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

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE GUIDE
Capacity - The total number of children that may be in care at any one time
as specified by the license or letter of compliance.
Child Care - A comprehensive service which enhances the productivity of
working parents by attending to the development needs of their children.
The intention of high quality Federal child care is to allow employees to
respond to their dual work and family responsibilities effectively to the benefit
of both families and the Government as employer.
Child Care Center - A licensed child care center is a facility, other than a
private residence, approved and licensed by a state or other applicable
local authority where a person, other than relative or guardian, is compensated
to provide care and supervision for 4 or more children under 7 years
of age for less than 24 hours a day. For the purposes of this Guide, a
“small” center will be one which is licensed for less than 60 children, while a
“large” one is licensed for more than 94 children.
Classrooms - The architecturally defined areas that contain each group of
children. Classrooms may be separated by full partitions or by partial barriers
that also allow controlled visual or acoustical connections to other
groups. The internal layout of a child care classroom is markedly different
from that of a traditional primary school classroom.
Dead End Corridor - A portion of the egress corridor which does not lead
to an exit and which would require an occupant to retrace his or her steps
to reach safe exit in an emergency. The maximum allowable length is
regulated by applicable codes.
Developmentally-Oriented Child Care - Child care which shows an understanding
of the fundamental needs of the developing child, and aids
development by providing appropriately structured and free activities
throughout the day.
Federal Families - The families of Federal employees.
Gross Floor Area (GFA) - Refers to the total area of all floors of a building
including main building lobbies, elevator shafts, egress stairwells and exterior
partitions measured to the exterior side of the exterior wall. (See Table1.1
on page 1-5)
1-4
Group - Two or more children who are cared for in the same self-contained
classroom. In addition, these children have the same caregiver who is responsible
to address their basic needs, well being and development.
GSA - The US General Services Administration is an agency of the US
Government, which, among other responsibilities, provides and manages
building space occupied by Federal agencies.
Infant - A child from birth to12 months.
Mixed-Age Grouping - Mixed-age groups usually contain children ranging
from 2 to 5 years old.
Net Usable Floor Area (NUFA) - The amount of space the Government
must lease to accommodate a space requirement. It is comprised of occupiable
area plus any additional space (such as corridor spaces) that
may be required to meet GSA requirements. (See Table1.1 on page 1-5)
NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) - A
professional organization of early childhood specialists concerned with the
care and developmental opportunities provided to children.
NAECP - National Academy of Early Childhood Programs.
Occupiable Floor Area (OFA) - Refers to the portion of the building occupied
by a tenant. In the case of a child care center, it includes Actual Floor
Area (AFA), circulation, including general circulation external to the classroom
as well as circulation internal to the classroom. In general, 20 percent
of the occupiable floor area should be considered as general circulation
exterior to the classroom. This is fairly efficient circulation and may not
always be attainable, depending on the required center configuration. For
example, when a center is located within existing space, it may not be able
to have the optimally efficient circulation system.
(See Table1.1 on page 1-5)
Office of Child Care - The organization under the PBS Commissioner’s
Office responsible for the oversight of GSA’s child care program. See Appendix
C for telephone and mailing information.
PBS-140 - July 2003