How Strict is your Fire Inspection (in-home family daycare)?

[Pestle]

I've been open for seven years, and every year, the fire inspector gives me a different list of things I have to do. First I had to have a hardwired illuminated emergency exit sign with backup lighting installed in the playroom. Then I had to have it relocated. Then I had to add additional smoke detectors and some of the rooms. Then I had to add grab bars because there are two steps down into the playroom. I have had to treat all of my window treatments, not just the ones in the daycare space, with fire retardant spray, which has discolored them and left them with brown stains. I've had to take down almost all of the artwork and I've had to remove the mobile because nothing can be hanging that could possibly catch fire. Now he has made me take the chain lock off of the door to the attic stairs, because he says that anyone who is inside the attic must be able to get out without there being a latch. So now the daycare kids can get into the attic. He has also said that I need an additional illuminated exit sign mounted at my front door, and that I need to have emergency lighting throughout the common living spaces.
WHAT THE HELL. I don't even feel like I have a home anymore. I'm ready to shut the daycare over this.

For people who are licensed for in-home daycare, is all this familiar to you? Or does it just sound like he is applying commercial, center regulations that shouldn't apply?

[Alwaysgreener]

Here centers get fire inspections but not home daycares.

When I opened small home DC like mine had less inspections and rules than a larger DC home with double kids and assistant. Since 2019 home DC are now equal in rules and inspections.

​​​​​I now get one inspection a year vs a lotto inspection every three years. I agree to food program and quality visits, but I can opt out of those at anytime.

Anyways my suggestion would to be requesting to see the regulations for home DC fire inspections, if you don't know it already.

As for the attic, can you put a child proof handle cover on the door handle so they don't open it.

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[Guest]

That sounds overwhelming and ridiculous. I've been licensed as FCCH here in Colorado for 33 years and have not been required to have a "fire inspection". There are certainly rules I have to follow regarding fire safety but nothing near as invasive as what you describe.. My suggestion is same as Always Greener - check the rules and regualtions for FCCH in your state. Good luck.

[e.j.]

Wow! Your fire inspectors seem to apply regulations as consistently as our childcare licensors do here. It's frustrating trying to meet all regulations when each inspector seems to have a different interpretation of what those regs are. I've had a daycare in two different locations within this same state and have never had to have a fire inspection so from my perspective, it does seem as though your in-home daycare is being treated as if it's a commercial center. I would check the fire safety regulations for both my state and city/town and question any regulations he's trying to enforce that don't seem to apply to your daycare business.