Indiana Code
Chapter 6. Regulation of Child Care Ministries
12-17.2-6-5. Rules for Fire Prevention and Inspection of Unlicensed Ministries

Sec. 5. (a) As used in this section, "primary use of the building" means the occupancy classification that is:
(1) most closely related to the intended use of the building; and
(2) determined by the rules of the fire prevention and building safety commission in effect at the time that the child care ministry is first registered.
(b) The state fire marshal shall inspect a child care ministry registered under section 2 of this chapter to ensure that the child care ministry complies with the requirements of subsection (c).
(c) Except as provided in the following, a registered child care ministry shall comply with all rules of the fire prevention and building safety commission applicable to the primary use of the building:
(1) A registered child care ministry with an occupant load of at least fifty (50) shall do either of the following:
(A) Install and maintain a fire alarm system in compliance with the rules of the fire prevention and building safety commission.
(B) Provide a notice on a form prescribed by the department of homeland security to the parents of each child who attends the ministry stating that the ministry does not have the same level of fire safety protection as a licensed child care center.
(2) Each registered child care ministry with an occupant load of less than fifty (50) shall do either of the following:
(A) Install and maintain in good operating condition at least one (1) battery operated smoke detector in each room and corridor used by the ministry.
(B) Provide a notice on a form prescribed by the department of homeland security to the parents of each child who attends the ministry stating that the ministry does not have the same level of fire safety protection as a licensed child care center.
(3) Each registered child care ministry shall comply with the rules of the fire prevention and building safety commission concerning fire drills.
For purposes of this subsection, occupant load is determined by dividing the total square footage of the area used by the child care ministry by thirty-five (35) and rounding any result that is not a whole number up to the next whole number.
(d) The state fire marshal shall make an inspection of a child care ministry registered under section 2 of this chapter at least annually.
(e) During an inspection, the state fire marshal shall inspect the structure in which the child care ministry is conducted for fire safety and life safety with respect to the structure's primary use.
As added by P.L.1-1993, SEC.141. Amended by P.L.159-1995, SEC.2; P.L.1-2006, SEC.194; P.L.187-2021, SEC.46.