[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee (now Mayor and Council) of the Township of North Brunswick 12-17-1962. Section 157-23 amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
For the purposes of this chapter, the terms used herein are defined as follows:
COIN-OPERATED DRY CLEANING
The cleaning of textiles, fabrics, garments or other articles by the use of any solvent other than water in a dry-cleaning unit used or designed to be used by the general public. For the purposes of this definition, the phrase "used by the general public" shall be deemed to refer to the insertion of such textiles, fabrics, garments or other articles into a dry-cleaning unit or the removal of the same from such unit by a person or persons other than an owner, operator or employee of the dry-cleaning establishment.
ENFORCING OFFICIAL
The Township Health Officer or his designated representative.
SOLVENT
The fluid used in the dry-cleaning unit.
The solvent used in said units shall be the cleaning fluid specified by the equipment manufacturer and shall be free of additives to mask the odor. It shall be classified as nonflammable at ordinary temperatures and shall not be more toxic than perchlorethylene.
Only the front of the dry-cleaning machine shall extend into the customer area. The remainder of each machine shall be separated from the customer area by solid partition. This partition may be constructed as a non-load-bearing double-faced wall structure to extend from floor to ceiling. Access door to the enclosure back of the machines shall be self-closing, metal-clad and locked to prevent access from the customer area.
The enclosure for the machines shall not be interconnected with that of heating devices requiring air for combustion, such as gas dryers, water heaters and boiler-heating plants. This heating equipment must obtain air for combustion from the outside atmosphere.
When application for a license to operate a coin-operated dry-cleaning establishment is made, such application shall be accompanied by four sets of plans and specifications showing building outline, all equipment to be used and installation details thereof.
No coin-operated dry-cleaning machine shall be used by the general public unless under the continual direct supervision of a competent attendant. The attendant shall not be less than 21 years of age. No coin-operated dry-cleaning machine shall be used by any person who is less than 17 years of age. A suitable sign of such age restriction shall be prominently posted. No person shall use spotting equipment containing flammable material in a coin-operated or self-service dry-cleaning establishment.
All coin-operated dry-cleaning machines shall be fitted with a device which would prevent the opening of the door of any machine while such machine is in operation and until all solvent vapors have been removed from any textile, fabric, garment or other article being cleaned and from the drum in which the same shall be placed.
No coin-operated dry-cleaning machine shall be used unless directly behind any such machine there shall be quick-opening valves and pipes to a buried drain tank outside of the building of sufficient size to accept all solvent contained in all coin-operated dry-cleaning machines in the establishment. The quick-opening valves and pipes shall be so arranged as to cause solvent to drain into such tank by means of gravity flow. The machines shall be installed on a concrete base, around the edge of which there shall be a four-inch dike making a reservoir to contain any liquids that may leak out of the machines. The reservoir shall drain directly to pipes leading into the buried drain tank above referred to.
All coin-operated dry-cleaning establishments shall have two exits which shall be at least 25 feet apart from each other and shall lead directly into the street or to an area outside of the building leading to the street.
Filter residue and other residue containing solvent shall be disposed of so as not to create a health hazard or nuisance. A locked, covered metal container shall be used for temporary storage in a covered shed of noncombustible construction outside the building. A respirator, approved by the United States Bureau of Mines as affording protection against organic solvent vapors, shall be provided for and used by maintenance personnel during the correction of leakages, cleaning of the system, removal of lint and muck bags and at all times when the odor of solvent is noticeable.
All exhausts shall be under positive pressure. The terminal of any exhaust shall be at least 10 feet from any window or ventilating window if said ventilating window or ventilating opening lies on the same plane as the exhaust terminal. When the ventilating window or other ventilating openings lie on a plane which faces in the direction of the exhaust terminal, such terminal shall be at least 10 feet away from the same. All direct equipment exhausts or vents shall be provided with mesh lint arrestors, which shall be kept clean, unless lint traps are provided on the dry-cleaning unit. The total exhaust capability of all exhaust devices used shall have a minimum capacity of 400 cubic feet per minute per machine for normal use and 1,000 cubic feet per minute for emergency use. The rated capacities of the exhaust fans shall appear on the equipment or its nameplate.
Each coin-operated dry-cleaning establishment shall provide for customer use a men's and women's rest room, each with toilet facilities.
No such dry-cleaning establishment shall permit the placing of articles to be cleaned in any machine before 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. All such establishments shall be closed on Sundays.
Each coin-operated dry-cleaning establishment shall contain indoor signs prominently displayed warning the customers of the dangers of excessive solvent inhalation and skin irritation from the unevaporated dry-cleaning solvent. A step-by-step readily legible instruction list for operation of the machines shall be posted in a conspicuous location near the machine in the customer area. These instructions shall include a list of items not to be dry-cleaned in coin-operated or self-service dry-cleaning machines, such as those made partly or completely of plastic, rubber, leather, paper, fur, angora, urethane.
If the machine is connected to the township water supply, it shall be equipped with an air duct or properly installed vacuum breaker in the water supply line upstream from the condenser. There shall be no control valves downstream from the vacuum breaker. The waste water shall discharge through an air gap.
Filter residue and other residues containing solvent shall be stored and disposed of so as not to create a health hazard or nuisance. It shall be unlawful to permit any residue containing solvent to flow into the sewer system of the township. Tightly covered metal containers shall be used for temporary storage of such waste. Such containers shall bear labels indicating the contents and dangers involved in handling and shall be locked if in an unenclosed place.
The entire premises of such establishment and all machines used therein shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition. Each machine shall be inspected each day it is in operation and kept in good repair by maintenance personnel. A record shall be kept in the maintenance area of all inspections and repairs made. The floor shall be kept clean and dry. The premises shall be adequately ventilated and provided with sufficient natural or artificial light. The walls of said premises shall be covered with nonabsorbent paint, cement or other impervious material. The floor covering in the customer area shall be made of a material resistant to the solvents used in the machines. All plumbing work shall at all times conform to the provisions of the Plumbing Code of the Township of North Brunswick, and all electrical installations shall conform to the requirements of the National Electrical Code and shall always be kept in a good condition and state of repair. The customer area shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher approved for use against electrical or oil fires by the National Board of Fire Underwriters.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any coin-operated dry-cleaning establishment in the Township of North Brunswick without first obtaining a license therefor. Application for such license shall be filed with the Township Clerk. Said application shall state the name and address of the owner or person, firm or corporation who will operate the dry-cleaning establishment; the name, address and authorized officer of the firm engaged to install the equipment and the name or names of maintenance personnel and their telephone numbers (the Township Clerk shall be notified of changes in the names and telephone numbers of maintenance personnel); the exact location of the premises, the size thereof and the number of coin-operated dry-cleaning machines, with make and model numbers, which are to be installed. The application shall have the consent of the owner of the premises attached thereto. No license shall be issued unless the premises comply in all respects with fire,[1] health, plumbing and zoning regulations[2] of the township. The annual license fee for the full year shall be $25; provided, however, that an additional fee of $5 shall be paid for each self-service machine installed. Each license shall expire on December 31 of each year.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 176, Fire Prevention.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 205, Land Use.
Any license granted hereunder may be suspended or revoked at any time by the Mayor and Council upon conviction of the holder thereof of a violation of any provision of this chapter.
[Amended 9-6-1977; 4-17-2006 by Ord. No. 06-06]
Any person violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000 or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the Judge. The continuation of such violation on each successive day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting the continuation of the violation may be punished as provided above for each separate offense.