PBS 140 Child Care Center Design Guide - The Whole Building ...

CHAPTER 9: INTERIOR FINISHES
� Protective resilient fall zones under interior climbing equipment in accordance
with the Handbook for Public Playground Safety, US Consumer
Product Safety Commission of 10 stitches per 25 mm, anti-microbial
feature, and 1800 mm minimum wide goods with non-PVC backing
system.
� Add additional protection for gypsum wallboard, such as veneered plaster,
impact resistant wallboard, fiberglass wall covering or some other
means to “toughen” otherwise vulnerable surfaces in high use areas
such as multi-purpose rooms and corridors.
9.2 Color and Texture
Both color and texture have a great impact on children. The sense of
touch is directly related to cognitive development, and color has far-reaching
effects which influence behavior. While cool colors tend to have a calming
effect, and warm colors tend to create warmth and excitement, a consistent
extreme of either in a center is not desirable.
9.2.1 Use of Color:
The overuse of a strong color scheme should be avoided, as this may
result in over-stimulated, excited behavior. The predominant color above
the level of the wainscot should be neutral and, in general, achieve a
reflectance of 80% or greater. Stronger, more vivid colors with reflectance
of 65% may be applied on one wall in corridors and along the rear walls of
classrooms (opposite windows). Bear in mind that children’s clothing is
usually much more colorful than that of adults, and their toys and art add a
great deal of color to the environment. Therefore, little “color statement” is
required on the part of the designer. Do not use primary colors on walls.
Too little color is better than too much in an environment where children will
spend a great deal of time. Avoid complex patterns on walls and floor
coverings. Select colors appropriate to the activity, using color cues to
identify particular areas. Warm (as opposed to bright) hues are preferred,
when appropriate. Once the color scheme has been selected as part of
the design effort, it can be changed only with the approval of the RCCC.
9.2.2 Use of Texture:
Provide a variety of textures on surfaces within reach of children, especially
for infants and toddlers. Utilize soft textures whenever possible, especially
in quiet or sleeping areas to promote relaxed and quiet behavior. Hard
textures are more appropriate for large motor activity areas where livelier
behavior occurs. The use of subtle, varied, natural textures is highly
encouraged as they are soothing and interesting to children.
9-2
9.3 Types of Finish Materials
The following sections contain guidelines for finishes for floors, walls, and
ceilings, and discuss issues to consider when selecting finishes.
9.3.1 Wall Finishes:
� Paint: Interior paint must be non-toxic and comply with Green Seal’s
standard for “Paints,” which includes VOC content limits of 50 grams
per liter (flat) and 150 grams per liter (non-flat), as well as restrictions on
the harmful ingredients listed in Appendix E. Exterior paint must comply
with GSA Federal Specification TT-P-2846 which requires that paint
contain a minimum of 50% post consumer waste paint taken from community
collections. In addition, it must be lead and chromate free as
defined by Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines
and must not contain any of the EPA 17 chemicals.
� Creation of a wainscoat is important to protect surfaces.
� Glazed coatings: Appropriate for wet areas.
� Decorative, scrubbable eggshell, minimum paint or linoleum wainscot
should be used instead of vinyl or other wallcoverings where possible.
� Textiles on vertical surfaces within reach of children are not recommended,
but work well for surfaces such as bulletin boards above
children’s reach.
� Glazed Ceramic tile: Appropriate for wet areas such as toilets and kitchens.
Ceramic tile is durable, non-porous, and very cleanable, especially
if grout material is epoxy. Sound deflection can be a problem with this
finish.
� Display surfaces: Chalkboards, marker boards, or magnet boards may
be provided as a wainscot up to 900 mm or higher. Display systems
requiring tacks are not allowed and tape may damage finishes and is
not allowed. The baseline amount of space available for display for
each classroom will be 2400 mm long and 900 mm high. GSA will
provide “art waxer” equipment which allows children’s art to adhere to
finishes without clamps, tacks, or tape.
� Mirror: Provide shatterproof mirror surfaces, particularly in crawling and
toddler areas. Provide grab bars in front of mirrors for infants and toddlers.
Mirrors shall be safety glass, acrylic, or reflective metal. Baseline
amount of mirror space for infants and toddlers will be 1800 mm long,
450 mm high per classroom.
� Use 5/8” Water Resistant (W/R) type wallboard ASTM C630 in all toilet
rooms, utility rooms, and kitchens.
PBS-140 - July 2003