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.
A.
No person shall engage in the business of dry cleaning
without a permit, which permit shall prescribe the class of system to be used.
The application for the permit shall state the quantities of the solvents
to be kept on the premises.
Dry-cleaning systems shall be classified as follows:
A.
Class I systems shall be those utilizing solvents rated
above 40, including fifty-degree-Fahrenheit-flash-point naphtha.
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 utilizing solvents having
specified characteristics and rated at 25 or below, including one-hundred-forty-degree-Fahrenheit-flash-point
solvent.
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 for a period not to exceed one year,
provided that 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 the floor shall be vapor- and liquid-tight.
The 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 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.
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. Entrance 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.
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.
Class IV systems shall be subject to the requirement for a permit in § 104-13 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 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.
