A.
Scope. The provisions of this article shall govern
the minimum conditions and standards for the light, ventilation and
space for the occupancy of a structure. All light, ventilation and
space conditions shall comply with the requirements herein prescribed
insofar as they are applicable.
B.
Responsibility. The owner of the structure shall provide
and maintain such light and ventilation and space conditions in compliance
with these requirements. A person shall not let to another for occupancy
or use any premises which does not comply with the following requirements
of this article.
C.
Access to public property. All structures shall be
provided access to public property. Such access means shall be maintained
and unobstructed.
D.
Open space. An open space, when used for the origin
of light and ventilation, shall be maintained and unobstructed.
E.
Alternative devices. In place of the means for natural
light and ventilation herein prescribed, alternative arrangements
of windows, louvers or other methods and devices that will provide
the equivalent minimum performance requirements shall be permitted
when complying with the building code.
A.
General. All spaces or rooms shall be provided sufficient
light so as not to endanger health and safety.
B.
Habitable spaces. Every habitable space shall have
at least one window of approved size facing directly to the outdoors
or to a court or some other approved means of ventilation. The minimum
total window area, measured between stops, for every habitable space
shall be 8% of the floor area of such room, except in kitchens when
artificial light may be provided in accordance with the provisions
of the building code. Whenever walls or other portions of a structure
face a window of any room and such obstructions are located less than
three feet (914 millimeters) from the window and extend to a level
above that of the ceiling of the room, such a window shall not be
deemed to face directly to the outdoors nor to a court and shall not
be included as contributing to the required minimum total window area
for the room.
C.
Common halls and stairways. Every common hall and
stairway in every building, other than one- and two-family dwellings,
shall be adequately lighted at all times with an illumination of at
least a sixty-watt standard incandescent light bulb or equivalent
for each 200 square feet (18.60 square meters) of floor area, provided
that the spacing between lights shall not be greater than 30 feet
(9,144 millimeters). Every exterior stairway shall be illuminated
with a minimum of one footcandle (10.76 lux) at floors, landings and
treads.
D.
Other spaces. All other spaces shall be provide with
natural or artificial light of sufficient intensity and so distributed
as to permit the maintenance of sanitary conditions and the safe use
of the space and the appliances, equipment and fixtures.
A.
General. All spaces or rooms shall be provided sufficient
natural or mechanical ventilation so as not to endanger health and
safety. Where mechanical ventilation is provided in lieu of the natural
ventilation, such mechanical ventilating system shall be maintained
in operation during the occupancy of any structure or portion thereof.
When part of the air provided by a mechanical ventilation system is
recirculated, the portion or volume of air recirculated shall not
be recirculated to a different residential space or occupancy of dissimilar
use from which it is withdrawn.
B.
Habitable spaces. Every habitable space shall have
at least one window which can be easily opened or such other device
as will adequately ventilate the room or shall have an approved method
of ventilation. The total openable window area in every room shall
be equal to at least 45% of the minimum window area size required
by this code.
C.
Toilet rooms. Every bathroom and water closet compartment
shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable
spaces as required by this code, except that a window shall not be
required in bathrooms or water closet compartments equipped with an
approved mechanical ventilation system. Air exhausted by a mechanical
ventilation system from a bathroom or water closet compartment must
be exhausted to the exterior and may not be recirculated to any space,
including the space from which it is withdrawn.
D.
Cooking facilities. Cooking shall not be permitted
in any sleeping room or dormitory unit, and a cooking facility or
appliance shall not be permitted to be present in a sleeping room
or dormitory unit.
E.
Process ventilation. Where any process permits and
where injurious, toxic, irritating or noxious fumes, gases, dusts
or mists are generated by said process, a local exhaust ventilation
system shall be provided to remove the contaminating agent at the
source so that it is not allowed to permeate the general atmosphere
of the workroom. Air so exhausted shall be exhausted to the exterior
and may not be recirculated to any space, including the space from
which it is withdrawn.
F.
Clothes dryer exhaust. Clothes dryer venting systems
shall be independent of all other systems and shall be vented in accordance
with the manufacturer's recommendations.
A.
Separation of units. Dwelling units shall be separate
and apart from each other. Sleeping rooms shall not be used as the
only means of access to other sleeping rooms or habitable spaces.
B.
Privacy. Hotel units, lodging units and dormitory
units shall be designed to provide privacy and be separate from other
adjoining spaces.
C.
Common access. A habitable space, bathroom or water
closet compartment which is accessory to a dwelling unit shall not
open directly into or be used in conjunction with a food store, barber
or beauty shop, doctor's or dentist's examination or treatment room
or similar room used for public purposes.
D.
Below-grade rooms. Rooms partially or completely below
grade shall not be used as a habitable space unless:
(1)
Floors and walls are watertight so as to prevent entry
of moisture.
(2)
Total window area, total openable window area and
ceiling height are in accordance with this code.
(3)
Required minimum window area of every habitable space
is entirely above the grade adjoining such window areas.
(4)
Means of egress and emergency escape are provided
in accordance with this code.
A.
Area for sleeping purposes. Every room occupied for
sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain at least 70 square
feet (6.51 square meters) of floor area, and every room occupied for
sleeping purposes by more than one person shall contain at least 50
square feet (4.65 square meters) of floor area for each occupant thereof.
B.
Overcrowding. Dwelling units shall not be occupied
by more occupants than permitted by the minimum occupancy area requirements
of this section.
C.
Prohibited use. It shall be prohibited to use for
sleeping purposes any kitchen, nonhabitable space or public space.
|
Minimum Occupancy Area Requirements
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Minimum Occupancy Area in Square Feet
(square meters)
| ||||
|
Space
|
1 to 2 occupants
|
3 to 5 occupants
|
6 or more occupants
| |
|
Living room*
|
No requirements
|
120 (11.16)
|
150 (13.95)
| |
|
Dining room*
|
No requirements
|
80 (7.44)
|
100 (9.30)
| |
|
Kitchen
|
50 (4.65)
|
50 (4.65)
|
60 (5.58)
| |
|
Bedrooms**
|
Must comply with Section ES-404.1[1]
| |||
|
NOTES:
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
*
|
Combined living room/dining room spaces will
be construed as meeting the requirements of this table if the total
area is equal to that required for separate rooms and if the space
is so located that it may function as a combination living room/dining
room.
| |
|
**
|
Every room used as a bedroom shall have access
to at least one water closet without passing through another room
used as a bedroom. Every room used as a bedroom shall have access
to at least one water closet located on the same floor as the bedroom,
except that this requirement shall not apply to the only bedroom on
a floor.
| |
[1]
Editor's Note: See the BOCA/National Existing
Structures Code/1984.
D.
Minimum ceiling heights. Habitable spaces shall have
a clear ceiling height over the minimum area required by this code
at not less than 7 1/3 feet (2,235 millimeters), except that
in attics or top half-stories the ceiling height shall be not less
than seven feet (2,134 millimeters) over not less than 1/3 of the
minimum area required by this code when used for sleeping, study or
similar activity. In calculating the floor area of such rooms, only
those portions of the floor are of the room having a clear ceiling
height of five feet (1,524 millimeters) or more may be included.
E.
Correctional institutional occupancies. It is not
intended that this code regulate the space requirements of correctional
institutions.
F.
Minimum room widths. Every habitable space shall have
a clear room width of not less than seven feet (2,134 millimeters)
at the narrowest point.
G.
Exception. Kitchens require a clear passageway of
not less than three feet (914 millimeters) between counters, appliances
and/or walls.
