REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

Transcription

1 SMALL CENTERS IN A RESIDENCE (6-12 Children) REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development are providing this general guide to assist those persons interested in the procedures to obtain a Small Center in a Residence license for 6-12 Children. The Division of Child Development monitors the centers for 1-5 children. We could not cover all the situations, but we have addressed the majority of repeat situations. Please assist us by telling us problems that you have experienced so that they may be addressed in future revisions.. CHECKLIST Have you contacted the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development to determine what special requirements apply to your facility? Have you contacted Zoning to find out if a child care center is allowed at the location you selected? Many of the cities and townships in Mecklenburg County have different restrictions. To find out your zoning status in the City of Charlotte call (704) If you live in the surrounding towns Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill or Pineville please call the zoning office for that town. Cornelius (704) Davidson (704) Huntersville (704) Matthews (704) Mint Hill (704) Pineville (704) Have you contacted Mecklenburg County Department of Environmental Health to determine what special requirements and approvals are required for the facility? If you have determined from the above agencies what the restrictions or added construction needs are and you still feel that it is worthwhile to continue, the following are typical costly items that you must consider prior to continuing: Dwelling SHALL be the private residence of owner with sleeping/eating rooms. It should be a one-story residence or extensive modifications will be required prior to licensing. Rooms for child care use shall have access to two remotely located outside doors. Have you retained a designer to evaluate the costs associated with meeting the North Carolina State Building Codes and state agencies requirements? Have you contacted Plan Review to schedule your Preliminary Child Care Plan Review? The Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development includes the following requirements:

2 Child care rooms, wall and ceiling coverings shall be noncombustible materials. Fuel burning space heaters, fireplaces, and floor furnaces shall be listed and shall be provided with protective screens. Smoke and/or heat detector in unoccupied spaces such as basements, workshops, and fossilfueled furnace rooms. Hand wash sink(s) and water temperature control. North Carolina has a state child care law and there are several state & local agencies that are involved in the regulations that must be complied with for all child care facilities. Existing residence to be used as a Small Center in a Residence (6-12 Children): Existing residence evaluation for child care use shall be performed by the child care owners and/or their architect or engineer. Plans will show existing conditions and proposed changes to the facility that will be made to meet the North Carolina State Building Codes and state agencies requirements. After plans are created contact Residential Plan Review or and schedule your Preliminary Child Care Plan Review. There is a $300 charge by Building Standards for the final Child Care Plan Review, which is independent of any required construction permits or fees. The Preliminary Child Care Plan Review will assist you in determining what is required to bring your residence into compliance with the North Carolina State Building Codes and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development Requirements. The Preliminary Child Care Plan Review does not replace the submittal of plans to Residential Plan Review required to secure and pay for the construction building permits. All work to be performed must be included in the complete plans and permit application. Permits are required for any building, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing work. Permits may be with the homeowner with licensed subcontractor or a licensed general contractor by the state of North Carolina. All work is required to be inspected and approved for each phase of construction. The appropriate contractor who performed the work shall request the required inspections (i.e. electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or building). All work performed shall be inspected and approved and the Certificate of Occupancy and License shall be issued before the residence may be used for a SMALL CENTER IN A RESIDENCE. The owner will receive the Certificate of Occupancy issued by Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement, which should satisfy the state s written report requirements. If there is work going on in a existing building when it is occupied a life safety plan will need to be provided to help protect the occupants during the construction phase. State Child Care Facility Requirements Child care centers (previously called a Large Day Care Home) can care for a maximum of 12 children in a residential home. Dwelling must be the private residence of the owner. Dwelling must meet the current North Carolina State Building Code (Residential).

