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

CHAPTER 7: INTERIOR SPACE DESIGN
tective barriers can be vertical slats or, preferably, acrylic panels (for
clear visibility). Openings in these panels should not be greater than 76
mm to prevent entrapment. Avoid using horizontal rails that allow climbing.
� All protruding corners must have a minimum radius of 13 mm.
� Teachers must be able to see and easily reach all areas of a loft.
� The loft should present an image of safety, avoiding over-stimulating
elements such as cantilevers, narrow bridges, or other elements that
present overly-challenging activities.
� Design level changes appropriate to the age group and accessible by
ramps, steps, or ladders. Steps and ladders should allow two children
to use them at the same time to avoid aggressive behavior. Riser heights
for stairs should be approximately 125 mm for toddlers and pre-school
children. Minimum tread depth is approximately 280 mm. Stairs and
ramps must be a minimum of 915 mm wide. 3
Provide handrails for all stairs and ramps at 550 mm above the leading
edge of the treads. All handrails must return to the wall to avoid the possibility
of injury. Handrails must also meet the requirements of the latest edition of
the National Fire Protection Association, Life Safety Code. At the time of
this writing, ASTM is preparing new standards which may alter these
standards. Consult the most current ASTM at the time of construction or
purchase of equipment.
7.6.3 Art Sink:
In toddler classrooms, provide a stainless steel sink with a goose neck
faucet and wrist handles mounted in a 555 mm high counter for children to
use in art and other activities requiring water and cleanup (such as sand
and water play). For pre-school and school-age children the sink height
should be 650 mm. The sink arrangement should have a goose neck
faucet to allow teachers and children to get a bucket under the faucet.
Traps should be easily accessible for clean-out but not accessible to
children. The art sink area should include art supply storage, display, and
drying areas for finished work or work-in-progress. The counter should be
455 mm to 505 mm deep, allowing children to reach the faucet. Provide
915 mm to 1220 mm of open counter length adjacent to the sink. Provide
an adult height art sink in all toddler and preschool classrooms at 865 mm
A.F.F. Faucets and levers should be located behind the sink adjacent to
the wall rather than at the side of the sink. Faucet controls should be no
less than 350 mm from the leading edge of the counter. See
Section 10.4 Accessibility for reference to ADAAG-required heights of
elements for the disabled child.
7-14
Locate the art sink next to the eating/table area because most art activities
require similar tables and finishes. This sink should be close to display
walls equipped with dry marker boards or chalkboards. Provide sheet
impervious floor coverings with sealed seams and using a floor drain in
this area, if feasible. Built-in counters, especially with a configuration that
allows children to face each other during activities, should be included. A
shatter-proof mirror above the counter is a desirable feature.
7.6.4 Toilets and Sink:
For toddlers and pre-school children the plumbing requirements are as
follows:
� A minimum of two toilets and two child-height hand washing sinks within
each classroom area that uses the toileting facility, with never less than
one toilet, one lavatory and one drinking fountain for every 12 children
who will use them (where allowed by licensing). Note: two classrooms
may share one toilet area.
� Toddlers: A minimum of two adult sinks, one for diapering in the toddler
room, and one in a separate area for food preparation.
� Preschoolers: A minimum of one adult sink and one to two hand washing
sinks for every ten to twenty children with a connection for water
play.
Until kindergarten, these toilet areas are used by both girls and boys, and
are partially screened but without doors. This offers some privacy, but still
allows adult supervision. Toilet areas are to have gates or half doors at
entrances and may have child height partitioning between toilets. As with
all full height doors, these elements must have hinge protection so that
children’s hands and fingers are not accidentally pinched or crushed.
Kindergarten and school-age children must be provided with private toilets
and sinks with separate facilities for boys and girls where more than one
toilet is provided. These facilities should be accessible from the classroom
and they must have doors for privacy. Note that each toilet room must
meet ADAAG requirements.
Teachers in older toddler and pre-school rooms are provided an adult toilet
located outside the classroom. An adult toilet is to be provided within or
nearby infant and young toddler classrooms.
Toilets located within the classrooms should typically be placed toward the
interior perimeter to leave the exterior free for access to natural light and
PBS-140 - July 2003