Safety Standards for Facilities.
24 RCNY § 48.15
in effect§ 48.15 Safety Standards for Facilities.
(a) (1) Children under the age of 24 months must be located on the ground level of the camp.
(2) No camps receiving a first permit after January 1, 1989, shall allow children under six years of age to utilize any rooms, areas or other spaces above the third floor of a building, except that the Department may allow camps to occupy spaces above the third floor where the NYC Department fo Buildings and Fire Department (FDNY) or other appropriate government entities have approved such use and the Department has approved the applicant or permittee's evacuation plan.
(b) Fire protection.
(1) The camp director shall be responsible for the regular inspection of all fire protection facilities and equipment of the camp.
(2) If water under pressure is available, adequate lengths of hose for fire fighting shall be provided.
(3) Fire extinguishers and other suitable fire fighting equipment shall be placed at strategic and easily accessible points.
(4) Containers for gasoline, kerosene and other inflammable materials shall be properly marked and stored in a properly vented and locked building not occupied by campers or staff at a safe distance from program buildings and sleeping quarters. Such materials shall be used only under qualified supervision.
(5) Fire drills shall be held within the first 48 hours of each camping session and periodically thereafter in accordance with the fire safety plan. A log with drill dates and times must be maintained and verified by the camp director. It must be available for inspection at all times.
(6) The means of egress from all structures shall be maintained in an unobstructed, easily traveled condition at all times, and protected from hazardous areas such as heating plant, kitchen and inflammable storage.
(7) All tents housing five or more persons shall be of the fiber-impregnated flame-retardant variety or equivalent.
(8) Fire extinguishers and other fire fighting equipment acceptable to the Department shall be provided, inspected and tagged by the camp operator prior to the camp season. The equipment shall be maintained in operating condition at all times.
(9) Means of egress from buildings used for sleeping quarters by 30 or more persons shall be protected by a minimum of three-quarter hour fire-resistant construction. The Department may issue a variance for one-story buildings having direct outside exits from each sleeping quarter.
(10) Buildings used for sleeping 50 or more persons, or buildings two stories or more in height used for sleeping shall have a fire alarm system, that when activated sounds an alarm which can be heard throughout the camp. However, buildings three stories or more in height used for sleeping shall be protected with an automatic fire detection system including smoke detectors installed in corridors, assembly areas, storage rooms, stairways and heat detection devices installed in kitchens.
(11) Sleeping quarters with an occupancy of 15 or more persons shall be provided with at least two separate means of egress located as far apart as practical. Each door shall swing in the direction of egress. Windows in a sleeping quarter two stories or less in height may be substituted for one approved exit, provided the sill is not more than three feet above the floor and the drop from the windowsill to an unobstructed area on the ground is less than 14 feet.
(12) Two separate means of egress shall be provided from each floor of a multistory building. In buildings constructed prior to September 1, 1978, dead end corridors up to 35 feet in length are acceptable. An exitway shall lead to an outside exterior stairway that complies with the State Building Construction Code or to an interior smoke-tight passageway having a minimum of three-quarter hour fire-resistant construction and leading to the outdoors at grade. Stairs extending beyond two occupied floors shall have a self-closing, tight door at each floor level.
(13) Except for an individual room, a door containing hardware and forming part of a means of egress shall be non-locking against egress and operable with a single motion in the direction of egress. The use of nooks and eyes, bolts, bars and similar devices is prohibited; widths of exit doors shall be a minimum of 28 inches.
(14) All assemblage areas, including a recreation room, dining hall or chapel, shall have at least two means of egress acceptable to the Department and doors shall comply with the requirements of subdivision 14 of this subsection.
(15) Exits from a room occupied by 15 or more persons, or exits not readily visible to the occupants, shall be identified by lighted exit signs, including directional signs where needed.
(16) Emergency lighting shall be provided for halls, stairways and exit signs where required by the Department.
(c) Camp equipment. Camp equipment shall be of safe design, properly installed and kept in good order and repair.
(d) (1) No person shall modify, develop or convert a property for use as a children's camp without first notifying the Department at least 30 days before construction commences. The notice shall give the name and location of the property, a brief description of the facilities to be provided, and the name, telephone number and mailing address of the person giving notice. The notice shall be supplemented by additional information including plans or sketches as requested by the Department. Construction shall not start prior to the required approval of the plans or sketches by the appropriate regulatory official.
(2) All new construction including alterations, enlargements and improvements shall be in accordance with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code 9 NYCRR (Executive (B) Subtitle S, Chapter I), the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act or the New York City Building Code, whichever is stricter. The building permit and certificate of occupancy shall be readily available for review and submission to the Department. A written statement signed by a registered architect or professional engineer certifying construction compliance with the State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code shall be submitted to the Department prior to occupancy of all new construction.
(e) Housing maintenance.
(1) A building or structure of a children's camp shall be safe, adequate in size for its use, clean, and have watertight roof and sides. However, a lean-to or an open recreational facility, which excludes rain from occupied portions of the structure, may be used as a shelter.
(2) Heat, light and ventilation. Windows or skylights having a minimum total area within the casement equal to 10 percent of the floor area shall be maintained in all occupied rooms; at least 40 percent of the window shall be openable. Artificial in lieu of natural lighting and mechanical ventilation may be provided in toilet rooms.
