South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 114 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES › Article 5 - LICENSING › Subarticle 1 - DAY CARE FACILITIES › REGULATIONS FOR THE LICENSING OF GROUP CHILD CARE HOMES › Section 114-526 - 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 DHEC.
(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 and the cleaning of 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 not 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, 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 1/4 inch in
				  diameter, items with removable parts smaller than 1 1/4 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 the
				  DHEC.
(b) The center shall have hot
				  and cold water under pressure. (Forty PSI recommended) If an individual private
				  well water supply is used, the director shall obtain approval pursuant to DHEC
				  to ensure safe location, construction, and proper maintenance and operation of
				  the system.
(c) Hot water shall be
				  between 100 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
(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.
(b) When
				  outdoor temperature exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit, caution shall be used when
				  children are involved in outdoor physical activities.
(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.
(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 hot
				  and cold running water under pressure for every 20 children over two years of
				  age. Sinks shall be located in or near each toilet area.
(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.