Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a)
The home shall meet the following lighting requirements:
1. All fluorescent tubes and incandescent light
bulbs shall have protective covers or shields.
2. During activities in the home, at least 20
foot-candles of natural or artificial light shall be provided in all rooms used by
the children. This illumination shall be measured three feet above the floor at the
farthest point from the light source.
3.
Parking areas, pedestrian walkways, or other exterior portions of the premises
subject to use by home occupants at night shall be illuminated to provide safe
entrance to and egress from the home.
(b) The home shall meet the following heating and
cooling requirements:
1. A minimum temperature of
65 degrees Fahrenheit and maximum temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit shall be
maintained in all rooms used by the children.
2. Working fireplaces, steam and hot water pipes,
radiators and electric space heaters shall be protected by screens, guards,
insulation or any other suitable, non-combustible protective device.
3. The home shall not use portable liquid
fuel-burning or wood-burning heating appliances.
(c) The home shall ensure that fireplaces meet the
following requirements:
1. The use of a fireplace
for the children served by the home shall not pose a serious risk of fire safety to
occupants of the home, as determined by the local fire official;
2. The fireplace shall be approved by the local
government construction official and fire official, in accordance with applicable
provisions of the NJUCC and the NJUFC, respectively;
3. The home shall obtain a copy of these
certificates or statements of approval and submit them to the Office of
Licensing;
4. The home shall develop
guidelines, in conjunction with the local fire official, that ensure proper use of
the fireplace, safety procedures, and an action plan to be followed in the event of
an emergency;
5. The guidelines noted in
(c)4 above shall include, but not be limited to, staff member supervision, storage
of wood, storage and safeguarding of matches, instruction in the use of fireplace
implements, use of the screen, annual professional cleaning, posting of emergency
phone numbers for police and fire departments and hospitals, posting of emergency
procedures and exits, and methods and safeguards for extinguishing the fire;
and
6. The guidelines noted in (c)4
above shall be maintained on file by the home and reviewed by all staff members and
children in the home.
(d) The
home shall meet the following ventilation requirements:
1. Crawl spaces, attic spaces, and all doors and
windows used for natural ventilation shall have insect screening;
2. All floor or window fans that are accessible to
the children shall have a grille, screen, mesh or other protective covering designed
to prevent a child from coming into contact with the blades of the fan;
and
3. Ventilation outlets shall be
cleaned and free from obstructions and filters shall be replaced when
saturated.
(e) The home shall
ensure that mirrors, dispensers, and other equipment are fastened
securely.
(f) Homes that serve children
with special needs shall ensure that:
1. For
non-ambulatory children, the toilet facilities are located on the same floor where
the children's bedrooms and activities are located;
2. The width and height of toilets and sinks
accommodate the children served; and
3.
Grab bars are provided in toilet and bathroom areas, as specified in N.J.A.C. 5:23-7
of the Barrier-free Subcode of the NJUCC.
(g) The home shall not use lead paint on and shall
remove lead paint from any interior or exterior surfaces of a building used as a
home, or on any furniture, toys, or other equipment used therein, in accordance with
the provisions of the State Lead Paint Law, pursuant to
24:14A-1 et seq., and with the
provisions of the State Sanitary Code, as specified in N.J.A.C. 8:51-7. When lead
paint is found in areas of a home not specified in N.J.A.C. 8:51-7, the Office of
Licensing shall determine whether the lead paint is hazardous to the health, safety
and well-being of the children served and, if considered to be hazardous, the home
shall remove the lead paint hazard.
(h)
The home shall not use spray coatings containing asbestos on any interior or
exterior surfaces of the home or on any equipment used therein, in accordance with
rules of the State Department of Environmental Protection, as specified in
7:27-17.2 and with applicable provisions
of the Asbestos Hazard Abatement Subcode of the NJUCC, as specified in N.J.A.C.
5:23-8. If the New Jersey Department of Health determines the presence of sprayed-on
asbestos-containing materials, and concludes that corrective action must be taken to
minimize exposure potential, the home shall follow the recommendation of that
Department for enclosure, removal, or other appropriate action to remove the threat
or risk of asbestos contamination.
(i)
The home shall ensure that swimming pools and natural bathing places used by the
children:
1. Comply with applicable provisions of
the Public Recreational Bathing Rules, as specified in N.J.A.C. 8:26, and with
applicable provisions of the Building Subcode and Barrier-free Subcode of the NJUCC,
as specified in N.J.A.C. 5:23; and
2.
Provide for supervision of the children, in accordance with applicable provisions of
the New Jersey Youth Camp Safety Act rules, as specified in N.J.A.C. 8:25.
(j) The home shall ensure that
materials and furniture for indoor and outdoor use are of sturdy and safe
construction, easy to clean and free of hazards that may be injurious to
children.
(k) The home shall ensure that
toilet facilities meet the following requirements:
1. At least one toilet, wash basin and bath tub or
shower is provided for every six children in the home. These facilities shall not be
located more than one floor from any bedroom; and
2. A supply of hot tap water at a minimum
temperature of not less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit and at a maximum temperature of
not more than 125 degrees Fahrenheit at all times in accordance with anticipated
needs and cold running water is provided.
(l) A home utilizing a kitchen
facility or food preparation area shall ensure that the cooking equipment and
kitchen facility are kept clean and sanitary and are operated in compliance with
applicable provisions of Chapter 12 of the State Sanitary Code, as specified in
N.J.A.C. 8:24.
(m) The home shall obtain
prior approval from the Office of Licensing for all space used by the
children.
(n) The home shall not care
for more children than the number specified in the certificate of
approval.
(o) The home
shall meet the following space requirements to ensure the safety, treatment,
recreational, dining, and sleeping needs of the children, including:
1. Adequate space for the implementation of
treatment services, including individual, group and family counselling sessions and
treatment team meetings;
2. A living
room and a recreation room or area that can accommodate indoor individual or group
activities, except that treatment homes operated in a private family dwelling are
only required to have one such room;
3.
A dining area large enough to accommodate tables and chairs for all the children;
and
4. Rooms for sleeping:
i. Any bedroom used by a child shall have a
minimum ceiling height of seven feet and six inches.
ii. Any bedroom containing a single bed occupied
by one child shall provide a minimum of 70 square feet of floor space, including
space that is occupied by furniture.
iii. Any bedroom containing two or more single
beds and occupied by more than one child shall provide a minimum of 70 square feet
of floor space for the first child and 50 square feet of floor space for each
additional child, including space that is occupied by furniture.
iv. Any bedroom containing bunk beds or any
combination of single beds and bunk beds shall provide 50 square feet of floor space
for each child, including space that is occupied by furniture.
