ILLINOIS REGISTER 5665
09
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
NOTICE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
b) The building or portion of the building to which children from the center have
access shall be used only for a program of child care during the hours that the
center is in operation. The space used for child care may be shared by other
groups or persons outside of the hours of operation.
c) Infants and toddlers shall be housed and cared for at ground level unless
otherwise approved through the exception process below. Travel distance
between any point in a room used for infants and toddlers and an exit discharging
directly outside shall not exceed 150 feet. Only a fire inspector from the Office of
the State Fire Marshal or the Chicago Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau
may grant an exception to the requirement that infants and toddlers be housed and
cared for at ground level.
d) There shall be sufficient indoor space to conduct the program.
1) There shall be a minimum of 35 square feet of activity area per child in
centers for children 2two years of age and older. This space is exclusive
of exit passages and fire escapes, which must be clear. This space is also
exclusive of administrative space, storage areas, bathrooms, kitchen, space
required for equipment that is not used for direct activities with children,
and gymnasiums or other areas used exclusively for large muscle activity
or active sports.
2) The amount of space required for infants and toddlers shall be determined
according to the use of the space for sleep and play purposes.
A) Regardless of whether infants play and sleep in the same room or
in 2two separate rooms, there shall be a minimum of 25 square feet
of play space per child plus a minimum of 30 square feet of
sleeping space per child, with at least 2two feet between each crib
and the next crib.
B) When toddlers play and sleep in the same room using cots
thatwhich can be stacked, there shall be 35 square feet of space per
child. When children are in their cots, there must be a minimum of
2two feet between the cots.
C) When toddlers play and sleep in the same room using cribs, there
