[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of St. Francis as §§ 12.09 and 12.25 of the 1981 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
No person shall establish or operate within the City any establishment containing coin-operated or self-service dry-cleaning machines available for use by the public without first obtaining a permit therefor as provided by this chapter.
For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
COIN-OPERATED DRY CLEANING MACHINE
Any machine used for the purpose of dry cleaning whose operation is actuated by the insertion of a coin in a slot or other receptacle.
DRY CLEANING
The process of removing dirt, grease, paint, spots, stains or any other form of foreign matter from wearing apparel or household furnishings by any means other than washing with soap or detergent and water.
FLAMMABLE LIQUID
Any liquid, viscous or other compound, powder or solid product or substance having the capacity to evaporate, generate and emit a gas or vapor propagative of flame, fire or explosion incident to evaporation.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
PLANT
Any business establishment or location where wearing apparel or household furnishings are dry cleaned on the premises by the use of coin-operated or self-service dry-cleaning machines.
A. 
Form. Application for dry cleaning permits shall be on forms furnished by the Building Inspector and shall set forth information required by this chapter and such other information as the Building Inspector shall deem necessary to safeguard the public health and welfare.
B. 
Issuance. Permits shall be granted by the Building Inspector upon the applicant's compliance with the requirements of this chapter and those requirements of the Building Inspector authorized by this chapter and upon compliance with all applicable state and local laws, rules and regulations.
C. 
Fees and term. The permit fee shall be as provided by the current fee schedule on file with the City Clerk for each machine or unit of such machine which can be independently actuated by means of the insertion of a coin or otherwise. The permit year shall be from July 1 to June 30 of the succeeding year.
Every applicant procuring a permit consents to the entry of the Building Inspector or other authorized officers of the City at all reasonable hours for the purpose of inspection to ascertain whether there is compliance with the requirements of this chapter and the requirements of state and local laws, rules and regulations.
A. 
Revocation. Each person operating a plant shall be responsible for any violation of the terms of this chapter, whether by himself or by an agent or an employee, and any such violation shall be grounds for the revocation of the permit.
B. 
Compliance required. In order to protect the health and safety of the citizens of the City and other members of the public who may use coin-operated or self-service dry-cleaning machines as defined in this chapter there shall be compliance with the following requirements prior to the issuance of a permit or the renewal of any permit hereunder:
(1) 
No flammable solvent shall be used in any coin-operated or self-service dry-cleaning machine.
(2) 
No spotting operations utilizing flammable liquid or any substance which causes toxicity in the atmosphere shall be permitted and no such liquid shall be permitted on the premises.
(3) 
Filters for solvent on each machine shall be removed and replaced or cleaned no less than once each day.
(4) 
The contents of the sludge can of such machine shall be placed in containers with closely fitting lids and disposed of at regular intervals, but not less than once each week.
(5) 
All solvents when used in a coin-operated or self-service dry-cleaning machine shall be contained within a liquid vapor-tight closed system.
(6) 
All electrical connections shall be in accordance with Chapter 237, Electrical Standards, of this Code and the State Electrical Code, and each machine shall be tested and listed by the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. The main electrical switch controlling each machine or bank of machines shall be accessible in an area removed from such machine or machines.
(7) 
Each machine shall be so equipped that it cannot be opened while operating nor until after the drying cycle is completed and shall be so equipped that it cannot be opened in the event of mechanical or electrical failure, except by an attendant.
(8) 
No permit shall be granted hereunder unless the plant shall have a concrete, terrazzo or other type floor impervious to solvents. There shall be no basement installation of machines.
(9) 
In the installation of the machines the following partitions shall be required to ensure safety to the public:
(a) 
The front or customer side of the machine shall be the only portion of the machine exposed in the customer area.
(b) 
The remainder of the machine shall be separated from the customer area by a solid partition
(c) 
Access doors to the rear of the partition shall be kept closed and locked when not in use.
(d) 
Each machine or bank of machines shall be completely separated by an enclosure from other areas that contain heating devices requiring air for combustion.
(10) 
An exhaust system shall be provided at each plant for the removal of toxic vapors, as follows:
(a) 
An individual exhaust shall be provided on each machine.
(b) 
Scavenger ducts shall be provided for each machine or bank of machines and so designed and constructed as to pick up vapors surrounding the equipment near the floor.
(c) 
Such scavenger pipes shall be located not less than two inches nor more than four inches above the floor and not more than 18 inches from each machine.
(d) 
An exhaust fan or fans shall be provided for the enclosure behind each machine or machines to be utilized in the event of solvent spill.
(e) 
An exhaust fan or duct shall be provided at the front grill or loading door intake on each machine and so arranged and controlled that when such machine is not in operation, air is drawn through the front door or grill of the machine at a face velocity of not less than 100 feet per minute.
(f) 
The exhaust ventilation system as required shall be operated continuously while occupancy of the plant is open to the public and shall be so interlocked with each machine that the machine cannot be operated unless the exhaust system is functioning.
(g) 
The entire ventilation system shall exhaust to the outside atmosphere and terminate not less than 10 feet from any building opening and in such manner as not to expose the passing public. The exhaust shall be located as remotely as possible from all air intakes for appliances or other purposes.
(11) 
Ventilation from the outside atmosphere shall be provided for the customer area equivalent to that exhausted from within such area by the ventilation requirements of this chapter.
(12) 
No solvent-contaminated air shall be allowed into the air intakes of any combustion equipment. Ventilation from the outside atmosphere shall be provided for all heating devices requiring air for combustion.
(13) 
Each machine or bank of machines, together with appurtenant appliances, shall be diked with a four-inch floor curb suitable to contain spilled or leaking solvent. Such diked area shall be provided with an untrapped floor drain to conduct any such spilled or leaking solvent to a sealed recovery tank. No such drain shall be connected to any sewer system.
(14) 
Each plant shall be provided with a portable fire extinguisher of the carbon dioxide or dry chemical type, of at least 30 pounds' capacity.
(15) 
Detailed instructions for use of dry-cleaning machines shall be posted in a conspicuous location near each machine in the customer area.
(16) 
Each plant shall have a competent attendant on duty at all times such coin-operated or self-service dry-cleaning machines are available for use by the public.
(17) 
No permit shall be granted for any plant which contains coin-operated or self-service dry-cleaning machines involving or requiring the handling of garments or materials to be cleaned between operations of the machine.
In addition to the suspension or revocation of a license issued under this chapter, any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter or any regulation, rule or order made hereunder shall be subject to a penalty as provided by § 1-4 of this Code.