North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 15A - Environmental Quality › Chapter 18 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH › Subchapter A - SANITATION › Section .2800 - SANITATION OF CHILD CARE CENTERS › Section 18A .2801 - DEFINITIONS

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
The following definitions shall apply throughout this
					 Section:
(1) "Adequate" means to be of
				  the size, volume, or technical specifications necessary to effectively
				  accommodate and support the planned, current, or projected workloads for the
				  technology or constructed space.
(2) "Approved Disinfectant" means a chlorine
				  solution containing 500 to 800 parts per million (ppm) of chlorine or a
				  disinfectant as defined at 40 C.F.R. 158.2203 that is
				  registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in
				  accordance with 40 C.F.R.
				  152 with use indicated in schools and child
				  care settings and that is prepared and maintained in accordance with Rule
				  .2812(i) of this Section.
(3)
				  "Chain or Franchise Child Care Center" means a child care center that operates
				  under the same business name and prototype design concept, with common
				  ownership or management, as nine or more other child care centers pursuant to a
				  franchise agreement under the same franchisor as nine or more other child care
				  centers.
(4) "Child Care
				  Administrator" means as defined at
				  G.S.
				  110-86(2a).
(5) "Child Care Center" means as defined at
				  10A NCAC
				  09 .0102(6).
(6) "Child Care Operator" or "Operator" means
				  as defined at
				  G.S.
				  110-86(7).
(7) "Clean" means that an object or surface
				  has been made free of garbage, soil, dust, hair, dander, food, bodily fluids
				  and secretions, and feces.
(8)
				  "Communicable Condition" means as defined at
				  G.S.
				  130A-2(1b).
(9) "Communicable Disease" means as defined
				  at G.S.
				  130A-2(1c).
(10) "Department" or "DHHS" means the North
				  Carolina Department of Health and Human Services or the Department's authorized
				  agent pursuant to
				  G.S.
				  130A-4.
(11) "Designated Emergency Medication" means
				  a medication needed to immediately treat a life-threatening medical event that
				  is administered in accordance with
				  10A NCAC
				  09 .0803(10) and
				  G.S.
				  110-102.1A.
(12) "Detergent Solution" means a solution
				  comprised of water and soap.
(13)
				  "Disinfect" means a non-sporicidal process of using an approved disinfectant on
				  inanimate surfaces to destroy or irreversibly inactivate fungi, viruses, and
				  bacteria.
(14) "Food" means any
				  raw, cooked, or processed edible substance, ice, beverage, or ingredient used
				  or intended for use or for sale in whole or in part for human
				  consumption.
(15) "Food-contact
				  surface" means as defined in Part 1-201.10 of the Food Code incorporated by
				  reference at
				  15A NCAC
				  18A .2650 as amended by
				  15A NCAC
				  18A .2651.
(16) "Food Preparation" means the handling of
				  foods or utensils in the preparation of meals, including opening and closing of
				  baby bottles, baby food jars, and cereal boxes, as well as the opening and
				  closing of any other food items during the assembly of ingredients.
(17) "Food Service" means the distribution of
				  foods for consumption, including milk placed in a pitcher or other serving
				  container, ice that is transported, stored and dispensed, the distribution of
				  children's bagged lunches and snacks sent from home, and the use of utensils to
				  prevent direct food contact.
(18)
				  "Frying" means to cook over direct heat in hot oil or fat. This includes the
				  oil or fat that is generated by the food or added to the cooking
				  utensil.
(19) "Garbage" means as
				  defined at
				  G.S.
				  130A-290(a)(7).
(20) "Good Repair" means as defined at
				  15A NCAC
				  18A .2651(8). Items that are
				  in good repair shall be free of substrate damage, deterioration, peeling
				  surfaces, and broken or missing parts and shall operate in accordance with the
				  manufacturer's or builder's instructions.
(21) "Hand Antiseptic" means as defined in
				  Part 2-301.16 of the Food Code incorporated by reference at
				  15A NCAC
				  18A .2650 as amended by
				  15A NCAC
				  18A .2652.
(22) "Handwash Lavatory" means a sink that is
				  equipped with hot and cold water under pressure and is used primarily for
				  handwashing.
(23) "Hazard" means as
				  defined in Part 1-201.10 of the Food Code incorporated by reference at
				  15A NCAC
				  18A .2650 as amended by
				  15A NCAC
				  18A .2651, except that "consumer" shall be
				  replaced with "child."
