Township of Hanover, NJ Chapter 121 Dry-Cleaning and Laundering Establishments

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Hanover 10-9-1975 by Ord. No. 1975. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 121-1 Definitions.

Except where otherwise indicated by the context, the following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:

DRY-CLEANING MACHINE or DRY-CLEANING EQUIPMENT

A machine or equipment in which or with which self-service dry cleaning, as above-defined, is done.

PERSON

Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.

SELF-SERVICE DRY CLEANING or DRY CLEANING

The cleaning of textile, fabrics, garments or other articles as a business or commercial enterprise or in connection with a business or commercial enterprise by the use of any solvent, other than water, which is not flammable at ordinary operating temperatures, in a dry-cleaning unit designed primarily to accommodate individual- or family-sized cleaning loads and of or similar to the type designed for self-service use by the insertion of coins, whether the unit is operated by the public on a self-service basis or by an attendant or is operated by the insertion of coins or otherwise.

SELF-SERVICE LAUNDERING or LAUNDERING

The washing of textiles, fabrics, garments or other articles as a business or commercial enterprise or in connection with a business or commercial enterprise by the use of water in a washing machine designed primarily to accommodate individual- or family-sized cleaning loads and of or similar to the type designed for self-service use by the insertion of coins, whether the unit is operated by the public on a self-service basis or by an attendant or is operated by the insertion of coins or otherwise.

WASHING MACHINE or LAUNDERING EQUIPMENT

A machine or equipment in which or with which self-service laundering, as above-defined, is done.

§ 121-2 Enforcement.

It is hereby made the duty of the Chief of Police to enforce or aid in the enforcement of all provisions of this chapter, and, for this purpose, the Chief or his duly authorized representatives shall have the right and are hereby empowered to enter upon any premises on which any business subject to the provisions of this chapter is located or about to be located and inspect the same at any reasonable time.

§ 121-3 Flammable solvents prohibited.

No person shall engage in any business similar to or resembling self-service dry cleaning or laundering, as defined herein, which involves the use of any solvent which is flammable at ordinary operating temperatures.

§ 121-4 Operating requirements.

A. The following general operating requirements shall apply:

(1) Step-by-step operating instructions shall be posted conspicuously near each dry-cleaning or washing machine.

(2) Any self-service dry-cleaning or laundering equipment connected to a water supply also supplying water for human consumption or general use shall be equipped with an effective backflow preventer or vacuum breaker.

(3) In addition to any other fire-extinguishing equipment required by law, there must be kept on the premises at all times in a conspicuous and easily accessible place one or more portable fire extinguishers adequate to extinguish any oil, electrical or other fires that might occur in connection with any machinery on the premises. Such extinguishers shall be of a number and type prescribed or approved by the Fire Chief.

(4) Each outside entrance or exit to the business premises shall be kept well lighted at all times when the business is open at night.

B. The following general operating requirements shall apply to those businesses which are engaged in self-service dry cleaning, either exclusively or in conjunction with self-service laundering:

(1) Each dry-cleaning machine used shall be checked daily and shall at all times be properly maintained and kept in a safe condition for public use. All maintenance personnel shall be instructed as to solvent hazards.

(2) No dry-cleaning solvent, other than small amounts used for spotting, shall be exposed to the open air, and no solvent shall be allowed to leak from any container, machine or other place.

(3) Filter residue and other residues containing solvent shall be disposed of so as not to create a health hazard or nuisance. A covered metal container shall be used for the temporary storage of such residue.

(4) The working or maintenance portion of any dry-cleaning machine or equipment used shall be effectively blocked off or otherwise made inaccessible to customers and the public.

(5) Access doors to the maintenance area shall be kept locked.

(6) The dry-cleaning equipment shall be provided with an exhaust system capable of maintaining a minimum of 100 feet per minute face velocity through the loading door whenever this door is open. The ductwork connections from this system shall be sealed (soldered or taped) and the terminal discharge stack into the atmosphere extended to a minimum height of five feet above the roofline.

(7) A satisfactory means of preventing any leaking liquid from escaping the immediate area in which the dry-cleaning equipment is installed must be provided. This may be done by providing for drainage or diking or both, but any means employed must be adequate to be effective against the largest quantity of liquid which might escape from any system at any one time.

(8) An interlock system shall be provided on each dry-cleaning machine to prevent the loading door from being opened during the normal operational cycle. This system shall be either electrical or mechanical and so connected that, in the event of a power failure, the machine fails safe.

(9) The dry-cleaning machine design must be such that no tangible or pungent amount of solvent is retained in the cleaned items upon completion of the normal dry-cleaning cycle.

(10) No solvent shall be used in any equipment other than solvent specified for such use by the equipment manufacturer. Under no circumstance shall any solvent which is flammable at ordinary operating temperatures be used or kept on the dry-cleaning premises.

(11) A supply of make-up air equal to or greater than the total volume of air exhausted from the premises shall be provided in order to eliminate any negative pressure conditions which might otherwise develop.

(12) Exhaust ventilation stacks from dry-cleaning machines shall not be located in proximity to combustion air intakes on gas-fired equipment. The concentration of solvent vapor in combustion air shall not exceed five parts per million.

(13) No exhaust opening shall be located in such manner that solvent vapor concentration in any opening in any adjacent occupied building will exceed 20 parts per million, except that no exhaust opening shall be located closer than 25 feet from any opening in any such adjacent building.

C. The following general operating requirements shall apply to those businesses which are engaged in self-service laundering, either exclusively or in conjunction with self-service dry cleaning:

(1) Each side-loading washing machine shall be equipped with a door which will not open while the machine is in operation.

(2) Any drying machine used in connection with laundering shall be equipped with a loading door containing a transparent window that can be opened by pressure from the inside, and such machine shall be designed in such manner that it will not operate when the loading door is open.

§ 121-5 Additional requirements.

In addition to all other provisions of this chapter, the following provisions shall apply:

A. No person shall offer any self-service dry-cleaning or laundering equipment for use by the public during the period between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. unless there is present in the place where such dry-cleaning or laundering equipment is located a competent, supervisory attendant skilled in the operation of such equipment.

B. The public area of the premises shall be on a ground level, and all or substantially all of such area shall be visible from the outside.

C. A telephone shall be maintained for public use on the premises with the following telephone numbers prominently posted nearby: those of the Police Department, Fire Department and persons connected with the business to be notified in the event of service failure or emergency.

D. All unused electrical outlets located in public areas must be disconnected or covered with plates.

E. The area used by the public must be adequately lighted during business hours.

F. Coin-operated music and amusement machines may not be located within the licensed premises.

G. No toilets for the use of the public shall be maintained on the premises.

H. No telephone booth with nontransparent walls, closet or other enclosure with an interior largely closed off from public view shall be maintained for public use.

I. A "no loitering" sign shall be prominently displayed.

J. No manually operated equipment for pressing or finishing purposes shall be maintained for public use.

§ 121-6 Inspections.

The Chief of Police or his duly authorized representatives shall inspect all businesses regulated under this chapter at least once a year to determine whether such businesses are being operated in a lawful manner and in accordance with this chapter and other applicable provisions of law.

§ 121-7 Time limit for compliance.

Any person operating any self-service dry-cleaning or laundering business on the effective date of this chapter shall have a period of 90 days after such effective date to comply with the terms of this chapter.

§ 121-8 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 7-11-1991 by Ord. No. 16-91]

Any person, firm or corporation violating this chapter shall be subject, upon conviction, to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both, at the discretion of the Judge imposing the same.