New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 18 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter II - Regulations of the Department of Social Services
Subchapter C - Social Services
Article 4 - Residential Programs for Victimes of Domestic Violence
Part 455 - Standards For Domestic Violence Sponsoring Agencies And Safe Dwellings
Section 455.9 - Environmental standards for safe dwellings

Universal Citation: 18 NY Comp Codes Rules and Regs § 455.9

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024

(a) In addition to the requirements in this section, each domestic violence safe dwelling approved by a domestic violence sponsoring agency must be in conformance with applicable State and local laws, regulations and ordinances relating to the following areas:

(1) Health and safety;

(2) Sanitation and maintenance

(3) Fire prevention and fire protection;

(4) Building and construction standards;

(5) Plumbing and water supply;

(6) Heating and electrical systems

(b) All inspection certificates and other documents required by State and local authorities for buildings, grounds and equipment must be current, maintained on the premises, and available for Office review at all times.

(1) General requirements.

(i) Each safe dwelling must be maintained in a good state of repair and sanitation and must be free of safety hazards.

(ii) Each safe dwelling must be of sufficient size to provide adequate living accommodations for the residents.

(iii) Each safe dwelling must be suitably furnished and equipped.

(iv) Each safe dwelling must maintain the temperature in the safe dwelling at a comfortable level.

(v) Each safe dwelling must assure that all rooms are adequately lighted and ventilated. All exits which are accessible to residents must be well-lighted.

(vi) Heating systems shall be capable of maintaining a minimum room temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit in all habitable rooms and shall be maintained in good working order in accordance with the requirements of the Property Maintenance Code.

(vii) Adequate and safe water supply and sewage facilities must be provided and in conformance with State and local laws. Hot and cold running water must be available and accessible at all times.

(viii) A secured area or container must be maintained by each safe dwelling to secure valuable personal belongings of any residents requesting such security.

(ix) A multistory combustible dwelling must have a minimum of one exit stairway from each floor above the first floor and at least one additional alternate, safe means of emergency egress or as applicable, emergency escape and rescue, from each floor above the first floor in accordance with applicable State and local building and/or fire code.

(a) Residential programs located outside of New York City: For a window opening to qualify as a means of egress, the minimum size shall have net clear opening of 5.7 square feet. The bottom of the clear opening shall not be greater than 44 inches measured from the floor. The minimum net opening height dimension shall be 24 inches and the minimum net clear opening width dimension shall be 20 inches. The net clear opening dimensions shall be the result of normal operation of the window. An upper level window, to qualify as a means of egress, must also have a platform outside the window and a stair, permanently affixed to the building, leading to ground level.

(b) Residential programs located within New York City. Only sleeping rooms in non-sprinklered buildings below the 4th story shall provide emergency escape and rescue. For a window opening to qualify as an emergency escape and rescue opening, the window shall have a minimum net clear opening of 6 square feet. The bottom of the clear opening shall not be greater than 36 inches measured from the floor. The minimum net opening height dimension shall not be less than 30 inches and the minimum net clear opening width dimension shall not be less than 24 inches. The net clear opening dimensions shall be the result of normal operation of the window. All residential units shall always provide adequate means of egress in accordance with New York City Building Codes.

(c) Any facility licensed and operating as a residential program for victims of domestic violence as defined in Part 452.2 in this Title prior to January 1, 2020 can use safe means of emergency egress from each floor above the first (e.g. rescue ladder, fire escape, etc.) Any renovations/construction to the building after January 1, 2020 must comply with the provisions of subsection (a) of this part.

(x) Paints, finishes, or other materials that contain toxic elements including and not limited to lead or asbestos, must not be used on room surfaces, flooring, insulation, furniture or any other equipment, materials for furnishings which may be used by children or within their reach. Facilities built prior or 1978 shall have a comprehensive plan to repair peeling paint and/or plaster.

(d) Sleeping areas.

(1) Sleeping areas must be separate and distinct from other living areas and must have adequate heat, light and ventilation.

(2) The facility must furnish each resident, whether an adult or child, with a clean bed (or crib for infants). Beds placed side-by-side, must be spaced at least two feet apart from other beds. Bunk beds are permissible.

(i) The bed must be solidly constructed, and in good repair with a clean, well-constructed mattress, standard in size for the bed and a clean pillow of standard size. Pillows must not be used for infants and must not be used in cribs.

(ii) All cribs must be in compliance with the safety standards established by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPCS). Stackable cribs are prohibited.

(a) Cribs, bassinets and other sleeping areas for infants must not have bumper pads, toys, large stuffed animals, heavy blankets, pillows wedges or infant positioners unless medically indicated by the infant's health care provider.

(b) Parents of infants must be informed of safe sleep practices which include the safest sleeping arrangements for infants is to be placed on his or her back to sleep.

(iii) All bunk beds must be in compliance with the safety standards established by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

(3) Except for those facilities where a stricter standard is required by State or local code, sleeping rooms must have a minimum of 70 square feet with a minimum horizontal dimension of 7 feet. Sleeping rooms for more than one occupant must have at least 50 square feet per each additional person.

(i) Any facility licensed and operating as a residential program for victims of domestic violence as defined in Part 452.2 in this Title prior to January 1, 2020 are not subject the provision of subsection (d)(3) of this part. Any substantial renovations/construction to the building after January 1, 2020must comply with the provisions of subsection (a) of this part.

(4) Adequate accommodations must be made for the storage of personal belongings and clothing.

(e) Supplies.

(1) Each resident must be supplied with adequate personal hygiene articles and, where needed, diapers for children.

(2) Bed linens, blankets and towels must be available, clean, and in good condition.

