CHAPTER 7: INTERIOR SPACE DESIGN
electrical power outlet, venting, plumbing connections, floor drain, deep
7.7 Mechanical/Electrical/
sink, and millwork with closed, lockable storage. If space and budget allows
include a dishwasher in this area to wash toys that are often soiled from
Telephone Equipment
being in children's mouths. There must be a counter for folding clothes
and wall lockable cabinets for cleaning supply storage.
Except when centers are free-standing buildings, mechanical equipment
7.6.18 Janitor's Closet:
typically will be provided by the main buildings central plant. When free-
Service personnel and staff use this space for storing janitorial supplies
standing, interior space must be provided for mechanical equipment split
and equipment. Include a mop sink with plumbing connections and storage
systems or rooftop equipment will need to be used. However, the decision
for pails, mops, vacuums, and related cleaning supplies and equipment.
to use rooftop equipment should be carefully weighed by the designer.
The door should have a lock (which is able to open from the inside without
The decision should not be based on first cost alone, due to the additional
a key) and cabinets for cleaning supplies which must be lockable. Provide
maintenance and possible damage to the roof that this configuration entails.
exhaust ventilation. Special fire safety and ventilation requirements for
This precaution is particularly applicable to regions of the country with
janitor's closets can be found in Chapter 10.
significant precipitation. GSA is particularly interested in equipment and
systems which will have low long-term operating and maintenance costs.
While isolated from children's activity areas, janitor 's closets and
maintenance facilities should be designed to maintain convenience to
Space for telephone service must be centrally located and separate from
cleaning and maintenance staff. To protect indoor air quality from the
the children's areas, although a dedicated telephone closet is not always
necessary. Typically a 900 mm x 900 mm backboard will suffice.
potential impact of cleaning and maintenance activities, provide the
following:
Fully enclosed areas with separate outside exhausting, no air recircula-
If a room is provided for mechanical/electrical/telephone equipment, it should
tion and negative pressure where chemical use occurs, as described in
have a lockable door that is not accessible by children (but will also not
LEED Version 2.0.
allow children to be locked inside). Finishes include painted walls and a
Automatic chemical mixing dispensers to assure correct dilutions of
sealed concrete floor.
cleaning materials.
7.8 Design Features to Avoid
7.6.19 Service Entrance:
A key-access service entrance is needed by service personnel to deliver
The following is a short list of center features that have been found to be
food and supplies and for trash removal. This entrance should be accessible
impractical or not conducive to the desired environment. These are
to maintenance and kitchen staff. Locate the entrance next to service
undesirable conditions that are most commonly observed, but the list is
areas, away from the front entry and children's activity areas.
not exhaustive:
Excessive areas of fixed carpet.
Sinks that are not deep enough or movable faucets that allow water to
flow onto the adjacent counter instead of into the sink.
Shelving which is too high for caregivers to reach.
Excessive amounts of space devoted to toilet area because separate
ones have been provided for each classroom (as opposed to shared
toilet areas between classrooms).
Note: When separate toilet rooms are provided, ADAAG-mandated wheel-
chair clearance must be allocated in each toilet room. Thus, instead of
PBS-140 - July 2003
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