South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 114 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES › Article 5 - LICENSING › Subarticle 1 - DAY CARE FACILITIES › Section 114-507 - Physical Site

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
A. Indoor space and
				conditions
(1) The director shall provide at
				least thirty-five (35) square feet of indoor play space per child, measured by
				Department staff from wall to wall. Department staff shall determine the total
				number of children to be cared for in each room by measuring and computing the
				rooms separately. Bathrooms, reception areas, isolation rooms, halls and space
				occupied by cupboards, shelves, furniture and equipment which are accessible to
				children for their use shall be allowable space. Kitchens, storage rooms, and
				storage cabinets used solely for or by staff shall be excluded. Halls, although
				included in total indoor space, shall not be used for activities or storage of
				furniture and equipment.
(2)
				Ventilation
(a) Child care areas, dining
				areas, kitchens, and bathrooms shall be ventilated by mechanical ventilation,
				such as fans or air conditioning, or at least one operable window.
(b) If freestanding fans are used, fans shall
				have a stable base, be equipped with protective guards and be placed in a safe
				location.
(c) Windows, including
				windows in doors, when utilized for ventilation purposes shall be securely
				screened to prevent the entrance of insects.
(d) Windows accessible to children under 5
				years of age that are above ground level of the building shall be adjusted to
				limit the opening to less than 6 inches or protected with guards that do not
				block outdoor light.
(3)
				Safety glass shall be used on clear glass windows and doors that are within
				thirty-two inches above floor level and that are accessible to children. Decals
				shall be applied to all glass or sliding patio doors and placed at eye level of
				the children being cared for at the facility.
(4) Lighting
(a) Rooms, hallways, interior stairs, outside
				steps, outside doorways, porches, ramps, and fire escapes shall be
				lighted.
(b) At least twenty foot
				candles of light shall be required on all work surfaces in food preparation,
				equipment washing, utensil washing, hand-washing areas, and toilet
				rooms.
(c) Adequate, safe lighting
				for individual activities, for corridors, and for bathrooms shall be
				provided.
(5)
				Environmental hazards
(a) Safety barriers
				shall be placed around all heating and cooling sources, such as hot water
				pipes, fixed space heaters, wood- and coal-burning stoves, hot water heaters,
				and radiators, that are accessible to children to prevent accidents or injuries
				upon contact by the child.
(b)
				Knives, lighters, matches, projectile toys, tobacco products, microwave ovens,
				and other items that could be hazardous to children shall not be accessible to
				children.
(c) To prevent lead
				poisoning in children, child care centers shall meet applicable lead base paint
				requirements, as established by the South Carolina Department of Health and
				Environmental Control (DHEC), pursuant to South Carolina Code annotated Section
				44-53-1310, et seq.,
				and Regulation Number (61-85).
(d)
				Floors, walls, ceilings, windows, doors and other surfaces shall be free from
				hazards such as peeling paint, broken or loose parts, loose or torn flooring or
				carpeting, pinch and crush points, sharp edges, splinters, exposed bolts and
				openings that could cause head or limb entrapment.
(e) The use of sinks, equipment, and
				utensil-washing sinks, or food preparation sinks for the cleaning of garbage
				and refuse containers, mops or similar wet floor cleaning tools, and for the
				disposal of mop water or similar liquid waters is prohibited.
(f) Children shall not be present in the area
				during construction or remodeling and not in the immediate area during cleaning
				or in such a manner as to create a condition that might result in an accident
				or cause harm to the health and safety of the children.
(g) The following items shall be secured or
				inaccessible to children for whom they are not age appropriate:
(i) Items that may cause strangulation such
				as blind cords, plastic bags, necklaces, and drawstrings on clothing and
				string;
(ii) Items that may cause
				suffocation such as sand, beanbag chairs, pillows, soft bedding, and stuffed
				animals; and
(iii) Items that may
				cause choking such as materials smaller than 1 ¼ inch in diameter, items
				with removable parts smaller than 1 ¼ inch in diameter, Styrofoam
				objects and latex balloons.
(6) Water Supply
(a) The water supply shall meet applicable
				requirements for water quality and testing in accordance with DHEC.
(b) The center shall have hot and cold water
				under pressure. (Forty PSI recommended) If water is unavailable for four hours,
				a center must close.
(c) Hot water
				shall meet current DHEC regulations for Retail Food Establishments:
				61-25.
(d) Safe drinking water
				shall be available to children at all times and there shall be no use of common
				drinking cups.
