Scope. The provisions of this article shall govern
the minimum mechanical and electrical facilities and equipment to
be provided. All mechanical and electrical facilities and equipment
shall comply with the requirements herein prescribed, insofar as they
are applicable.
Responsibility. The owner of the structure shall provide
and maintain such mechanical and electrical facilities and equipment
in compliance with these requirements. A person shall not occupy as
owner-occupant or let to another, for occupancy or use, any premises
which does not comply with the following requirements of this article.
Residential buildings. Every dwelling unit and guest
room shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining
a room temperature of 65° F. (18.33° C.), at a point three
feet (0.91 meter) above the floor and three feet (0.91 meter) from
an exterior wall in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms.
Other structures. In all other structures where heating
facilities are supplied or available for use, they shall be capable
of adequately and safely heating areas of the structure to a reasonable
temperature for work conditions.
Cooking and heating equipment. All cooking and heating
equipment, components and accessories in every heating, cooking and
water-heating device shall be maintained free from leaks and obstructions
and kept functioning properly so as to be free from fire, health and
accident hazards. All installations and repairs shall be made in accordance
with the provisions of the Building Code[1] or other laws or ordinances applicable thereto. Portable
cooking equipment employing flame is prohibited except for approved
residential-type food trays or salvers which are heated by a candle
or alcohol lamp.
Installation. All mechanical equipment shall be properly
installed and safely maintained in good working condition and be capable
of performing the function for which it was designed and intended.
Fireplaces. Fireplaces and other construction and
devices intended for use similar to a fireplace shall be stable and
structurally safe and connected to approved chimneys.
Climate control. When facilities for interior climate
control (heating, cooling and/or humidity) are integral functions
of structures used as dwelling units or other occupancies, such facilities
shall be maintained and operated in a continuous manner in accordance
with the designed capacity.
Outlets required. Where there is electric service
available to a structure, every habitable room of a dwelling unit
and every guest room shall contain at least two separate and remote
outlets, one of which may be a ceiling- or wall-type electric light
fixture. In a kitchen, three separate and remote wall-type electric
convenience outlets or two such convenience outlets and one ceiling-
or wall-type electric light fixture shall be provided. Every public
hall, water-closet compartment, bathroom, laundry room or furnace
room shall contain at least one electric light fixture. In addition
to the electric light fixture in every bathroom and laundry room,
there shall be provided at least one electric outlet.
Installation. All electrical equipment, wiring and
appliances shall be installed and maintained in a safe manner in accordance
with all applicable laws. All electrical equipment shall be of an
approved type.
Defective system. Where it is found, in the opinion
of the code official, that the electrical system in a structure constitutes
a hazard to the occupants or the structure by reason of inadequate
service, improper fusing, insufficient outlets, improper wiring or
installation, deterioration or damage or for similar reasons, the
code official shall require the defects to be corrected to eliminate
the hazard.
Elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators shall
be maintained to safely sustain the loads to which they are subject,
to operate properly and to be free of physical and fire hazard.