CHAPTER 7: INTERIOR SPACE DESIGN
A crib must be provided for each
Older toddlers, pre-school children, and school-age children are provided
infant and young toddler. One
lunches and snacks, and do not require a food preparation area in the
of every four cribs must be an
classroom. Their meals are prepared elsewhere through one of three
evacuation crib, especially
methods: catered food service, on-site preparation, or lunches brought from
constructed for this purpose,
home. All lunches brought from home must be appropriately stored with
equipped with 100 mm wheels,
proper temperature maintenance.
and capable of holding and
transporting up to four infants.
Locate infant and young toddler food preparation areas with other fixed
elements within the classroom. This area must be adjacent to the eating/
The evacuation crib(s) should
table area and separated from the diapering station, toilet, and hand-washing
be placed closest to the
areas. Place food preparation areas near activity areas, providing teachers
emergency egress point and
with clear views of the classroom. No food preparation area may be located
must be capable of easily
under sewer or drain pipes concealed in the ceiling plenum above.
passing through a 915 mm door.
Figure 7.3: Infant Room Spatial
(Coordinate
opening
The food preparation areas in classrooms include the following heavy duty
requirements with evacuation
items:
crib manufacturers.)
Upper and lower washable cabinet storage. Provide child-proof latches
or locks to prevent child access to any storage within reach.
Older toddler and pre-school classrooms will not have space allocated for
Counter area. Provide an adult-scale impervious counter, a minimum
a sleep area, but will provide for napping cots which are stored within the
of 2440 mm long with a back splash. Top of counter is to be 865 mm
classroom when not in use. A few cribs may be needed in a toddler
high. Drawer and door pulls should be non-projecting types. Hinges are
classroom, but a separate sleeping space will not always be possible.
to be heavy duty and durable as they receive intensive use in a child
Specific areas for cot/mat storage are required.
care center. One cabinet must be lockable.
Sink. Equip the sink with a single-lever faucet, spray hose, and garbage
disposal. Limit the hot water temperature to 43C.
7.6.7 Nursing and Lactation Area:
Microwave oven.
A quiet, semi-private area in the infant classroom may be provided for a
Bottle warmer, such as a crock pot.
mother to visit and nurse her infant or for lactation purposes. Locate this
Refrigerator. Provide a minimum of 0.25 m cubed (8 cubic feet) of re-
space near the sleeping area with some visual separation from the other
areas of the classroom and privacy from the circulation pathways. This
frigerator storage. Provide a lockable box in each refrigerator for stor-
space should be located near a sink and be as comfortable as possible,
age of medication. Refrigerators should be EPA Energy Star labeled for
with adjacent counter space and a carpeted floor. Furnishings include at
high-efficiency.
least one comfortable chair.
Recommended finishes include impervious flooring and gloss painted
wall above an impervious wainscot, for example, ceramic tile. Fiber-
7.6.8 Food Preparation:
board substrates for plastic laminate cabinets and countertops should
All children will eat in their classroom with their teachers. A food preparation
have little or no formaldehyde emissions. Use post formed counters
area must be provided in infant and young toddler classrooms for the
with integral coves and bullnose.
purpose of storing and heating individual bottles and other prepared food
brought from home.
If possible, use agrifiber boards, such as straw board, for cabinets and
counter substrates, and alternate more durable counter top materials.
Ceiling tile should have washable facing.
PBS-140 - July 2003
7-17
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