New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 8 - SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter 9 - EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
Part 4 - CHILD CARE LICENSING; CHILD CARE CENTERS, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS, FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES, AND OTHER EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Section 8.9.4.38 - BUILDING, GROUND AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR HOMES

Universal Citation: 8 NM Admin Code 8.9.4.38

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024

A. HOUSEKEEPING:

(1) An educator will keep the premises, including furniture, fixtures, toys and equipment clean, safe, and free of debris and potential hazards.

(2) Materials dangerous to children must be secured in a manner making them inaccessible to children and away from food storage or preparation areas.

(3) All garbage and refuse receptacles in kitchens and in outdoor areas will have a tight fitting lid, be durable and constructed of materials that will not absorb liquids.

B. PEST CONTROL:

(1) All licensed child care homes must use a New Mexico licensed pest applicator whenever applying pesticides on the home's buildings and grounds.

(2) The pest control company may not apply pesticides when children are on the premises.

(3) Parents, guardians, and staff must be notified at least two days prior to spraying or applying pesticides and insecticides.

(4) All food storage, preparation, and serving areas must be covered and protected from spraying or application of pesticides, herbicides, weed killer and other natural repellants.

C. MECHANICAL SYSTEMS:

(1) A home will maintain comfortable temperatures (68 degrees through 82 degrees Fahrenheit) in all rooms used by children. A home may use portable fans if the fans are secured and inaccessible to children and do not present any tripping, safety or fire hazards. In the event air temperature in a home exceeds the 82 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months because of evaporative cooler temperature limitations, it will be verified that cooling equipment is functioning, is being maintained, and that supplemental aides have been employed, such as, but not limited to: ceiling fans, portable fans, or portable evaporative coolers.

(2) A home will not use unvented heaters, open flame heaters or portable heaters. A home will install barriers or take other steps to ensure heating units, are inaccessible to children. Heating units include hot water pipes, infrared heaters, ceramic heaters, hot water baseboard heaters hotter than 110 degrees Fahrenheit, fireplaces, fireplace inserts and wood stoves.

(3) A home must maintain all heating and cooling equipment so that it is in good working order.

(4) A home will provide fresh air and control odors by either mechanical or natural ventilation. If a home uses a window for ventilation, it will have a screen. If a door is used for fresh air ventilation, it must have a screen door.

(5) Water coming from a faucet will be below 110 degrees Fahrenheit. A home will install a tempering valve ahead of all domestic water-heater piping.

(6) All food preparation areas, sinks, washrooms, laundries and bathrooms will have hot and cold running water under pressure.

D. LIGHTING, LIGHTING FIXTURES AND ELECTRICAL:

(1) A home will use U/L approved equipment only and will properly maintain this equipment.

(2) All electrical outlets within reach of children will be safety outlets or will have protective covers.

(3) The use of multi-prong or gang plugs is not allowed. Surge protectors are not gang plugs under these regulations.

E. EXITS: When an activity area does not have a door directly to the outside, at least one window in each activity area must be useable for an emergency exit. All activity spaces for children under the age of two and a half years shall be on the "level of exit discharge" or ground floor.

F. TOILET AND BATHING FACILITIES:

(1) All toilet rooms will have toilet paper, soap and disposable towels at a height accessible to children. A home will not use a common towel or wash cloth.

(2) All closets and bathroom locks must have an outside release. A home will enclose all bathrooms. Bathrooms must be accessible to the children in care and fully functional.

G. SAFETY COMPLIANCE:

(1) A home will have an operating smoke detector in each child-activity room and in each room in which a child sleeps.

(2) A home must be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors to cover all licensed areas of the home if the child care program uses any sources of coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, natural gas, or any other product that can produce carbon monoxide indoors. Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions.

(3) A home will have a fully-charged 210ABC extinguisher mounted in the kitchen in a visible and easily accessible place. A professional will inspect each fire extinguisher once a year and fire extinguishers will have official tags noting the date of inspection.

(4) A home will conduct at least one fire drill each month and an emergency preparedness practice drill at least quarterly beginning January of each calendar year. A home will hold the drills at different times of the day and will keep a record of the drills with the date, time, number of adults and children participating, and any problems.

(5) A home will keep a telephone in an easily accessible place for calling for help in an emergency and will post emergency phone numbers for fire, police, ambulance and the poison control center next to the phone. Emergency numbers shall be posted on any cordless or cellular telephones. A cellular telephone is acceptable as the only telephone in the home. The cellular telephone will remain in the same room, always charged and accessible to a caregiver.

H. SMOKING, FIREARMS, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, ILLEGAL DRUGS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES: A home will prohibit smoking, e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and the drinking of alcoholic beverages in all areas, including vehicles, when children are present. A home will unload all guns, such as pellet or BB guns, rifles and handguns, lethal and non-lethal weapons and keep them in a locked area inaccessible to children. Possessing or knowingly permitting illegal drugs, paraphernalia, or non-prescription controlled substances to be possessed or sold on the premises at any time regardless of whether children are present is prohibited.

I. PETS:

(1) A home will inform parents or guardians in writing before pets are in the home.

(2) A home will inoculate any pets as prescribed by a veterinarian and keep a record of proof of inoculation prior to the pet's presence in the home.

(3) A home will not allow on the premises pets or other animals that are undomesticated, dangerous, contagious or vicious in nature.

(4) Areas of confinement, such as cages and pens, and outdoor areas are cleaned of excrement daily. Animals shall be properly housed, fed and maintained in a safe, clean sanitary and humane condition at all times.

(5) An educator must be physically present during the handling of all pets or other animals.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Mexico may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

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