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Fire safety requirements for certified child care facilities, group child care homes, and family child care homes were revised in 2020. Learn what changes were made.

 

Fire Safety Requirements

A recent announcement release from the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL, Bureau of Certification, and Bureau of Policy and Professional Development lists the revised changes to fire safety requirements for certified child care facilities in Pennsylvania. These revisions apply to:

• • certified family child care homes,
  • certified group child care homes (operating in a residence),
  • certified child care centers (including those located in a school building), and
  • group child care (not operating in a residence).

 

Certified Family Child Care Homes

Certified family child care homes in Pennsylvania must:

• • manually test all fire detection devices or systems at least once every 30 days, demonstrating that the system is operable, and maintain a written record of the testing with the facility’s fire drill logs.

If the fire detection device or system cannot be tested monthly, the facility must:

• • have the device or system tested annually by a fire safety professional,
  • obtain written documentation of the annual test results demonstrating the system is operable, on the Fire Safety Professional’s letterhead, and
  • maintain written documentation of annual tests with the facility’s fire drill logs.

Family child care homes with interconnected smoke detection devices must:

• • maintain, with their fire drill logs, proof of purchase, including the date of purchase of the interconnected fire detection device or system,
  • have a smoke detector on each floor and in the basement,
  • ensure that smoke detectors powered by a non-replaceable lithium battery meets applicable Underwriters Laboratory standards and have a minimum 10-year limited warranty commencing with the date of purchase,
  • ensure the alarm is audible to individuals in the indoor child care space with all intervening doors closed,
  • have an operable, portable fire extinguisher rated for Class B Fires in the kitchen and other cooking areas, and
  • meet the existing requirements for an R-3 occupancy and licensure under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3290 (family child care homes) and 34 Pa. Code Chapter 56 (small group habitation).

Family child care homes non-interconnected smoke detection devices must:

• • have a smoke detector on each floor and in the basement,
  • ensure that smoke detectors powered by a non-replaceable lithium battery meets applicable Underwriters Laboratory standards and have a minimum 10-year limited warranty commencing with the date of purchase,
  • ensure the alarm is audible to individuals in the indoor child care space with all intervening doors closed,
  • maintain, with their fire drill logs, proof of purchase, including the date of purchase of the interconnected fire detection device or system,
  • have an operable, portable fire extinguisher rated for Class B Fires in the kitchen and other cooking areas, and
  • meet the existing requirements for an R-3 occupancy and licensure under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3290 (family child care homes) and 34 Pa. Code Chapter 56 (small group habitation).

Certified Group Child Care Homes (Operating in a Residence)

Certified group child care homes (operating in a residence) must:

• • manually test all fire detection devices or systems at least once every 30 days, demonstrating that the system is operable, and maintain a written record of the testing with the facility’s fire drill logs.

If the fire detection device or system cannot be tested monthly, the facility must:

• • have an interconnected fire detection device or system,
  • maintain, with their fire drill logs, proof of purchase, including the date of purchase of the interconnected fire detection device or system,
  • have the device or system tested annually by a fire safety professional,
  • obtain written documentation of the annual test results demonstrating the system is operable, on the Fire Safety Professional’s letterhead,
  • maintain written documentation of annual tests with the facility’s fire drill logs,
  • have an operable, portable fire extinguisher rated for Class B Fires in the kitchen and other cooking areas, and
  • meet the exiting requirements for an R-3 occupancy and licensure under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3280 (group child care homes) and 34 Pa. Code Ch. 56 (small group habitation).

Certified Child Care Centers and Group Child Care

Certified child care centers (including those operating in school buildings) and group child care facilities (not operating in a residence) must:

• • manually test all fire detection devices or systems at least once every 30 days, demonstrating that the system is operable, and maintain a written record of the testing with the facility’s fire drill logs.

If the fire detection device or system cannot be tested monthly, the facility must:

• • have a fire detection device or system that is operable and properly maintained at all times in compliance with the act of April 27, 1927, referred to as the “Fire and Panic Act,” the act of November 10, 1999, known as the “Pennsylvania Construction Code Act,” and applicable regulations,
  • have the device or system tested annually by a fire safety professional,
  • maintain, with their fire drill logs, proof of purchase, including the date of purchase of the interconnected fire detection device or system,
  • obtain written documentation of the annual test results demonstrating the system is operable, on the Fire Safety Professional’s letterhead,
  • have a valid certificate of occupancy, and
  • maintain proof of purchase of an interconnected fire detection device or system (where applicable), in accordance with 62 P.S. 1016(c)(3).

View the Announcement

For full details, please read Announcement C-21-02 Act 62 of 2020: Fire Safety Requirements for Certified Child Care Facilities.