(24)
				  "Hermetically Sealed Container" means as defined in Part 1-201.10 of the Food
				  Code incorporated by reference at
				  15A NCAC
				  18A .2650 as amended by
				  15A NCAC
				  18A .2651.
(25) "Licensing Agency" means the DHHS,
				  Division of Child Development and Early Education.
(26) "Local Health Department" means as
				  defined at
				  G.S.
				  130A-2(5).
(27) "Milk Products" means as defined in
				  Section 1 of the 2017 Grade "A" Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, including
				  subsequent amendments and editions, established by the U.S. Department of
				  Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, which is hereby
				  incorporated by reference and available free of charge at
https://www.fda.gov/media/114169/download
.
(28) "Multi-Service Articles" means
				  tableware, including flatware and hollowware that are designed, fabricated, and
				  intended by the manufacturer to be washed, rinsed, sanitized, and
				  re-used.
(29) "Multi-Use Articles"
				  means bulk food containers and utensils designed, fabricated, and intended by
				  the manufacturer to be washed, rinsed, sanitized, and re-used. The term
				  includes food storage containers, beverage pitchers, serving spoons and bowls,
				  tongs, and spatulas. The term does not include multi-service articles as
				  defined in this Rule.
(30) "Outdoor
				  Learning Environment" means as set forth at
				  10A NCAC
				  09 .0605.
(31) "Pest" means as defined at
				  G.S.
				  143-460(26a).
(32) "Potable Water" means water from a
				  potable water supply as defined at
				  15A NCAC
				  18C .0102(c)(18).
(33) "Potentially Hazardous Food" means any
				  food or ingredient, natural or synthetic, in a form capable of supporting the
				  growth of infectious or toxigenic microorganisms, including Clostridium
				  botulinum. This term includes raw or heat-treated food of animal origin, raw
				  seed sprouts, and heat-treated foods of plant origin. The term does not include
				  foods which have a pH level of 4.6 or below or a water activity value of 0.85
				  or less.
(34) "Sanitize" means a
				  process of using a sanitizing solution on inanimate surfaces to destroy or
				  irreversibly inactivate bacteria.
(35) "Sanitizing Solution" means a solution
				  containing 50 to 200 parts per million (ppm) of chlorine or a sanitizer as
				  defined at 40 C.F.R.
				  158.2203 that is registered with the EPA in
				  accordance with 40 C.F.R.
				  152 that is approved by the EPA for use on
				  food-contact surfaces, does not require a final rinse step, and has a testing
				  method that can be used by child care center employees to confirm that the
				  prescribed chemical concentrations are met and that is prepared and maintained
				  in accordance with Rule .2812(j) of this Section.
(36) "School Age" means a school-aged child
				  as defined at
				  10A NCAC
				  09 .0102(42).
(37) "Single-Service Articles" means
				  tableware, including flatware and hollowware, carry-out utensils and other
				  items such as bags, containers, stirrers, straws, toothpicks, and wrappers that
				  are designed, fabricated and intended by the manufacturer for one-time
				  use.
(38) "Single-Use Articles"
				  means bulk food containers and utensils intended by the manufacturer to be used
				  once and discarded. The term includes formed buckets, bread wrappers, pickle
				  barrels, and No. 10 cans. The term does not include single-service articles as
				  defined in this Rule.
(39)
				  "Tempered Water" means water that is between 80 and 110 degrees
				  Fahrenheit.
(40) "Utensil" means
				  any kitchenware, tableware, glassware, cutlery, containers or other equipment
				  that food or drink comes in contact with during storage, preparation or
				  serving.
(41) "Water Play Center"
				  means water tables or containers that allow children to scoop, splash, pour,
				  and play with water to explore their senses.
(42) "Work Surfaces" means surfaces used for
				  food service, stove tops, food contact utensil and dishwashing sinks, surfaces
				  used for air drying, drain boards, surfaces used for diaper changing, counter
				  top surfaces, and children's work tables, desks, and easels.
Authority
					 G.S.
					 110-91;
Eff. July 1,
					 1991;
Amended Eff. March 1, 1995;
Temporary Amendment
					 Eff. April 15, 1998;
Amended Eff. July 1, 2006; January 1, 2006;
					 April 1, 1999.