Ariz. Admin. Code § R6-5-5203 - Initial Certification: the Home Facility

A provider's home facility shall meet the requirements of this Section.

1. A provider shall maintain the indoor and outdoor premises of the home facility in a safe and sanitary condition, free from hazards and vermin, and in good repair. A mobile home shall have skirting to ensure that a child in care cannot go beneath the mobile home.

2. Any area to be occupied by a child in care shall have heat, light, ventilation, and screening. The provider shall maintain the home facility between 68° and 85° F.

3. A provider shall vent and safeguard all heating devices to protect each child from burns and harmful fumes.

4. A provider shall safeguard all potentially dangerous objects from children, including:

a. Household and automotive tools;

b. Sharp objects, such as knives, glass objects, and pieces of metal;

c. Fireplace tools, butane lighters and igniters, and matches;

d. Machinery;

e. Electrical boxes;

f. Electrical outlets;

g. Electrical wires; and

h. Chemicals, cleaners, and toxic substances.

5. A provider shall store firearms and ammunition separately from one another, under lock and key or combination lock.

6. A home facility shall have adequate space and equipment to accommodate each child in care, and other household members who are in the home facility at the same time as children in care. In this subsection, "adequate" means sufficient space and equipment to:

a. Permit all persons in the dwelling to have safe freedom of movement;

b. Permit children in care to be seated together for meals and snacks; and

c. Permit all children in care to be engaged in developmentally appropriate activities at the same time and in a room where the provider can keep all children within sight.

7. A provider shall keep outside play areas clean and safe and shall fence the play area if there are conditions that may pose a danger to any child playing outside. The fence shall be at least 4 feet high and free of hazards, including splinters and protruding nails or wires. The fence shall have only self-closing, self-latching, lockable gates.

8. A home facility shall have the following equipment:

a. A charged, readily accessible, operable, multi-purpose (ABC class) fire extinguisher that the applicant knows how to operate;

b. At least one UL-approved, working smoke detector, properly mounted on each level of the dwelling;

c. At least two usable outdoor exits;

d. A posted written plan or diagram for emergency evacuation;

e. A working telephone or other two-way communication device acceptable to the Department; and

f. An easily accessible life-saving device if the home facility has a pool or other body of water more than 12 inches deep. A "life-saving device" means a ring buoy with at least 25 feet of 1/2-inch rope attached or a shepherd's crook.

9. If a home facility has a swimming pool or other body of water more than 12 inches deep, the pool or body of water shall be enclosed by a permanent fence that separates it from all other outdoor areas and from doors and windows into the home facility. The fence shall be at least 5 feet high and shall have only self-closing, self-latching, lockable gates. Open spaces between upright or parallel posts and poles on fences and gates shall be no more than 4 inches apart. When the pool or body of water is not in use, the provider shall lock the gates.

10. A provider shall enclose spas and hot tubs with fencing as described in subsection (9), or with a hard, locked cover that prevents access and can support at least 100 pounds.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R6-5-5203

Adopted effective July 6, 1976 (Supp. 76-4). Amended effective March 5, 1979 (Supp. 79-2). Section repealed, new Section adopted effective May 11, 1994 (Supp. 94-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 5 A.A.R. 1983, effective May 20, 1999 (Supp. 99-2).