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

CHAPTER 10:
TECHNICAL CRITERIA
This chapter provides criteria for the design and construction
of elements and systems throughout the center, and discusses
pertinent regulations.
10.1 Fire Protection,
Environmental, and Safety
Issues
10.1.1 Scope:
This section provides the technical design criteria that GSA Child Care
Centers must meet. The majority of the fire protection, environmental, and
safety requirements are contained in numerous national codes and
standards. Compliance with national codes and standards are explained,
and areas where GSA’s requirements differ from referenced national codes
and standards are delineated.
10.1.2 Applicability:
As explained in Chapter 2, GSA will convene a “design workshop,” to which
all interested stakeholders shall be invited. Specifically, the design
workshops shall include representation from all appropriate regional safety
professionals (i.e., fire protection engineers, environmental engineers,
industrial hygienists, and occupational safety and health professionals).
The GSA regional safety professionals shall have the right to revise the
specific requirements within this section based on a technical evaluation/
analysis and the project’s specific needs.
10.1.3 National Codes and Standards:
For new construction center projects and renovation center projects, GSA
shall, to the maximum extent feasible, comply with one of the nationally
recognized model building codes and with other applicable nationally
recognized codes. In addition, for all new construction and renovation
projects, the egress requirements of the National Fire Protection Association
PBS-140 - July 2003
CHAPTER 10: TECHNICAL CRITERIA
(NFPA) Life Safety Code have been adopted by GSA in lieu of the egress
requirements of the national model building code that is used. (See the
latest edition of the GSA Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service
for additional code and standard requirements.)
10.1.4 Location:
Locate centers either in a dedicated child care center building, or on the
first floor (i.e., level of exit discharge) of a building either along an outside
wall with window access to the exterior, or along a courtyard with window
access. Centers adjacent to a courtyard must have approved means of
egress out of the courtyard itself to an area of safety. Centers shall not be
located below the building’s level of exit discharge.
� Exception: Portions of centers located one story above the level of exit
discharge in which only pre-school children (24 months or greater in
age) occupy the space.
10.1.5 Means of Egress Requirements:
The egress requirements of the NFPA Life Safety Code shall be used in
lieu of the requirements in the national model building code.
Special Requirements:
� Each center shall have at least two means of egress, which may exit via
protected corridors, with the required fire separations.
� Panic hardware or fire exit hardware shall only be installed on means of
egress doors serving more than 100 persons.
� No dead-end corridor shall exceed 20 feet (6.1 meters).
� No common path of travel shall exceed 75 feet (23 meters).
� The travel distance between any room door intended as an exit access
and an exit shall not exceed 100 feet (30 meters).
� The travel distance between any point in a room and an exit shall not
exceed 150 feet (45 meters).
� The travel distance between any point in a sleeping room and an exit
access door in that room shall not exceed 50 feet (15 meters).
� In dedicated child care center buildings, where possible, each classroom
and activity room shall be provided with one direct exit to the outside.
� Doors within the center shall be arranged to be opened readily from the
egress side whenever the center is occupied. Locks, if provided, shall
not require the use of a key, a tool, or special knowledge or effort for
operation from the egress side. All locking arrangements shall meet
the requirements of the latest edition of the NFPA Life Safety Code.
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