1. (a)

   1. (1) The home’s building, grounds, and equipment shall be:

      1. (A) Clean;
      2. (B) Kept in good repair; and
      3. (C) Maintained as needed to protect the health and safety of the children.
   2. (2) If the home has sustained structural damage, the caregiver shall immediately notify the childcare licensing specialist.

2. (b)

   1. (1) Boiler Inspection Division requirements shall be met.
   2. (2) All water heaters and any other boilers in licensed childcare settings shall be inspected on an annual basis and upon installation.
   3. (3) Verification of initial inspection or proof of attempt to set up initial inspection shall be completed within six (6) months of licensure.
   4. (4) Scheduling and completion of annual inspections will be the responsibility of the Division of Labor.
   5. (5) However, the facility is responsible for cooperating and keeping documentation of such inspection on file for review.

3. (c)

   1. (1) There shall be at least thirty-five square feet (35 sq. ft.) of usable indoor space for each child in the home.

   2. (2) This area shall not include:

      1. (A) Kitchens;
      2. (B) Bathrooms;
      3. (C) Hallways; or
      4. (D) Closets.

4. (d)

   1. (1) The home shall have an operable telephone on-site all hours children are in care.
   2. (2) The licensee shall provide the phone number to the Child Care Licensing Unit and to the parents.

   3. (3) This phone may be a cell phone if the phone:

      1. (A) Stays operable;
      2. (B) Stays at the facility during all hours of care; and
      3. (C) Is the phone number provided to the licensing unit and the parents.
5. (e) Light, heating, cooling, and ventilation of the home shall be adequate for safety and comfort.
6. (f) Windows or doors used for ventilation shall be screened.
7. (g) It is recommended that if natural gas or propane is used, the facility’s heating systems be inspected and cleaned, if necessary, before each heating season by a qualified heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technician.

8. (h) Carbon monoxide detectors shall be placed in homes according to manufacturer’s recommendations if either of the following situations applies:

   1. (1) The home uses wood, propane, natural gas, or any other products as a source of heat that can produce carbon monoxide indoors or in an attached garage; or
   2. (2) Situations where carbon monoxide detectors are required by state or local law.

9. (i)

   1. (1) Manufactured homes licensed as childcare family homes shall be tied down and underpinned as required by the Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission.
   2. (2) The home shall obtain an inspection and approval from the commission prior to being licensed.
10. (j) Annual fire approval shall be obtained on all manufactured homes licensed as childcare family homes.

11. (k)

    1. (1) Outdoor equipment that requires use zones and protective surfacing shall require the same use zones and protective surfacing if used inside the facility.
    2. (2) This does not apply to equipment specifically designed for indoor use only.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules contained the following at the end of subdivision (b)(5) of this section: "(AR Code § 20-23-101 et seq.)".