10A NCAC 09 .1401. INDOOR SPACE

(a)  Indoor space on which licensed capacity is based will be referred to as "primary space".  The licensing consultant will measure all primary space that will routinely be used by children who attend the center, except that the following will not be included: closets, hallways, storage areas, kitchens, bathrooms, utility areas; thresholds, foyers, space or rooms used for administrative activities or space occupied by adult‑sized desks, cabinets, file cabinets, etc.; single‑use rooms, including music rooms, isolation/sick rooms, gymnasiums, dining rooms, sleep rooms; any floor space occupied by or located under equipment, furniture, or materials not used by children; and any floor space occupied by or located under built‑in equipment or furniture.

(1)           Any single‑use room used by the children for sleeping only, either during nap time or any other time, will also be measured by the Division's representative to assure that the available floor space provides 200 cubic feet of air space per child for the maximum number of children who will sleep in that room at any time.

(2)           All measurements will be rounded off to the nearest inch.

(3)           Total space on which the licensed capacity is based will be the sum of the measurements of all primary space to be used by the children.  However, no room will routinely be occupied by more children than the primary space in that room will accommodate at 25 square feet of space per child.  This is not meant to preclude grouping children together periodically for special activities, such as to view films or slides; for special presentations, such as puppet or magic shows, a special story teller, a discussion of safety practices by a fireman or nurse, etc.  However, care must be taken to assure that during such special activities, the room used is not so overcrowded that the children and staff would be endangered in case of a fire or other emergency necessitating evacuation of the center.

(b)  For centers with a licensed capacity of three to 12 children located in a residence, the dining area of a kitchen may be counted if it is routinely used for children's activities in addition to eating.

(c)  Paragraph (a) of this Rule shall apply only to child care centers initially licensed on or after February 1, 1985.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110‑91(6); 143B‑168.3;

Eff. January 1, 1986;

Amended Eff. July 1, 1998; November 1, 1989.