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Building Inspector Checklist |
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Building Code Requirements for Group Child Care Center
This is not an official list. The final determination will be made by a COMM 5-certified inspector, engineer or architect.
There are 2 occupancy classifications for child care center buildings:
“E” (Educational) occupancy = programs serving no more than 5 children under 2 ½ years.
“I” (Institutional) occupancy = programs serving more than 5 children under 2 ½ years.
Exception: If a center offers care for between 6 and 100 children who are under 2 ½ years AND all the rooms in which they are cared for are at ground level, AND all those rooms have exit doors directly to the exterior, then the center would be classified as “E” occupancy.
These requirements apply to both “E” and “I” programs, unless indicated otherwise:
____1. 35 sq. ft. of space per child minus halls, bathrooms, and space not available to children, including teacher desks, tv/vcr stands, refrigerators, etc.
____2. Wood frame construction buildings may be no more than 1 story in height, unless entire building is sprinklered; if so, 2 stories are permitted. Any walls of a wood frame building that are less than 10’ from another building or property line must be 1-hour rated for fire resistance.
____3. Halls must be at least 36 inches wide.
____4. All required exit doors must be 36" wide. If center serves more than 25 children, exit doors must swing out.
____5. Each floor level in use by children must have 2 code complying exits.
____6. The sills of all first floor required exits must be within 6 feet of grade (ground level).
____7. Children under the age of 2 are restricted to first floors and ground floors having direct grade level exits.
___ 8. Illuminated exit signs are needed at all required exits. If these exit signs are not readily visible from all areas of the day care, directional exit signs may be required to direct people to the exits. These exit lights shall have a battery backup.
____9. Doors and frames in any required 1 hour fire-resistive rated construction must be 3/4 rated assemblies and must be equipped with a self closer.
___10. Open flame furnaces or hot water heaters must be enclosed in 1 hour fire resistive construction. Combustion air must be provided to these rooms. Electric or sealed combustion gas furnaces or water heaters, on the approved list, are not required to be enclosed.
___11. All occupied rooms of the day care must be provided with 7.5 CFM of outside air or openable windows equal to 4% of the floor area.
___12. “I” occupancy buildings must have sprinkler systems, unless all rooms in which children under 2 ½ years are cared for have direct grade-level exits.
“E” occupancy buildings must also have sprinkler systems if larger than 20,000 sq. ft.unless every classroom has a direct exit. If any portion is in a basement, that area must be sprinklered.
___13.. Exit travel distance: “I” centers where building is sprinklered must have travel distances of no more than 200’ from the farthest point of a classroom to building exit. “I” centers where building is NOT sprinklered must have travel distances of no more than 150’ For “E” centers without sprinkler systems, the exit distance from each room must be 200’ or less. “E” centers that are sprinklered must have travel distance of 250’ or less.
___ 14. Fire extinguishers need to be in place and properly charged. A fire inspector will determine placements and sizes.
___ 15. Steam radiators, electric fans, outlets and heating units need to be protected with screens or guards. No extension cords may be used in permanent use. No unvented space heaters may be used.
___ 16. Areas under stairs may not be used for storage.
___ 17. Toilets and washbasins provided shall be based on DCFS regulation as follows:
Licensed Capacity
Toilets Required
Washbasins Required
25 or fewer
2
1
26 to 40
3
2
41 to 55
4
2
56 to 70
5
3
Over 70
1 per 15 children
1 per every 2 toilets
___ 18. Toilet room door locks shall be openable from the outside and the opening device shall be readily accessible to staff. This does not apply to toilet stalls, with space to crawl out.
___ 19. If potty chairs are used for children under 30 months of age, the potty chairs shall be provided in a ratio of one for every 4 children or fraction thereof.
___ 20. Each self-contained classroom or area serving infants and toddlers must have a sink with hot and cold running water for diaper changing, which is not used for food preparation or dishwashing within the room or area.
___ 21. The inside temperature may not be less than 67 degrees F.
___ 22. If the inside temperature exceeds 80 degrees F., and the building is not air conditioned, air circulation must be provided with fans or by other means.
___ 23. All electrical wiring shall comply with the applicable sections of the National Electric Code and Comm. 16 Volume 2, the Wisconsin state electric code..
___ 24. Any vehicle storage garage less than 500 square feet must be enclosed with a 1 hour rated fire rated construction. Any vehicle storage garage that is larger than 500 square feet must be enclosed with a 2 hour fire rated construction.
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