3 Each room approved for child care purposes shall have access to two remotely located outside doors. Access from the room door to the remotely located outside exits shall not have a dead end distance of more than 20 feet measured from the room door used by the children to a point at which two separate means of egress can be provided. EXCEPTION: Rooms, which have an exterior door leading directly to the outside and located no more than 48 inches above finished grade. All children shall be kept on the ground level with an exit at grade. The spaces to be used shall have one or more windows to provide adequate light and ventilation. NOTE: See Chapter 12 of the North Carolina State Building Code for a complete description of all requirements concerning light and ventilation. All wall and ceiling coverings in rooms used for child care purposes and the exiting path, shall have surface of noncombustible construction (i.e. plaster or gypsum wallboard). Any type of wood coverings, foam ceiling panels, carpeting etc. can NOT BE USED. Maximum age of any child is 13. A maximum of 12 children when any child present is preschool age or a maximum of 15 when all children present are school age. (The operators own school age children shall not be considered in the count of school age children). Fire alarm notification is required for the staff and children. The State Minimum Fire Alar All homes shall be equipped with an electrically operated (with a battery backup) smoke detector, or one electrically operated and one battery operated smoke detector located next to each other. All unoccupied spaces, such as basements, workshops and fossil fuel fired furnace rooms must be provided with approved labeled automatic smoke and/or heat detectors. All homes shall be provided with at least one five lb. 2-A:10-B:C type extinguisher readily accessible for every 2,500 square feet of floor area. Unvented fuel burning heaters and portable electric space heaters of all types are prohibited. Fuel burning heaters, fireplaces and floor furnaces which are listed and approved for that installation and are provided with a protective screen attached securely to substantial supports will be allowed. Air conditioning units shall be located so that they are not accessible to children or shall be fitted with a mesh guard to prevent objects from being thrown into them. The outdoor play area shall be protected by a fence or other protection (check with your zoning official). Requirements are a manual fire alarm per chapter 9. (North Carolina State Building Code) NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUILDING CODE VOLUME 1-C HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY All small centers shall provide these minimum requirements: A sidewalk leading up to the property ( if such is under the control of the owner of the property) and a walkway on the property leading up to the entrance. A minimum of one entrance Those portions of the residence, interior or exterior, available to or used by employees or visitors or the public accommodation or commercial facility. A minimum of one toilet room meeting Volume 1-C Handicap code of North Carolina.used by employees or visitors

4 STATE CHILD CARE FACILITIES REQUIREMENTS TO SERVE FOOD TO CHILDREN Domestic kitchen equipment may be used for these required items: Two compartment sink Refrigeration equipment Cooking equipment Dishwasher NOTE: A three-compartment sink may be used to satisfy the two compartment sink and dishwasher items above. There must be a separate sink for hand washing in food preparation areas. An additional hand wash sink is required in the dishwashing area (if separate from the kitchen). NOTE: These hand-washing sinks shall be used only by the food serving personnel. The infant/toddler food service area shall contain at least an adequate refrigerator, bottlewarming equipment, an easily cleanable countertop and a separate hand-washing sink for food service hand-washing only. Lavatories (hand washing sinks): Sized and located to comply with the appropriate hand-washing requirement They shall be mounted at an appropriate height to accommodate the children or otherwise be made accessible All hand washing sinks shall be equipped with hot and cold running water. When accessible to children, the hot water shall be limited to a minimum of 90 F and no more than 110 F which may be accomplished with setting the water heater serving those hand washing sinks to 110 F or by a tempering valve Soap and disposable towels shall be provided at every hand wash sink area Hand wash signs shall be posted at each employee hand washing location The diaper changing area shall be located close to a toilet or flush-rimmed sink. A hand wash sink shall be located near all diaper changing areas Water Supply Minimum of 20 psi water pressure No cross-connections with an unapproved water supply shall exist (Example: water from a personal well connected to city water). If potential back flow conditions exist, an approved back flow prevention device shall be provided Hot water heating equipment shall provide hot water at a minimum temperature of 130 F at the point of use when hot water is not used for sanitizing. When hot water is used for sanitizing, a minimum temperature of 140 F shall be provided at the point of use. However, hot water to those areas accessible to children, including hand washing sinks serving diaper changing areas, shall be no less than 90 F and shall not exceed 110 F COMMON PROBLEMS These are common problems that occur with most existing residences being converted to Small Centers in a Residence (previously called Large Day Care Homes).

