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

CHAPTER 10: TECHNICAL CRITERIA
10.7.2 Standards for Safety Glass:
� Consumer Product Safety Commission, 16 CFR, Part 1201, Safety Standard
for Architectural Glazing.
� ANSI Z97.1, Safety Performance Specifications and Methods of Testing
for Safety Glazing Materials Used in Buildings.
Depending on code requirements, operable windows may be mandatory in
order to provide for rescue and/or ventilation. All operable windows must
have draft deflectors, screens, and safety locks, and be of a safety type to
keep children from falling through. Exterior window glazing must be insulated
glass. Interior windows need not be insulated, although interior spaces
requiring acoustical separation may also employ laminated glazing.
Light control and energy conservation features are required on all exterior
windows in children’s areas, either by exterior or interior methods. In new
construction, exterior overhangs or low E-type glass, or both, should be
included in many areas of the country because they may be highly costeffective
over the life cycle of the building and may well justify a higher first
cost, particularly on elevations with excessive heat gain. Overhangs are
highly desirable but should be designed in a way that do not excessively
restrict natural light, especially during winter months. Designer must reference
solar declension angles for this purpose in submissions.
In addition, simple roller shades or draperies should also be used where
required to control lighting and heat gain. Venetian-type blinds not
recommended because, when they extend below 1375 mm children may
damage them. Valances may also provide color, sound absorption, and a
non-institutional appearance. Exterior windows in napping/sleeping areas
may require window treatments to control direct sunlight. Light levels in all
rooms, including sleeping rooms, must be maintained at a sufficient level to
provide visual observation of the space from adjoining spaces. All blind
cords must be kept out of children’s reach. Where venetian blinds are used,
the cord must end above the reach of children occupying the room.
10.7.3 Doors & Hardware:
All door hardware shall comply with UFAS and meet the requirements of the
latest edition of NFPA, Life Safety Code. Lever-types appropriate for use by
the disabled shall be provided for all door locks and latch-sets. To prevent
injury, all doors will have closers that restrict the rate of closure. Doors
accessible to children must have hardware operable from both sides, with
components having smooth edges and no sharp protrusions. Door openings
intended for only adult use shall have hardware installed at adult height.
10-8
Main entrance doors shall have an electronic strike release with keypad or
card reader and a remote release. Keypads and card readers must meet
UFAS standards and meet the requirements of the latest edition of NFPA
Life Safety Code.
10.8 Plumbing and Accessories
The following are requirements specific to child care centers:
� Provide paper towel and soap dispensers at all sinks (including art sinks
these should be types with no serrated edges).
� Provide easily-reached clean-outs for waste piping.
� Provide a shut-off valve for each fixture so that maintenance procedures
do not affect multiple plumbing facilities.
� Provide a floor drain in each children’s toilet, laundry, and in each water
play activity area, where possible. Drains are required above occupied
space such as computer rooms.
� All hot water supplies accessible to children must have a controlled temperature
not to exceed 43 degrees C (105 degrees F) at point of delivery.
� Provide a hot water supply to the dishwasher.
� Provide hot and cold faucets at each sink.
� Provide drinking fountains with a mouthguard and angled jet with a spout
height of no more than 550 mm above the finished floor. Design of fountain
should not leave unsafe or acutely angled projections.
� Drinking fountains will be checked to ensure they are not contributing to
high levels of lead or asbestos in water.
� Solder for domestic water piping shall be lead free.
(See the section on Accessibility for toilet and sink mounting heights.)
Water conservation: In addition to considerations specific to child care centers,
implement water-efficiency technologies and strategies to achieve water
conservation, as described by LEED Version 2.0, including:
� Designing irrigation and planting systems to use minimum, down to zero,
potable water for landscape irrigation.
� Reducing building water use by minimum 20%.
To maximize drinking water quality, use localized water-filtration systems for
drinking water fixtures. Only lead-free solder and pipe fittings should be
used in plumbing that may serve drinking water and other fixtures used by
occupants.
PBS-140 - July 2003