Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-103.9

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 281-103.9 - Seclusion room requirements

Schools must meet the following standards for the structural and physical requirements for rooms used for seclusion:

(1) The room meets and complies with all applicable building, fire, safety, and health codes and standards and with the other provisions of this rule.

(2) The dimensions of the room are of adequate width, length, and height to allow the student to move about and recline safely and comfortably, considering the age, size, and physical and mental condition of the student being secluded. The interior of the room is to be no less than 56 square feet, and the distance between opposing walls is to be no less than 7 feet across.

(3) The room is not isolated from school employees or the facility.

(4) Any wall that is part of the room is part of the structural integrity of the room (not free-standing cells or portable units attached to the existing wall or floor).

(5) The room provides a means of continuous visual and auditory monitoring of the student.

(6) The room is adequately lighted with switches to control lighting located outside the room.

(7) The room is adequately ventilated with switches to control fans or other ventilation devices located outside the room.

(8) The room maintains a temperature within the normal human comfort range and consistent with the rest of the building with temperature controls located outside of the room.

(9) The room is clean and free of objects and fixtures that could be potentially dangerous to a student, including protruding, exposed, or sharp objects, exposed pipes, electrical wiring, or other objects in the room that could be used by students to harm themselves or to climb up a wall.

(10) The room contains no free-standing furniture.

(11) The room is constructed of materials safe for its intended use, including wall and floor coverings designed to prevent injury to the student. Interior finish of the seclusion room will comply with the state and local building and fire codes and standards.

(12) Doors will open outward. The door will not be fitted with a lock unless it releases automatically when not physically held in the locked position by personnel on the outside of the door and permits the door to be opened from the inside. Doors, when fully open, do not reduce the required corridor width by more than seven inches. Doors in any position do not reduce the required width by more than one-half.

(13) The room is able to be opened from the inside immediately upon the release of a security mechanism held in place by constant human contact.

(14) Windows, if any, are transparent and made of unbreakable or shatterproof glass or plastic.

(15) By July 1, 2021, schools will consult with appropriate state and local building, fire, safety, and health officials to ensure the room complies with all applicable codes and standards (for example, heating, ventilation, lighting, accessibility, dimensions, access, entry and exit, fire suppression, etc.), and maintain documentation of such consultation and compliance and approval.

(16) Assuming approval pursuant to subrule 103.9(15), a school may continue to use a room that otherwise complies with this rule but for subrule 103.9(2) for a period of five years from January 20, 2021, or whenever the portion of the school containing the room is renovated or remodeled, whichever occurs first.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-103.9

Adopted by IAB December 16, 2020/Volume XLIII, Number 13, effective 1/20/2021

Adopted by IAB April 17, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 21, effective 5/22/2024