As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The process of removing dirt, grease, paints and other stains
from wearing apparel, textiles, fabrics, rugs, etc., by the use of
nonaqueous liquid solvents, flammable or nonflammable, and includes
the process of dyeing clothes or other fabrics or textiles in a solution
of dye colors and nonaqueous liquid solvents.
As applied to solvents, means classified as to fire hazard
in accordance with Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., standard of classification.
[Amended 12-5-1984 by L.L. No. 17-1984]
A.
No person shall engage in the business of dry cleaning
without a permit, which shall prescribe the class of system to be
used. Application for such permit shall be accompanied by an inspection
and permit fee to be set annually by resolution of the City Council
before adoption of the budget for the following year. Each such permit
or renewal thereof shall expire on December 31 next following its
issuance and may be renewed for a period of one year from the date
of expiration after application therefor and payment of the permit
fee.
[Amended 12-20-2000 by L.L. No. 11-2000]
B.
No change shall be made in a solvent used in the equipment
to a solvent in a more hazardous class unless permission for such
change shall first have been obtained from the Fire Inspector.
Dry-cleaning systems shall be classified as
follows:
A.
Class I systems shall be those utilizing solvents
rated above 40, including naphtha having a flash point of 50º
F.
B.
Class II systems shall be those utilizing solvents
rated 40 or below but which do not comply with Class III or Class
IV requirements, including Stoddard solvent.
C.
Class III systems shall be those employing equipment
listed by Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., as utilizing solvents
having specified characteristics and rated at 25 or below, including
solvents having a flash point of 140º F.
D.
Class IV systems shall be those utilizing solvents
rated as nonflammable or as nonflammable at ordinary temperatures
and only moderately flammable at higher temperatures, rated not over
five, including carbon tetrachloride and perchlorethylene.
A.
Class II systems shall be located in buildings having
walls of masonry or noncombustible construction and wall finish shall
be plain or plastered without furring or concealed spaces. Floors
of dry-cleaning sections shall be of fire-resistive construction and
without pits, wells or pockets; and where located over a basement,
floor shall be vapor- and liquid-tight. Roof and floors above grade
floor, if of combustible construction, shall have the ceilings over
the dry-cleaning areas protected by cement or gypsum plaster on metal
lath or equivalent construction having a fire-resistance rating of
not less than one hour. Dry-cleaning buildings shall not be closer
than 10 feet to the line of adjoining property, except that if exposing
walls are equivalent to twelve-inch brick construction without openings,
the building may be located on the property line.
B.
Dry-cleaning operations shall be restricted to the
lowest floor of a building, but shall not be located on any floor
below grade nor in the same building with other occupancies. Operations
incidental to the dry-cleaning business, such as laundering, pressing
and ironing, may be in a communicating building or located on the
same floor with the dry-cleaning plant, provided the dry-cleaning
operations are separated therefrom by partitions having a fire-resistance
rating of not less than two hours and the communicating openings are
protected by fire doors approved for such openings.
C.
Door openings on stairs or elevators leading from
a dry-cleaning area to a basement, or opening into a room having openings
or stairs to basements, shall be provided with noncombustible sills
or ramps raised at least six inches. Approved self-closing fire doors
shall be provided at such openings. Enclosures shall be of construction
equivalent to the floor construction but having a fire-resistance
rating of not less than one hour.
D.
Rooms in which articles are hung up to dry shall be
constructed with walls, partitions and ceilings having a fire-resistance
rating of not less than two hours. Entrances to drying rooms shall
be provided with approved self-closing fire doors. If the drying room
is in a separate building, it shall conform in all respects to the
provisions for a dry-cleaning building.
E.
A mechanical system of ventilation shall be installed
in dry-cleaning areas and drying rooms. Such system shall have sufficient
capacity to ensure complete and continuous change of air once every
six minutes and shall be provided with means for remote control. The
system shall operate automatically when any dry-cleaning equipment
is in use.
Class III systems, if located in the same building
with other occupancies, shall be separated from the remainder of the
building vertically and horizontally by construction having a fire-resistance
rating of not less than one hour with openings protected by approved
fire doors, except that such separation shall not be required for
operations incidental to or in connection with the dry-cleaning business,
such as laundering, scouring, scrubbing, drying, pressing or ironing,
and the requirement for such separation may be waived in the discretion
of the Board of Fire Wardens, Chief of the Fire Department or Fire
Inspector, based upon a consideration of such factors as type of building
construction, nature of occupancy, storage and operating capacity
of the system and extent of private fire protection provided.
Class IV systems shall be subject to the requirement for permit in § 98-22 but shall be exempt from all other provisions of this article.
A.
Where Class II systems are used, heating shall be
by steam or hot water only. Where Class III systems are used, heating
shall be by any approved means which does not involve any open flame
or ignition source in the dry-cleaning area. Steam and hot water pipes
and radiators for heating and drying purposes shall be at least one
inch from all woodwork and shall be protected by substantial metal
screens arranged so as to prevent combustible goods or materials from
coming in contact with pipes and radiators.
B.
Boilers shall be located in a detached building or
in a boiler room cut off from the dry-cleaning room. For Class II
systems this cutoff shall be by a fire wall without openings. Openings
into such boiler rooms shall be at least 10 feet from any exterior
openings into a cleaning room. For Class III systems this cutoff shall
be by a partition of noncombustible material without openings, having
a fire-resistance rating of not less than two hours.
