Statutes, codes, and regulations
Colorado Administrative Code
Department 1400 - Department of Early ChildhoodDivision 1402 - Division of Early Learning, Licensing, and AdministrationRule 8 CCR 1402-1 - CHILD CARE FACILITY LICENSING RULES AND REGULATIONS
FACILITY REQUIREMENTS AND TRANSPORTATION
Section 8 CCR 1402-1-2.336 - INDOOR REQUIREMENTS

8 Colo. Code Regs. § 1402-1-2.336

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Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, June 10, 2024
Section 8 CCR 1402-1-2.336 - INDOOR REQUIREMENTS
A. General Indoor Requirements
1. There must be open, uncluttered, and safe indoor play space of at least thirty-five (35) square feet of floor space per child, including space for moveable furniture and equipment exclusive of:
a. Hallways;
b. Bathrooms;
c. Stairways;
d. Closets;
e. Laundry rooms;
f. Furnace rooms; and
g. Space occupied by permanent built-in cabinets and permanent storage shelves.
2. All floors must have an easily cleanable finish including, but not limited to: carpets, tile, wood, or concrete.
3. Interior walls must be free of holes and constructed of solid material with a smooth finish that can be easily cleaned. Painted finishes shall be maintained free from peeling, chipping or otherwise deteriorating paint.
4. The family child care home must be equipped with adequate light, heat, ventilation, and plumbing for safe and comfortable occupancy. The heating unit must be capable of maintaining a draft-free temperature of a minimum of sixty-eight (68) degrees Fahrenheit at floor level in all rooms used for child care.
5. All rooms must be kept in a clean and sanitary condition and be free of any evidence of pest or rodent infestation.
B. Indoor Equipment, Materials and Furnishings
1. Toys, toy parts, furnishings, equipment, and any materials accessible to children under three (3) years of age must not be a choke hazard or able to be inhaled.
2. An adequate number of high chairs and other child size suitable equipment that meet Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission standards published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at 16 CFR § 1112 and 1321 (June 19, 2019), herein incorporated by reference. No later editions or amendments are incorporated. These regulations are available at no cost from the CPSC at https://www.ecfr.gov. These regulations are also available for public inspection and copying at the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, 710 S. Ash St., Denver, CO 80246, during regular business hours; must be provided when feeding each child under two (2) years of age.
3. Children's use of walkers with wheels is prohibited unless specifically provided for a child's special needs as ordered in the child's health care plan.
4. Furnishings for relaxation and comfort must include, but not be limited to:
a. Soft play areas, which may include rugs, carpets, mats, and cushions; and
b. Clean and soft toys.
C. Indoor Safety
1. All hazardous items and materials must be inaccessible to children including, but not limited to, office supplies, matches, plastic bags, cleaning and laundry materials, perfumes, curling irons, adult sharp scissors and knives, cosmetics, shaving lotions, hair products, poisonous plants, and all items labeled by manufacturer as "keep out of reach of children."
2. In rooms accessible to children, all electrical outlets and power strips must have protective covers, or safety outlets must be installed; all exposed light bulbs accessible to children in areas where children can play must have protective covers. Electrical cords must be in good condition and must not pose strangulation, falling, or tripping hazards.
a. Extension cords must not be used in place of permanent wiring and must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
b. Extension cords must be plugged directly into a wall outlet.
c. Space heaters must be plugged directly into a wall outlet.
3. Window blind cords and coverings must be secured out of children's reach or otherwise made safe to prevent strangulation.
4. During child care hours, fans that pose a safety hazard to children ( fans that can be pulled onto the child, and those where the child can stick fingers in the blades) must be inaccessible to children.
5. Exterior doors may be locked, and interior doors must be designed to prevent children from becoming trapped. No locks or fastening devices can be used that would prevent emergency evacuation. No more than one (1) lock can be used on an exit door during business hours.
6. Any level where child care occurs must have at least two (2) means of escape. A basement exit may include a window large enough for the primary provider, applicant 2, equally qualified provider, qualified substitute, staff members, volunteers, visitors, and children to individually exit.
7. For windows used as a second exit where the window sill height is over thirty (30) inches, there must be permanent access to the window. Permanent access can include a ladder bolted to the wall or furniture permanently attached to the wall or steps.
a. For window wells over forty-four (44) inches, there must be an attached escape ladder designed specifically for the purpose of evacuation of children from the window well to the ground level.
b. For family child care homes licensed after March 1, 2024, the emergency escape opening must be a minimum of 5.7 square feet with a minimum width of twenty (20) inches and a minimum height of twenty-four (24) inches.
8. All unvented gas or electric heating units, must be installed and maintained with safety devices to prevent fire, explosions, and other hazards. Open-flame gas or oil stoves, unscreened fireplaces, hot plates, and unvented heaters must not be used.
9. All heating units must be used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. Space heaters must have a heating element that does not exceed 212 degrees Fahrenheit and be equipped with a tip-over safety switch.
10. Any cooking stoves with controls within reach of a child shall have a safety guard.
11. Flammable or combustible items must be stored in a locked area remote from the kitchen, and at least three (3) feet from the furnace, hot water heater or any other heating device. These items include, but are not limited to, paints, fuels, insecticides, and other hazardous chemicals.
12. Furnaces and hot water heaters must be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer specifications and inaccessible to children.
13. All family child care homes must have smoke alarms installed in every bedroom licensed for care, in the immediate vicinity outside every bedroom, in every area used as a sleeping room, and at least one on each floor of the house.
a. Smoke alarms must not be older than the manufacturer directs.
b. For family child care homes licensed after March 1, 2024, smoke alarms must be interconnected so that when one (1) alarm is activated all are activated.
14. There must be a carbon monoxide detector in working condition installed in the area of the family child care home as recommended by the manufacturer and in the hallway outside the licensed bedrooms or area where children sleep.
15. The family child care home must contain at least one (1) fire extinguisher in working condition with the minimum weight of five (5) pounds, and minimum rating of 2A-10-BC as listed on the fire extinguisher label. The fire extinguisher must be easily accessible or the identifying sign where the fire extinguisher is located must be highly visible.
a. Fire extinguishers must be replaced at least every six (6) years.

8 CCR 1402-1-2.336

47 CR 04, February 25, 2024, effective 3/16/2024