(3) Camps occupied between October 1 and May 1 shall have at least one building with heating facilities for emergency use.
(4) Heating. Stoves or other heat sources, where provided shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions to avoid fire hazards and dangerous concentrations of fumes or gas. Water heaters shall not be installed in sleeping quarters.
(5) Camps which enroll children 10 years of age or under shall ensure that all windows are safely guarded, except windows giving access to fire escapes or a window on the first floor that is a required means of egress from the premises.
(6) There must be no peeling lead-based paint or peeling paint of unknown lead content on any surface accessible to children under 6 years of age.
(f) Location and grounds. A children's camp shall be so located that adequate surface drainage can be provided during the period of operation and so that adequate soil and space will permit the installation and operation of proper sewage disposal system and/or water system, unless other provisions are made acceptable to the Department.
(g) Food sanitation.
(1) All supervisors of food operations at all camps shall successfully complete a food protection course approved by the Department as specified in 24 RCNY Health Code § 81.15.
(2) All food storage, preparation and service operations conducted by the camp permittee shall be in accordance with 24 RCNY Health Code Article 81 provided, however, that the camp permittee shall not be required to obtain an additional permit to operate a food service establishment.
(3) If food is not prepared on premises, is catered, or campers are permitted to bring food from home for lunches and snacks, or food is carried off-site on trips, facilities shall be provided to maintain potentially hazardous foods at temperatures required by 24 RCNY Health Code § 81.09,
(i) All foods shall be protected from contamination at all times.
(ii) All foods shall be prepared, processed or packed with sanitary utensils and equipment.
(iii) Packaged foods shall not be stored in direct contact with ice or water if packaging allows entry of water.
(iv) Raw fruits and vegetables shall be thoroughly washed with potable water before service.
(v) Ready to eat foods shall be protected from bare hand contact. Utensils, sanitary gloves, or other barriers shall be provided and used to eliminate bare hand contact.
(h) Toilets; showers; running water.
(1) For overnight camps, the following facilities shall be provided: one toilet or privy seat for each 15 males or less, plus one urinal for each 30 males or less; one (1) toilet or privy for each 15 females or less; at least one (1) lavatory with water under pressure for each 20 occupants or less, or other handwashing facilities acceptable to the Department.
(2) At all non-overnight camps the ratio of toilet or privy seats per camper may be one for each 30 females and one for each 60 males including one urinal for each 60 males. In addition, a minimum of one lavatory shall be provided for each 40 campers; showers are not required.
(3) Overnight camps shall provide showers with water under pressure heated to between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and one shower head for each 20 occupants or less, shall be provided.
(4) Toilets, privy seats and lavatories as specified above shall be provided within 200 feet of the sleeping quarters; however, no privy shall be located within 50 feet of any sleeping room, dining room, mess hall or kitchen.
(i) Sleeping quarters.
(1) Every bed, mattress and related sleeping accessories provided by the operator, shall be clean and in good condition at the time of issue; clean sheets and pillow-cases shall be provided weekly. Laundry facilities shall be available when campers and staff provide their own linens.
(2) A minimum clear space of 27 inches above the sleeping surface of a bed, and six feet between heads of sleepers, shall be maintained; triple-decker beds are prohibited.
(3) In sleeping quarters housing more than four persons, 40 square feet of floor area per individual shall be provided to accommodate a bed, for storage of personal belongings and space for aisles and ready exit in case of fire.
(4) The Commissioner may waive any requirement setting a minimum standard of floor space per camper in a camp sleeping quarters in accordance with the State Public Health Law and the regulations pursuant thereto.
(5) An undivided room shall not have more than 35 occupants.
(6) A sleeping room shall have minimum clear height of five feet above the floor area, and at least 80 per cent of the floor area shall have a continuous minimum clear height above it of seven feet. The walls shall extend from the floor to the ceiling or roof, or to a minimum height of eight feet.
(7) At least one adult counselor shall be present during sleeping hours on every level of a building used for sleeping.
(8) Toilets and hand wash sinks must be installed at a height that allows unassisted use by children. If adult-size toilets or hand wash sinks are in place, platforms with easily cleaned surfaces must be provided for use by children. Such platforms must be securely affixed to a permanent structure and free of hazards.
(j) Other environmental controls.
(1) Hazardous materials. Agricultural, commercial or household pesticides and toxic chemicals shall be stored and/or used to cause no air, surface water or ground water pollution or be hazardous to the occupants of the camp. They shall be stored in their original containers in areas designated for such use.
(2) Vector and vermin control. The premises are to be free of insect and rodent infestation that may cause a nuisance or health hazard. Bats shall be excluded from living areas of occupied buildings.
(3) Refuse storage and disposal. Refuse shall mean solid wastes. Facilities shall be provided and maintained for the storage, handling and disposal of refuse to prevent nuisance conditions, insect and rodent infestations and pollution of air and water.
(4) No animals suspected of carrying a communicable disease shall be kept in camp. Animals kept in camp shall comply with applicable requirements of the NYS Environmental Conservation Law and/or the Agriculture and Markets Law.
(Amended City Record 12/26/2019, eff. 1/25/2020)
Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCrules/0-0-0-45527Fetched: 10/24/2026