Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
(1) A school-age
center must ensure that children do not have access to heating equipment such
as furnaces, fireplaces, stoves, steam and hot water pipes, and electric space
heaters, or to cooling equipment such as air conditioner compressors.
(a) A school-age center must have adequate
heating and ventilation to maintain the indoor temperature no lower than
68°F and no higher than 85°F when children are present. If the center
is unable to maintain an internal temperature between 68°F and 85°F, a
school-age center must utilize strategies to help children stay warm or
cool.
(b) A school-age center must
ensure that all rooms including the kitchen and restrooms have enough
ventilation to keep them free from excessive heat, condensation, smoke, fumes,
and unpleasant odors.
(c) After
painting or laying carpet, the building must be aired out completely for at
least 24 hours with good ventilation before children can return.
(2) A school-age center's heating
equipment must be safe to operate.
(a)
Flammable materials including papers, curtains, and furniture must be at least
3 feet from furnaces, fireplaces, or other heating devices.
(b) Open flame, unvented and vent free gas or
oil heaters, generators, and portable fuel-burning space heaters are prohibited
while children are in care.
(c)
Heating units that involve flame must be vented properly to the outside and
supplied with a source of combustion air that meets the manufacturer's
installation requirements.
(d)
Electric baseboard heaters may be used when wired directly into the electrical
system and no objects are in contact with the heating elements.
(e) Portable electric space heaters must:
(A) Be attended while in use and be off when
unattended;
(B) Have an automatic
shut off feature for tipping over and overheating;
(C) Have protective covering to keep hands
and objects away from the electric heating element;
(D) Bear the safety certification mark of a
nationally recognized testing laboratory;
(E) Be placed only on the floor;
(F) Be properly vented, as required for
proper functioning; and
(G) Be used
according to the manufacturer's instructions.
(f) Fireplaces, fireplace inserts, and
wood/corn pellet stoves, if used, must:
(A)
Have a secure, stable protective safety screen;
(B) Be installed in accordance with the local
or regional building code and the manufacturer's installation instructions;
and
(C) Be inspected and cleaned
annually
(3)
A school-age center's electrical system must not pose a risk to children.
(a) Electrical wiring and power strips with
surge protectors must be inaccessible to children.
(b) Electrical cords must be in good working
condition, not torn or frayed, and not have any exposed wires.
(c) Extension cords may only be used for a
brief, temporary purpose and must not replace direct wiring.
(d) Electrical products plugged into an
outlet near a water source such as a sink, water table, or swimming pool, must
use a special outlet called a ground fault circuit interrupter
(GFCI).
(4) All septic
systems must meet the requirements of the Department of Environmental Quality.
A private septic system must be inspected by a septic system maintenance
service provider, monitored on a routine basis, and any deficiencies
corrected.
(5) Lighting levels must
be bright enough for comfort, safety, and adequate supervision. Light fixtures
must be equipped with covers, shields, or shatter resistant bulbs.
(6) A school-age center's floor surfaces must
be easily cleanable and free of broken or loose tile, large or unsealed cracks,
splinters, torn carpet or vinyl, and holes. Carpet must not be used in food
preparation areas and restrooms.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 329A.280
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS
329A.280
