§ 59-29. Dry-cleaning establishments.

A. 

Definitions. As used in this section, 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)

Classified as to fire hazard in accordance with Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.'s standard of classification.

B. 

Permit required.

(1) 

No person shall engage in the business of dry cleaning without a permit which shall prescribe the class of system to be used.

(2) 

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 Chief Fire Inspector or the Assistant Inspectors duly appointed by the governing board of the municipality.

C. 

Classification of systems. Dry-cleaning establishments shall be classified as follows:

(1) 

Class I Systems shall be those utilizing solvents rated above 40, including naphtha of 50° F. flash point.

(2) 

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.

(3) 

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 of 40° F. flash point.

(4) 

Class IV Systems shall be those utilizing solvents rated as nonflammable or as nonflammable at ambient temperatures and only moderately flammable at higher temperatures, rated not over five, including Perchloroethylene.

D. 

Class I Systems.

(1) 

New dry-cleaning establishments or systems utilizing solvents rated above 40 shall be prohibited.

(2) 

Existing dry-cleaning establishments 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.

E. 

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, wells or pockets; and where located over a basement, the 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.

(2) 

Dry-cleaning operation 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 establishment, 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 rooms 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.

(4) 

Rooms in which articles are hung up to dry shall be constructed with walls, partitions and ceilings having fire-resistance ratings 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 establishment.

(5) 

A mechanical system of ventilation shall be installed in dry-cleaning areas and drying rooms. Such systems 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.

F. 

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 establishment, such as laundering, scouring, scrubbing, drying, pressing or ironing, and the requirement for such separation may be waived at the discretion of the Chief Fire Inspector or the Assistant Inspectors duly appointed by the governing board of the municipality, based upon a consideration of such factors as the type of building construction, the nature of occupancy, storage and operating capacity of the system and the extent of private fire protection provided.

G. 

Class IV Systems. Class IV Systems shall be subject to the requirement for permits in Subsection B but shall be exempt from all other provisions of this section.

H. 

Heating equipment.

(1) 

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 sources 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.

(2) 

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 cut off 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 cut off shall be by a partition of noncombustible material without openings, having a fire-resistance rating of not less than two hours.