The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), Bureau of Certification and Bureau of Policy & Professional Development have released the Announcement C-21-02 Act 62 of 2020 Fire Safety Requirements for Certified Child Care Facilities. This Announcement describes the requirements in Act 62, signed into law July 14, 2020. This act revises fire safety requirements for certified child care facilities regulated under 55 Pa. Code, Chapters 3270, 3280, and 3290 relating to child care centers, group child care homes, and family child care homes. This law requires child care providers to meet requirements as described in detail below. This law was effective Nov. 11, 2020.
All certified child care facilities must maintain compliance with the Fire and Panic Act, the Pennsylvania Construction Code, and applicable regulations relating to fire detection devices or systems. Fire detection devices or systems must always be operable. The Announcement provides requirements for Certified Family Child Care Homes (FCCH), Certified Group Child Care Homes (Operating in a residence), Certified Child Care Centers (including Child Care Centers located in a school-building) and Group Child Care (NOT Operating in a Residence), requirements during inspections by OCDEL and more.
