West Virginia Code of State Rules
Agency 78 - Human Services
Title 78 - LEGISLATIVE RULE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BUREAU FOR SOCIAL SERVICES
Series 78-19 - Family Child Care Home Registration Requirements
Section 78-19-8 - Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan
Universal Citation: 78 WV Code of State Rules 78-19-8
Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 38, September 20, 2024
8.1. Evacuation Plan.
8.1.a. A family child care home shall develop
and post a written plan for an emergency evacuation in the event of fire,
natural disaster or other threatening situation that may pose a health or
safety hazard to the children in the family child care home. The plan shall
include, but not be limited to:
8.1.a.1. A
designated relocation site and evacuation;
8.1.a.2. Procedures for notifying parents of
the relocation and ensuring family reunification;
8.1.a.3. Procedures to address the needs of
individual children including children with special needs; and
8.1.a.4. Coordination with local emergency
management officials.
8.1.a.5. The
family child care home shall:
8.1.a.5.A.
Update the evacuation plan by December 31 of each year and provide a copy to
the child care regulatory specialist. If the provider fails to update the plan,
the child care regulatory specialist shall take no action against the
provider's certificate of registration until notice is provided and the
provider is given 30 days after the receipt of notice to provide an updated
plan.
8.1.a.5.B. Retain an updated
copy of the plan for evacuation and shall provide notice of the plan and
notification that a copy of the plan will be provided upon request to any
parent, custodian, or guardian of each child at the time of the child's
enrollment in the child care service and when the plan is updated.
8.1.b. The fire
evacuation plan shall include a drawing of the primary and secondary exits from
all areas of the house and meeting places for the children once they have
exited the home.
8.1.c. A family
child care home shall conduct monthly fire evacuation drills and maintain a
written record of when they are conducted.
8.1.d. A family child care home shall
develop, implement, and maintain a written procedure to practice with staff and
volunteers moving to a safe location within the home at least two times a year
and record the dates and times when the practice sessions are
conducted;
8.1.e. A family child
care home shall develop, implement, and maintain a written procedure for
practicing relocation with the operator and volunteers two times per year and
record the dates and times when the practice sessions are conducted;
8.2. Heating and Cooling.
8.2.a. Heating devices that require
ventilation shall be vented to the outside.
8.2.b. Unvented gas heaters may be used as a
supplemental source of heat when both of the following requirements are met:
8.2.b.1. A properly functioning digital
carbon monoxide detector has been installed in a central location in the home;
and
8.2.b.2. The heater is equipped
with an oxygen depletion sensor that automatically shuts the heater off if a
hazardous level of carbon monoxide accumulates.
8.2.c. Non-flammable protective barriers,
guards, or screens shall be installed around wood burning stoves, open
fireplaces, and unvented heaters to protect children from burns and flames and
to prevent access.
8.2.d. Electric
space heaters are allowed if they are UL approved, stable, and inaccessible to
children.
8.2.e. Kerosene heating
stoves shall not be used while children are in care.
8.2.f. Heating equipment and hot water tanks
shall be kept clear of combustible materials.
8.2.g. Hot water tanks shall be equipped with
a pressure relief valve and in an area inaccessible to children.
8.2.h. Family child care homes shall use air
conditioning or fans that are either adequately shielded or out of children's
reach when temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
8.3. General Fire Safety.
8.3.a. One working smoke detector shall be
installed on every level of the home.
8.3.b. Digital carbon monoxide detectors
shall be installed in all residences that use gas appliances, fireplaces,
pellet or wood-burning stoves, natural gas, oil, or propane heating
systems.
8.3.c. Smoke detectors and
carbon monoxide detectors shall have working batteries installed at all
times.
8.3.d. Detectors shall be
checked frequently, and batteries replaced semi-annually to insure proper
functioning.
8.3.e. An ABC-rated
multi-purpose fire extinguisher shall be available in the home at all
times.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. West Virginia 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.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
