Alabama Administrative Code › Title 660 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES › Chapter 660-5-37 - LICENSING: MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL CHILD-CARE FACILITIES › Section 660-5-37-.05 - Physical Facilities

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1)
			 Construction and Design. Buildings shall be built, remodeled, or acquired with
			 consideration of the service and program to be offered and children to be
			 accepted. Specifically designated areas shall be provided for sleeping,
			 bathing, dining, informal living and office. The building shall be accessible
			 to persons with disabilities in accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act
			 Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) or Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards
			 (UFAS)
(2) Zoning Approval. Prior
			 to being issued a license, six-month permit, or approval, the applicant for the
			 facility shall submit to the Department a written statement of compliance with
			 applicable zoning requirements.
(3)
			 Fire Inspection. Prior to being issued an initial or renewal license, six-month
			 permit, or approval, the applicant for the facility shall submit to the
			 Department a written fire inspection report with no violations cited.
			 Subsequent inspections may be requested by the licensee, member of the Board of
			 Directors or by the Department of Human Resources. Copies of such inspection
			 reports shall be submitted to the Department.
(4) Health Inspection. Prior to being issued
			 a license, six-month permit, or approval, the applicant for the facility shall
			 submit to the Department a written Health Department inspection report. If food
			 is prepared at the facility, a copy of a current Health Department food permit
			 shall be submitted to the Department. If food is not prepared at the facility,
			 but is served by the facility, the applicant shall obtain written approval from
			 the Health Department of the food service plan, when available, and submit a
			 copy of this approval to the Department. Subsequent inspections may be
			 requested by the licensee, member of the Board of Directors or by the
			 Department of Human Resources. Copies of such inspection reports shall be
			 submitted to the Department.
(5)
			 Grounds and Furnishings. Attractive, well kept grounds with sufficient outside
			 play space shall be provided. Play space and equipment shall be safe,
			 functional, and available for the recreational program involving all children
			 in the child care facility. All buildings shall be equipped with furnishings
			 that are sufficient to sustain the basic function of the building, adequate in
			 condition, attractiveness and durability, and appropriate to the age and size
			 of the children who will be using the building.
(a) All Child Care Facility on-site swimming
			 pools shall be completely enclosed by a barrier on all four sides of at least
			 four feet in height. The barrier may consist of a house plus a fence on the
			 remaining three sides or a four-sided fence. Openings in the fence shall not
			 permit the passage of a 4-inch diameter sphere. All access through the barriers
			 must have one of the following safety features: key lock, self-locking doors or
			 a bolt lock. When the fenced-in pool area is not in use, all entry points must
			 be locked. When the above ground pool is not in use, steps or ladders leading
			 to it must be removed. The fenced-in pool area cannot be used as a play area
			 for children.
(b) When children are
			 using the fenced-in pool area, apply the following:
1. Non-swimmers shall not be allowed in the
			 pool without a life jacket or approved flotation device, unless the non swimmer
			 is participating in a supervised swim lesson.
Direct supervision by a person certified in Basic Water Safety
				shall be required at all times when children are using swimming pools and in
				the fenced-in area.
(c) A certificate or other documentation of
			 successful completion of a basic water safety course is required for the
			 facility staff if the facility has a pool or is located on a site adjacent to
			 bodies of water. This certification or other documentation of successful
			 completion of basic water safety instruction is required before children are
			 allowed to use the pool.
(d)
			 Swimming pools must be equipped with a ring buoy, rescue tube, or other
			 appropriate flotation device with an attached rope of sufficient length to
			 cover the pool. The facility must develop rules governing pool use. Rules must
			 be posted and reviewed with each child.
(e) Basic pool safety rules should include
			 the following:
1. Running or boisterous play
			 is not allowed in the fenced-in pool area.
2. Glass articles, sharp metal objects and
			 other hazardous objects are not allowed in the fenced-in-area.
3. No jumping or diving from the slide is
			 allowed; slide feet first and only after previous sliders have cleared the
			 area.
4. Only one (1) person at a
			 time will be allowed on the diving board; diving will not be allowed until the
			 previous diver is out of the diving area.
(f) Safety precautions must include depth
			 markers, life lines, and ladders or steps in the deep and shallow
			 ends.
(g) Chemicals when not in use
			 are to be stored in locked areas.