Undoubtedly, childcare center developments are not the everyday business for contractors and investors besides being highly regulated. It’s statutory to build your center as per the set standards to ensure safety and convenience as well as obtain the appropriate permits, including operating license and occupancy permit.
It, therefore, becomes necessary to understand the rules, whether you are a parent looking to fill a certain gap or a contractor aiming to start in this development. Here are some of the critical child care center design requirements that you should know.
Site selection
When selecting a site for a childcare center, constructors and investors are recommended to pick a place with proximity to other community facilities such as parks, community centers, museums, churches, etc. It’s statutory to build your center in a safe place with environmentally friendly land uses. Additionally, avoid or mitigate threats of dirty, noxious, and noisy areas. Community areas and residential development are the best places for childcare construction, but you may also consider commercial or mixed-use developments.
Orientation
The availability of light is an essential consideration for a childcare facility. The building should be oriented in a way to allow at least 3 hours of natural light per day during winter. Two hours of sunlight are recommended for playtime. Outdoor and indoor space design should allow for free movement of children and inter-related activities, both indoor and outdoor. Your facility should allow for the surveillance of outdoor play spaces from the main indoor activity area.
Access
The required maximum distance between a childcare facility and public transit is 0.4 km. Additionally, a facility should be within 0.8km from residential units. When building a childcare facility in a commercial or mixed-use site, ensure that it’s easily accessible from a drop-off area or street. Your facility should also be safely accessible to people living with disabilities. Be sure to provide full-size staff parking and drop-off parking for parents in your facility. You also want to ensure that you have a secure bicycle parking in place.
Safety and health
The facility’s entries should be near major public circulation routes and visible to a large number of people. Air conditioning, heating, and ventilation systems must be installed at each facility as per air quality control specifications. Natural light should be available in all indoor activity areas used by the kids. You should also ensure that the outdoor spaces are free from noise, air pollution, dirt, and wind. All fences should be unclimbable. Be sure to install perimeter fences with vision panels on roofs and above-ground play areas.
Sticking to the guidelines and regulations that govern childcare center developments keeps you away from legal troubles and eases the process of obtaining the necessary licenses. Consider these requirements to build a facility that’s safe, healthy, and convenient for the kids, parents, and staff.
