VA HANDBOOK 7610 (420)
June 21, 1993
f. Roadways
(1) Two way approach drives should be 6096 mm (20') wide; single lanes require 3658 mm, (12') in width.
(2) Four basic functions require service access to child care centers:
(a) Regular food deliveries to storage and kitchen area.
(b) Occasional supply deliveries (furniture, laundry, books, toys, etc.).
(c) Mechanical facility deliveries (fuel, maintenance, etc.).
(d) Garbage pickup.
(3) A back-up spur should be provided for dead-end and service drives which exceed 30.5 meters (m) (100') in length.
(4) Screen or separate the service area from public use or patron traffic areas.
(5) Provide physical barriers to separate outdoor child care areas from all service areas. Barriers/fences should be a
minimum of 1830 mm (6') high with the opening mechanism above child -reach height and operable only from the inside.
(6) Service access should not be through playgrounds.
(7) Provide roadway lighting.
g. Parking and Walks
(1) Provide safe points of facility access for children and adults which are separate from automotive circulation.
(2) Connect the building to the public sidewalk system, to parking, and to the covered drop-off porte cochere with
pedestrian walks. Minimum width of the walks should be 1.2 m (4').
(3) Walks should be smooth enough to permit cribs to be rolled from infant rooms to paved areas at least 9.2 m (30') from
the building.
(4) Sheltered walkways should have photo-electrically controlled illumination.
(5) Pedestrian approaches to the building should not pass through any outdoor activity areas.
(6) Provide covered entryway large enough to serve as an outdoor waiting area. This area should accommodate 2-4 cars
for picking up and delivering children. The design should not have children walking through vehicular traffic.
(7) Provide physically handicapped curb cuts.
h. Building Design
(1) Control of public access is at the reception center.
(2) Circulation paths shall be clear to children and adults.
(3) Major corridors shall be not less than six feet wide.
(4) The entrance to the building shall be obvious to first time users.
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