SchoolHouse Plant Operation & Maintenance Resource Center

Chicago Municipal Code

Ventilation

Chapter 13-176

13-176-010 Ventilation defined.

“Ventilation” is hereby defined as the providing and maintaining in rooms and spaces, by natural or mechanical means, air conditions which will protect the health and comfort of the occupants thereof.

13-176-060 Basis of requirements.

The ventilating requirements shall be based on the purposes for which the rooms are used, regardless of the class of building or structure in which it is located. The method of producing ventilation and the quantities of air to be supplied and exhausted by mechanical ventilating systems stated in the tables in Section 13-176-070 are the minimums permitted. Where it is stated that natural ventilation is required, this may be supplemented but not replaced by a mechanical supply system or a mechanical ventilating system, or both.

13-176-090 Source of air supply.

The air supply for every ventilating system, either natural or mechanical, shall be taken directly from out-of-doors, except that:
(a) When air is supplies by a mechanical ventilating supply system, a portion of the code required air supply may be recirculated, provided the system is equipped with such devices for control of temperature, and dust content in the spaces to be ventilated and that the condition of the air so supplied, (except as to temperature) are substantially the same as though all of the supply air were taken from out-of-doors. The portion or volume of air so recirculated may be considered as exhaust from the room from which it is withdrawn. Under such conditions, not less than 33 and one-third percent of the code requirements shall be taken from out-of-doors by the mechanical ventilating supply system; and 66 and two-thirds percent of the code requirements may be recirculated air, plus any additional air volume of system design capacity in excess of code requirements.
(c) The intake drawing air from out-of-doors shall be at such a point that the air supply will be uncontaminated and that the openings will be unobstructed at all times. The intake opening shall be not less than 15 feet from the discharge outlet of any exhaust fan.
(d) No air exhausted from bath, toilet, urinal, or similar room, lavatory, locker, coat room, kitchen, boiler room, or rooms of similar use in which such air may be contaminated by smoke, gases, or dust which might be noxious, dangerous, or detrimental to health shall be recirculated at any time; except that air exhausted from locker and coat rooms or kitchens may be recirculated when unoccupied.

13-176-120 Toilet room systems.

Mechanical exhaust systems for bath, toilet, urinal, locker, service sink toilet closets, and similar rooms shall be independant of other mechanical exhaust systems, except when all of the following conditions exist simultaneously:
(a) The total air exhausted from said bath, toilet, urinal locker, service sink or similar rooms shall not exceed 10 percent of the capacity of the fan;
(b) No air from such exhaust systems shall be recirculated at any time;
(c) The exhaust fan shall be in operation at all times the building is occupied;
(d) No room or space in which food is prepared or consumed shall be connected to the common exhaust system.

13-176-300 Time and manner of operation.

Every ventilation system, either natural or mechanical, shall be kept in good repair and in operation so as to insure the required ventilation of all rooms and spaces to be ventilated thereby during all hours of human occupancy. No ventilating system shall be operated so as to cause objectional drafts upon the occupants.

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