HEAD START CENTER DESIGN GUIDE

10.11 Electrical

Safety of the children and consideration of future electrical needs are critical. All data, equipment, and communication requirements should be defined in advance to prevent the need to expand in the future.

10.11.1 Safety Issues

GSA advises that if other applicable codes and standards are deemed more stringent than the standards below, the most stringent standards should apply:

• Outlets in areas accessible to children must be tamper resistant as defined by NEC Article 517-18c. The intent is to childproof outlets that are within children's reach to avoid any possibility of electrocution. An alternative is to locate them out of children's reach at least 4.3 ft. above floor level.
• No electrical outlet shall be located within 6.2 ft. of a water source, unless protected by an approved ground fault circuit interrupter.
• Computer cables should be encased in conduits or channels.
• There should not be any cables or wires in the center with enough slack to present the risk of strangulation if a child becomes entangled in them.
• Locate tamper-proof outlets 4 inches above the finished floor wherever counters are provided for adult use and at computer stations.
• Raised electrical boxes with sharp metal edges should not be installed in areas or passageways used by children.
• All hot pieces of equipment, including resistance-heating elements, should be screened from children's access.

Care should be taken in selecting and locating telephone sets and other devices, so that a child will not become entangled in the device's wires and cords. The same is true of window blinds with pull cords. Such wires, cords, and strings should be 4.5 ft. above the floor and out of children's reach.

10.11.2 Requirements

GSA recommends the following steps:

• Provide wall duplex outlets at intervals of approximately 13 ft. on center.
• Provide one duplex outlet per wall on walls less than 10 ft.
• Provide electrical power outlets for kitchen and laundry areas for a refrigerator, oven, range, garbage disposal, and washer/dryer.
• Install closed-ircuit TV cameras at all entrances and exits.
• Provide for a possible additional monitor location in the staff area.
• Coordinate requirements and provide for the installation of the following: electrically switched doors, security alarms, and intercom systems.
• Provide a power supply for a TV, a VCR, audiovisual equipment, telephones, and computers for staff and children's areas.
• Provide smoke detectors in each closet or enclosed space.
• Use the supplementary recommendations to the UFAS specifically addressing the special needs of children with disabilities. The Recommendations for Accessibility Standards for Children's Environments, January, 1992, prepared for The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board address the needs of children with disabilities through age 12. Please refer to this publication for more in-depth information. Pertinent Standards for children with disabilities follow:
  • Passage width: The minimum clear width of aisles and corridors for children's wheelchairs is 3 ft., with passing space of 5 ft. provided at least every 200 ft.
  • Minimum door width: 2.7 ft. wide, with a 5- ft.-deep landing area in front of all ramps, gates, and doors. Doors through which evacuation cribs may pass to reach an exit should have a minimum width of 3 ft.
  • Forward and side reach: Maximum high reach should be 35 inches and minimum low reach should be 20 inches.
  • Slope and rise: 1:16 to l: 20 is preferred if space is available; the maximum should be 1:12.
  • Curbs should have cuts that comply with UFAS requirements.
  • Drinking fountain controls: They should be front or side operable , and the spout should be a maximum of 29.5 inches above the finished floor. Knee clearance space should be 16 inches above the finished floor, 18 inches deep, and 30 inches wide.
  • Children's toilet: At least one side bar and one grab bar should be provided in an accessible location. Follow the most recent requirements established by ADAAG.

Additional items:

• Flush controls should be mounted 20 to 30 inches above the finished floor on the wide side of toilet areas.
• Toilet paper dispensers should be mounted 14 inches above the finished floor within children's reach.
• The sink top should measure 22 inches above the finished floor with a minimum clearance of 19 inches for knee space.
• Faucets on children's lavatories may be fitted with sanitary and energy-conserving automatic controls, but the designer should ensure that these devices are acceptable to local licensing. Faucet controls mounted on the face or rim of a counter surface should be no more than 14 inches from the leading edge.
• Mirrors should be mounted over the sink with the bottom edge no higher than 29.5 inches above the finished floor. One full-length mirror should be provided with the bottom edge a maximum of 18 inches above the finished floor. All mirrors should be shatterproof.
• Paper towel dispensers should be mounted beside or close to the sinks. No dispensers of any kind should have serrated edges if they are within children's reach.