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 it shall
include the process of dyeing clothes or other fabrics or textiles
in a solution of dye colors and nonaqueous liquid solvents.
As applied to solvents, classified as to fire hazard in accordance
with nationally recognized good practice.
A.
No person shall engage in the business of dry cleaning
without a permit, which shall prescribe the class of system to be
used.
B.
No change shall be made in the 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 Marshal.
Dry-cleaning systems shall be classified as
follows:
A.
Class I systems shall be those utilizing solvents
rated above 40, including naphtha with 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., utilizing solvents having
specified characteristics and rated at 25 or below, including solvent
with 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 perchloroethylene.
A.
Class I systems.
(1)
New dry-cleaning plants or systems utilizing solvents
rated above 40 shall be prohibited.
(2)
Existing dry-cleaning plants or systems utilizing
solvents rated above 40 may be continued in use, provided that the
quantity of cleaning solvent rated above 40 that is stored and handled
is not increased.
B.
Class II systems.
(1)
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, walls or pockets, and where located over a basement,
floors shall be vapor- and liquid-tight. Roof and floors above the
grade floor, if of combustible construction, shall have the ceilings
over the dry-cleaning area protected by cement or gypsum plaster on
metal lath or equivalent construction having a fire-resistance rating
of not less than one hour.
(2)
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 that 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.
(3)
Door openings on stairs or elevators leading from
a dry-cleaning area to a basement or opening into a room having openings
or stairs of a basement 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.
(4)
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 provisions
for a dry-cleaning building.
(5)
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.
C.
Class III systems. 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 at the discretion of the Fire Marshal, 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 open-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 the 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.