5 A. General All Trades Contractors work is not finished when we arrive The licensed contractor is the only one that can call in the inspections for their work, not the owner New equipment installed with no permit or inspections Old permitted work has not been called in for inspections nor has it passed all final inspections B. Building Does not meet the current North Carolina State Building Code nor does it meet the North Carolina State Residential Code Exterior is not kept in good repair (defective or rotted siding, roof leaks, cracked windows, etc.) No permits for existing renovations or additions (decks, storage buildings, etc.) Required operable windows, do not exist Bars over windows are not allowed All wall and ceiling coverings in rooms used for child care purposes and the exiting path, shall have surface of noncombustible construction (i.e. plaster or gypsum wallboard); often this is not in compliance Fuel burning space heaters, fireplaces, and floor furnaces shall be listed and shall be provided with protective screens; often this is not in compliance Smoke and/or heat detectors are not installed in unoccupied spaces such as basements, workshops, and fossil-fueled furnace rooms C. Electrical Broken receptacles and switch plates not repaired Electrical outlets in child care and playroom areas do not have the plastic safety devices installed Wires in crawl spaces and attics not properly supported Lighting fixtures not properly secured Junction boxes do not have covers or openings covered Wiring not properly terminated Drop cord (extension cords) are being used All panels are not labeled properly and panel openings are not closed Working clearances around electrical panels and equipment are not maintained (minimum of three feet in front of electrical equipment, panels, etc.) D. Mechanical Does not have proper access to equipment Furnace and water heater venting Insufficient clearance around vent pipes from combustibles Not supported properly Not sealed to chimney properly Not properly maintained (rusted out etc.) Equipment is not properly ventilated (louvers in door, etc) Duct system Ducts not connected properly

6 Ducts on the ground (Minimum 4-inch clearance required) Ducts not supported properly Outside equipment not fenced off as required E. Plumbing Bathroom fixtures not properly supported, fastened, or secured (sinks, toilets, etc.) Threaded hose connections do not have vacuum breakers installed on them (washing machine connections are exempt.) Plumbing and water pipes are not properly supported. Tempering valves not installed if required by Health Department Temperature of water heater not lowered to 120 F if required by Health Department Relief valve for water heater not piped down or piped properly All open plumbing lines not properly terminated All homes shall be equipped with an electrically operated (with a battery backup) smoke detector, or one electrically operated and one battery operated smoke detector located next to each other. All unoccupied spaces, such as basements, workshops and fossil fuel fired furnace rooms must be provided with approved labeled automatic smoke and/or heat detectors. All homes shall be provided with at least one five lb. 2-A:10-B:C type extinguisher readily accessible for every 2,500 square feet of floor area. Unvented fuel burning heaters and portable electric space heaters of all types are prohibited. Fuel burning heaters, fireplaces and floor furnaces which are listed and approved for that installation and are provided with a protective screen attached securely to substantial supports will be allowed. Air conditioning units shall be located so that they are not accessible to children or shall be fitted with a mesh guard to prevent objects from being thrown into them. The outdoor play area shall be protected by a fence or other protection (check with your zoning official). North Carolina has a state child care law and there are several state & local agencies that are involved in the regulations that must be complied with for all child care facilities. Primary N. C. State Child Care agency: THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT P. O. Box Raleigh, N.C (800) FAX:(919) Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement Department, ZONING DIVISION (704) FAX:(704)

7 Mecklenburg County Environmental Health Department (704) FAX:(704) Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal s Office (704) FAX:(704) City of Charlotte s Fire Prevention 441 Beaumont Avenue (704) FAX:(704) Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement BUILDING SERVICES DIVISION (704) FAX:(704)