(f) Bathing facilities.

(1) There must be at a minimum one sink, toilet and bathtub or shower per domestic violence safe dwelling.

(2) Each resident must be provided with toilet articles such as towels and washcloths.

(3) Bathrooms must be cleaned, sanitized with disinfectant, and maintained regularly to ensure cleanliness and sanitation.

(4) All toilet and bathing areas must be vented by means of natural or mechanical ventilation to the outside air.

(5) All bath tubs and showers must have a nonskid surface.

(g) Living area. A lounging and recreation area must be provided to serve the recreational and social needs of the residents.

(h) A dining area must be provided with adequate space and furnishings to serve all the residents.

(i) Kitchens, sanitation and sanitary procedure.

(1) All kitchens or food preparation areas must be adequately lighted, ventilated, and provided with essential and proper equipment for food storage, refrigeration, freezing, preparation and serving for the number of residents to be served.

(2) All kitchen equipment and surroundings must be kept clean. Garbage and trash must be kept in suitable covered containers, emptied at least weekly.

(3) Dishes, glassware, eating and cooking utensils and food containers must be properly washed and dried.

(4) Residents, volunteers and employees participating in the handling and preparation of food for consumption by the residents must be in good health, take proper sanitary precautions, and wash hands prior to engaging in such activity.

(5) All lavatories, sleeping areas, recreational areas, hallways and other living areas must be kept clean and sanitary. Domestic violence safe dwellings must conspicuously post the procedures for cleaning and maintaining the entire domestic violence safe dwelling.

(6) An employee of the domestic violence sponsoring agency must be responsible for assuring that the procedures contained in this subdivision are implemented.

(j) Safety procedures.

(1) All medications (prescription and over-the-counter) must be kept by residents or any onsite staff in a secure place so as not to be accessible to children or other adult residents.

(2) Containers of chemical cleaning agents and other toxic material must be labeled, stored and secured in a place out of reach of children.

(3) Children must not be permitted to operate any power equipment or electrical appliances except under the close supervision of a responsible staff member, or the children's parents.

(4) No hazardous condition must be permitted to exist in any part of the safe dwelling. The following requirements must be complied with in order to eliminate hazardous conditions:

(i) hallways, corridors and furnace room must not be used for storage of equipment or trash;

(ii) stairways must have sturdy and securely fastened handrails; and

(iii) all electrical cords and plugs must be in good condition with no exposed or frayed wiring.

(5) All operable windows must be equipped with screens and guards or locks. All windows in sleeping areas must have shades or other appropriate window coverings to ensure privacy.

(6) All window and door blind cords, ropes, and wires and other strangulation hazards must be secured and inaccessible to children.

(7) All electrical outlets accessible to children must be adequately protected.

(k) Fire safety procedures. Suitable precautions must be taken to eliminate all conditions which may contribute to or create a fire.

(1) Each safe dwelling must be kept free of fire hazards.

(2) Except for facilities where a stricter standard is required by State or local code requirement, smoke detectors shall be installed and maintained in every sleeping room, on each floor level and in the corridor adjacent to any sleeping rooms.

(3) Carbon monoxide alarms and detector(s) shall be installed on each level of the home that contain sleeping areas and maintained in accordance with the Uniform Code and the manufacture's installation instructions.

(4) Except for facilities where a stricter standard is required by State or local code requirement, each safe dwelling must be equipped with an ABC rated fire extinguisher in the kitchen, furnace room, and, if applicable, the laundry room, which meets National Fire Protection Association standards. The extinguisher must be properly installed, charged and maintained. Onsite staff must be knowledgeable and trained in the use of the fire extinguisher. Upon arrival to a safe dwelling, all new adult residents must be trained in the use of the fire extinguisher.

(5) Building exits must be clearly marked and free of obstructions at all time.

(6) Smoking must not be permitted in bedrooms and any common indoor areas of the safe dwelling unit.

(7) Prior to the use of wood stoves and/or fire places, the facility must have an annual inspection by applicable local authority having jurisdiction or an inspector qualified to approve fuel burning systems and approval from the Office.

(8) The following are fire hazards and are prohibited:

(i) portable space heaters of any type;

(ii) non-metal containers which contain residue from solid fuel burning appliances;

(iii) accumulation of combustible materials in any part of the safe dwelling;

(iv) storage of flammable or combustible liquids in anything other than closed containers listed by an acceptable testing laboratory;

(v) cooking appliances in resident bedrooms;

(vi) overloaded electrical circuits;

(vii) extension cords, unless surge protected and the use has been approved in writing by the Office. Extension cords must not be used for any appliance, and plugging one extension cord into one or more is prohibited; and

(viii) any other condition deemed hazardous by the Office.

(l) Each domestic violence safe dwelling must have disaster and emergency plan(s) approved by the Office, to be followed in the event of an emergency or disaster such as a fire or a flood, severe storms, bomb threats, terrorist attacks, medical emergency, or power failure, etc.

(i) The disaster and emergency plan(s) must be explained to new residents prior to the placement of the residents in the safe dwelling.

(ii) The plan must also address emergency preparedness protocols, and include a plan for emergency medical care in order for residents to obtain emergency medical assistance on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays.

(iii) Emergency evacuation procedures outlining the method and manner in which residents are to evacuate the domestic violence safe dwelling in the event of fire and other emergencies must be conspicuously posted on each floor of the domestic violence safe dwelling.

(iv) All employees and volunteers of the sponsoring agency must be knowledgeable of the disaster and emergency plan(s) and their responsibilities under such plan(s).

(v) The plan must be reviewed annually, and any updates or revisions must be submitted to the Office for approval.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New York 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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