(e) If a water
				fountain is available, it shall be of an angle-jet design, maintained in good
				repair and kept sanitary. There shall be no possibility of mouth or nose
				submersion.
(f) Ice used for any
				purpose shall be made from water from an approved source. The ice shall be
				handled and stored in a sanitary manner.
(7) Temperature
(a) Temperature shall be maintained between
				68 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit as appropriate to the season while children are
				present in the center. If temperature cannot be maintained in this range for
				more than four hours, the center must close.
(b) Caution shall be used with regards to
				weather and the length of time children are outside when the wind chill factor
				is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit or the heat index is above 95 degrees
				Fahrenheit.
(8)
				Sanitation
(a) Clean and sanitary conditions
				shall be maintained indoors and outdoors, including indoor and outdoor
				recreational equipment and furnishings.
(b) Measures to control insects, rodents, and
				other vermin shall be taken to prevent harborage, breeding, and infestation of
				the premises.
(c) All solid wastes
				shall be disposed of at sufficient frequencies and in such a manner not to
				create a rodent, insect, or vermin problem.
(d) Trash in diapering areas shall be kept in
				closed, hands-free operated, plastic lined receptacles in good
				repair.
(e) Trash in kitchen areas
				shall be kept in closed, plastic lined receptacles.
(f) Trash in children's restrooms,
				classrooms, and eating areas shall be kept in plastic lined
				receptacles.
(g) Trash receptacles
				outside the building, shall be watertight with firm fitting lids that prevent
				the penetration of insects and rodents.
(h) Trash disposal and sewage system
				construction and usage shall be in accordance with local standards and
				ordinances.
(i) The use of child
				care room, bathroom, or kitchen sinks for cleaning of trash receptacles or
				cleaning equipment is prohibited.
(9) Doors
(a) Protective gates shall be of the type
				that do not block emergency entrances and exits and that prevent finger
				pinching and head or limb entrapment.
(10) Landings, stairs, handrails, and
				railings
(a) Children shall not have access to
				a door that swings open to a descending stairwell or outside steps, unless
				there is a landing that is at least as wide as the doorway at the top of the
				stairs.
(b) Each ramp and each
				interior stairway and outside steps exceeding two steps shall be equipped with
				a secure handrail at the height appropriate for the sizes of the children at
				the center.
(c) Stairs shall have a
				nonskid surface.
(d) Each porch and
				deck that has over an 18-inch drop shall have a well-secured railing.
(e) Interior stairs that are not enclosed
				shall have a barrier to prevent falls.
(11) Electrical sources
(a) The center shall be connected with an
				electrical source.
(b) Electrical
				outlets and fixtures shall be connected to the electrical source in a manner
				that meets local electrical codes, as certified by an electrical code
				inspector. - NFPA 70 and 99 Compliance.
(c) Electrical outlets shall be securely
				covered with childproof covers or safety plugs when not in use in all areas
				accessible to children.
(d) No
				electrical device accessible to children shall be located so that it could be
				plugged into the outlet while in contact with a water source, such as sinks,
				tubs, shower areas, or swimming/wading pools, unless ground fault devices are
				utilized.
(12) Bathrooms
(a) There shall be at least one flush toilet
				for every 20 children over two years of age. Staff shall be included when
				determining availability of toilets if there are no staff rest rooms.
(b) If seat adapters are used for toilet
				training, they shall be cleaned and sanitized after each use.
(c) Toilet training equipment shall be
				provided to children who are being toilet trained.
(d) There shall be at least one sink with
				running water under pressure for every 20 children over two years of age. Sinks
				shall be located in or near each toilet area. It is recommended that water be a
				minimum of 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
(e) Toilets and sinks shall be at heights
				accessible to the children using them or shall be equipped with safe and sturdy
				platforms or steps.
(f) Privacy
				shall be provided for toilets used by preschool and school age
				children.
(g) Floor and wall
				surfaces in the toilet area shall have smooth, washable surfaces. Carpeting is
				not permitted in the toilet area.
(h) Toilets, toilet seat adapters, sinks and
				restrooms shall be cleaned at least daily and shall be in good
				repair.
(i) Liquid or granular soap
				and disposable towels shall be provided at each sink.
(j) Children shall not be left unattended in
				a bathtub or shower.
(k) Easily
				cleanable receptacles shall be provided for waste material. Toilet rooms used
				by women shall be provided with at least one covered waste
				receptacle.
(l) Bathroom facilities
				shall be completely enclosed.