As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DRY CLEANING
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.
RATED
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. 
New dry-cleaning plants or systems utilizing solvents rated above 40 shall be prohibited.
B. 
Existing dry-cleaning plants or systems utilizing solvents rated above 40 may be continued in use, provided the quantity of cleaning solvent rated above 40 that is stored and handled is not increased.
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.
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.