Need help in MI (rules & regs that I don't understand)

[Unregistered]

A couple of things that confuse me in my regulation handbook. (family home up to 6)

First-- "at least one exit provides direct, safe, means of travel to the outside at ground level" (window can be used as second exit).
"only steps and platforms shall be used to access a basement window exit and permanently secured to the wall or floor. Ladders shall not be used"

For my basement, I don't have an egress window, I have a giant window probably 50" off the ground that opens directly to the ground level in my backyard. Does the above rule mean I have to build steps to walk out that window and is that my direct safe means of travel and the stairs upstairs my secondary?

For my upper level, (second story) are the stairs to the main level and out the front door my direct means of travel to the outside at ground level and a bedroom window my secondary exit?

NEXT!

Transportation:
"obtain and keep on file written permission from a child's parent before each time a child is transported in a vehicle." Does this mean I seriously need a separate form EACH DAY I choose to take the kid's somewhere? Does it take away my freedom of saying at 10am, hey, it's a beautiful day, lets go to the park! Can I just have a blanket form stating I have permission for me to take the kids on errands, to the park and other occasional places? (my parents agree to this). One form that they sign at enrollment that gives me permission to do that at my discretion?
"obtain written permission at initial enrollment of a child to go on field trips not involving a vehicle" (so I need another separate form if I take a walk to a park??"

Thanks for your help. I have read and re-read the handbook but it isn't exactly clear for every rule.

[Maria2013]

not sure about the first question, but when I used to transport the kids, I had parents sign a consent to transport and kept it on file. I renewed that form once a year

[midaycare]

This is why I don't transport, ! I would just do both forms or make one form that covers both scenarios.

I'm not sure about the first question ... My downstairs windows are on ground level.

[cara041083]

I think, and I could be very wrong but I think it is saying you must have an exit where ever you are doing child care. For me I have to have at least 2 fire exits that are ground level to use that space for daycare. My Basement doesn't have an exit so there for I can't have daycare kids down there (other then tornado drills or warnings). I also can't have one up stairs unless I have two fire escapes.

And as for the transportation, I don't offer it for the very reason's you listed above. Way to much to deal with, not to mention I wouldn't want to be responsible for someone else's child getting hurt if I was in an accident

[Unregistered]

Why must the wording be so tricky?! Lol, it drives me nuts. It would be nice if it weren't so ambiguously written.

[BumbleBee]

Check out the "technical assistance" manual on the website. It gives detailed answers to many of the confusing regulations. It's available for download for free.

[spinnymarie]

As for the basement, you have to have two exits.
First exit has to be a door, either up a short flight of stairs and directly outside or no stairs and directly outside, but not up stairs and then through the house to outside.
Your second exit could be a window, the one you are describing would work, but, as you said, you would need stairs or a ramp permanently affixed under the window so that children could walk up and out.
If you don't have a door from the basement, you won't be able to use it. Ours in IL has to be less than 8' from the floor of the basement for it to count. At my house we go up 8 steps and there is a door at the landing directly outside.

ETA - I'm not sure about the second story exits, I would think that as long as your stairs down are near your door outside that they be acceptable.

To the other questions, I would say Yes and Yes. Yes you need a written permission each time, so yes it takes away your freedom of leaving any time you want, however, I would think that a parent could sign a consent each week that you have written several possible dates on. (I give permission for my child ___ to be transported to the park on 1/17, 1/18, 1/19.) And yes you need a transport permission for walking on file from the get-to - I just signed one for my daughter's school. (I give permission for my child ___ to be transported by walking around the neighborhood, to nearby parks (ABC Park), or other walking-distance areas.)

[Unregistered]

"A stair way from the basement or second floor to the main floor is considered a direct exit to the outside. " <---- from the technical manual.

That makes it sound like my direct exit from upstairs to downstairs CAN be the stairway (which is right by my front door). Same for the basement-- the stair way leading upstairs to the main level counts as my direct exit. The front door is like 10 feet from the doorway to my basement.

A window may be used as a second exit as long as: it is accessible to children, clearly identified (I assume this means I post a sign above it), can be readily opened, and is of a size and design to allow for evac of all children and caregiving staff. <----- my second story exit could be a window, so the kid could jump down to an emergency trampoline or whatever I am guessing. Unless I need to add a safety ladder to the window, but it doesn't suggest that at all.

[Unregistered]

Oh so I just measured my basement window ("if the bottom of the window opening is 44 inches or higher from the floor there must be affixed stairs or a platform").

Does that mean the actual opening or the bottom section of where the window installs? I know and realize how technical this question is, but the part where the window is installed (the sil ) is exactly 44" which will be probably just under once my pad and carpet is installed).

[Childminder]

I don't think the sill height matters in this case because it is at grade, you said the window opens at ground level. That 44 inch level applies, I believe, for below grade egress but it is measured to sill. Have your local fire dept come inspect it for you.

The stairs part for main floor isn't an issue, you just need exits at opposite ends of the house so that if there were a fire near one exit you can get to and escape thru the other.

Also read this: https//www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/emergency-exit-routes-factsheet.pdf

[spinnymarie]

Can you look at your state fire marshall website? Ours has specific daycare things on it, like the stair exit part and the window opening.
Ours has to be 44 inches to the opening, not the sill.

[Unregistered]

I don't think the sill height matters in this case because it is at grade, you said the window opens at ground level. That 44 inch level applies, I believe, for below grade egress but it is measured to sill. Have your local fire dept come inspect it for you.

The stairs part for main floor isn't an issue, you just need exits at opposite ends of the house so that if there were a fire near one exit you can get to and escape thru the other.

Also read this: https//www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/emergency-exit-routes-factsheet.pdf

Great info, thanks. I read the 44" rule also as an egress thing too, but thought maybe it applied to my basement window too (though like i said, it does open directly to ground level).

As for my second story, the stairs to the main level are one exit, a window on the other side of the home upstairs is my secondary emergency exit (even though the only spot to go out the window is to fall down two stories?)

For my main level, one exit through the front door, one exit out the back slider door to the deck).

Basement: one up the stairs to the main level of the home, one out of the 44" sill window opened directly to ground level.

So I DONT need stairs then in the basement is what you're saying?

[Unregistered]

Can you look at your state fire marshall website? Ours has specific daycare things on it, like the stair exit part and the window opening.
Ours has to be 44 inches to the opening, not the sill.

Tried looking there, the LARA site has zero helpful info on it.

[momofsix]

I would think you need the stairs going to your window in the basement from my understanding. I don't use my 2nd floor so am unsure about that.
As far as transportation, we have NO freedom there. EVERY trip must be signed by the parents with the date and time. The only exceptions are
1. driving back and forth to school-parents can sign a yearly permission for this
2. Regular trips, say an every Wednesday morning trip to the library, the parents can sign one form that includes all the weeks.

As others have mentioned, reading the Technical Assistance to the rules was a huge help for me.
Good luck!

[Unregistered]

I would think you need the stairs going to your window in the basement from my understanding. I don't use my 2nd floor so am unsure about that.
As far as transportation, we have NO freedom there. EVERY trip must be signed by the parents with the date and time. The only exceptions are
1. driving back and forth to school-parents can sign a yearly permission for this
2. Regular trips, say an every Wednesday morning trip to the library, the parents can sign one form that includes all the weeks.

As others have mentioned, reading the Technical Assistance to the rules was a huge help for me.
Good luck!

That's a little more helpful. My daughter does gymnastics during the week - same time and same day every week so I could do that. I guess I will just have to try to schedule ahead for parks, etc. :/ LAME! My parents were all totally willing to just sign something giving me the right to take them wherever using my own discretion.