4 AAC 62.510. Life and fire safety

(a) The standards for life and fire safety set out in 13 AAC 50.010 - 13 AAC 50.075 and 13 AAC 55.010 - 13 AAC 55.150 as administered by the Department of Public Safety apply to facilities providing

(1) less than 24 hour care for more than six children, including those children of the caregiver who are under age 12 or of limited mobility, if applicable; and

(2) 24 hour care or overnight care for more than five children.

(b) Before an initial license will be issued to a center or group home the child care facility must comply with the applicable fire safety requirements specified in (a) and any additional or more stringent standards established by a municipality to which the state fire marshal has deferred building fire safety inspection and enforcement activities under 13 AAC 50.075(c) .

(c) At the time of licensing, a licensing representative will inspect a home to determine if the child care facility meets the applicable requirements of (d) - (i) of this section. The licensing representative will request an inspection by fire prevention officials if a home is subject to the requirements of (a) of this section and when the licensing representative determines that an inspection by a fire prevention official is necessary.

(d) A child care facility must have an emergency evacuation plan, approved by the licensing representative, that

(1) will, in moderate weather conditions, achieve complete evacuation of children, including children with limited mobility, within 150 seconds during an emergency; and

(2) specifically provides for the evacuation of all children under 30 months of age, children with limited mobility, or children who otherwise may need assistance in an emergency, such as a child who is mentally, visually, or hearing impaired.

(e) A child care facility shall conduct and document emergency evacuation drills at least once a month, unless postponed due to severe weather.

(f) A child care home must have at least

(1) two means of emergency escape that are remote from each other and that provide unobstructed access to the outside of the building; at least one means of emergency escape must be an exterior door;

(2) one means of escape from the basement directly to the outside at or near ground level, if children occupy a basement area for any part of the day; and

(3) one operable window that meets the requirements to (h)(1) - (3) of this section and provides escape directly to the outside in each child's sleeping room.

(g) A child care facility located in a single family dwelling that has only one exterior door may not have more than six children in care, including the children who are related to the child care facility administrator.

(h) If, under (f)(1) of this section, the home designates a window as one required means of emergency escape, the window must be operable and comply with the following:

(1) the finished sill height may not exceed 44 inches above the floor;

(2) the net clear openable area must be a minimum of 5.7 square feet, with a minimum net clear openable height dimension of 24 inches; and

(3) the minimum net clear openable width dimension must be 20 inches.

(i) A child care home must be free of fire hazards and must

(1) have at least one working smoke detection device that is less than 10 years old or newer than the manufacturer's replacement date in the device, and that is

(A) an AC primary power smoke detection device, with battery back up; or

(B) a monitored battery powered smoke detection device;

(2) have at least one fully charged 2A:10BC, or greater classification, dry chemical fire extinguisher strategically located on each level and serviced according to the requirements of 13 AAC 50.025(37) ;

(3) ensure that any flammable or combustible liquids are stored in containers with tight fitting lids out of the reach of young children; and

(4) ensure that heating appliances are installed and maintained in a safe and serviceable manner, including

(A) venting to the outside if the appliance is fuel burning; and

(B) not being placed or located in sleeping quarters during sleeping hours, unless the child care home does not have a separate sleeping area, or in exit ways or corridors at any time.

History: Eff. 1/1/96, Register 136; am 3/1/98, Register 145; am 2/8/2002, Register 161; am 10/4/2002, Register 163; am 12/6/2002, Register 164

Authority: AS 14.37.020

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