Connecticut Daycare Fire Safety Requirements

Fire safety is where state OEC standards and local municipal codes overlap — and where a provider can get tripped up by requirements that come from two different authorities with two different inspection calendars.

Who Inspects What

The OEC licensing specialist checks fire safety as part of the overall physical plant inspection. They verify smoke detectors, egress routes, fire extinguishers, and the general safety of heating equipment.

The local fire marshal may conduct a separate inspection, depending on your municipality. Some towns require a fire safety certificate before the OEC will issue a license; others don't. Call your local fire marshal's office early in the process to find out whether they inspect home daycares and whether there's a fee.

Under CGS § 29-309, family daycares must comply with the Connecticut State Fire Safety Code. Ask your local fire marshal which code clearances and equipment apply to your home.

Egress Requirements

Every room used for child care must have two remote, safe means of escape — typically a door and a window. "Remote" means they're far enough apart that a single fire can't block both exits simultaneously.

Basement windows used for egress have specific dimensional requirements:

• Clear opening: at least 5.7 square feet
• Minimum width: 20 inches
• Minimum height: 24 inches
• Sill height: no more than 44 inches above the floor
• Latch height: no more than 54 inches from the floor

If you plan to use a basement for care and the windows don't meet these dimensions, you'll need to install egress-compliant windows before inspection. This is one of the most expensive remediation items — egress window installation runs $2,500 to $5,000 per window.

Smoke Detectors and CO Alarms

• Smoke detectors on every level of the home, including the basement and attic if used
• Smoke detectors in every room used for sleeping
• Carbon monoxide alarms on each occupied level when the home uses combustible fuel
• All detectors must be functional at the time of inspection — the specialist will test them
• Battery-operated units are acceptable, but hardwired detectors with battery backup are preferred

Replace batteries on a fixed schedule and document it. An inspector finding a dead battery in a smoke detector is a guaranteed citation.

Fire Extinguishers

• At least one multipurpose (ABC-rated) fire extinguisher accessible near the kitchen and care areas
• Mounted no higher than 5 feet from the floor (so the provider can reach it quickly)
• Current inspection tag — most extinguishers need annual professional inspection and replacement every 5 to 12 years depending on type

Heating and Cooking Safety

• Auxiliary heaters added after original construction must be inspected and approved as required; no heating device may pose a hazard to children
• Radiators, heating vents, and fireplaces must be screened or guarded to prevent contact burns
• Cooking appliances must be inaccessible to children — stove knob covers, oven locks, and physical barriers between cooking and play areas
• No open flames (candles, incense) during care hours

Evacuation Planning

You need a written evacuation plan that covers:

• Primary and secondary exit routes from every room used for care
• A designated meeting point outside the home
• How you'll account for every child after evacuation
• How you'll evacuate infants who can't walk (you need enough cribs-on-wheels or evacuation cribs, or a plan for carrying multiple infants)
• Emergency contact notification procedures

Practice fire drills regularly with the children. Document each drill — date, time, number of children present, evacuation time. The OEC may ask to see your drill log during unannounced inspections.

The Connecticut Home Daycare License Process Guide includes a fire safety self-audit with the exact dimensional requirements and a printable evacuation plan template you can post by each exit.

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