10A NCAC 70I .0909         SLEEPING AREAS

(a)  Bedrooms in existing facilities licensed before October 31, 1977 shall provide a minimum of 60 square feet of floor space for each child in multi-occupancy bedrooms and a minimum of 80 square feet of floor space in single-occupancy bedrooms.  Floor area does not include closets or wardrobes.

(b)  Bedrooms in facilities licensed or developed after October 31, 1977 shall provide a minimum of 80 square feet of floor space for each child in multi-occupancy bedrooms and a minimum of 100 square feet of floor space in single-occupancy bedrooms.  Floor area does not include closets or wardrobes.

(c)  There shall be bedrooms sufficient in number and size to meet the individual needs of residential child-care facility residents, the live-in staff and their dependents.

(d)  Only rooms authorized by the Division of Health Service Regulation as bedrooms by plan review or field inspection shall be used for bedrooms.

(e)  The total number of residents assigned to a bedroom shall not exceed the number authorized by the Division of Health Service Regulation by plan review or field inspection for that particular bedroom.

(f)  A room where access is through a bathroom, kitchen or other bedroom shall not be approved for a resident's bedroom.

(g)  No child shall share a bedroom with a live-in staff member or children of staff.

(h)  No bedroom shall house more than four children.

(i)  Except for siblings, children of different sexes shall not share a bedroom.

(j)  Each child shall have a bed of his or her own.

(k)  Bunk beds shall be limited to no more than one bed above the other bed with at least three feet vertical clearance between the lower and upper beds.  Bunk beds shall have guardrails on both sides of the top bunk.  All spaces between the guardrails and bed frame and in the head and foot boards on the top bunk shall be less than 3 ½ inches.  Bunk beds shall be provided with secured ladders.

(l)  Individual beds shall be at least three feet apart at the head, foot and sides; bunk beds shall be at least five feet apart, horizontally, at the head, foot and sides.

(m)  Each bed shall be provided with a mattress in good repair.

(n)  No day-bed, convertible sofa or other bedding of a temporary nature shall be used as a bed. 

(o)  Bedrooms shall be provided with a minimum of 48 cubic feet of closet or wardrobe space per child and four cubic feet of drawer space per child.

(p)  Each bedroom shall be provided with a window that meets the North Carolina State Building Code for emergency egress.  These windows shall be openable without the use of keys or tools. 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 131D-10.5; 143B-153;

Eff. October 1, 2008;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. April 5, 2016.