Community Development shall promulgate regulations, to be effective by October 1, 1995, in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.), establishing standards for automatic sprinkler systems in hospitals, regardless of when such facilities were constructed. In the development of these standards, the Board shall seek input from relevant state and local agencies as well as affected institutions.
For the purposes of this section and § 32.1-126.3, "automatic sprinkler system" means a device for suppressing fire in patient rooms and other areas of the hospital customarily used for patient care.