exhaust fans in commercial bath

Status
Not open for further replies.
P

phishwi

Member
Location
beaver Dam WI
I've always been told that an exhaust fan in a commercial bathroom must run when the building is occupied. Weather the bathroom is in use or not. I've used time clocks to make this work. Problem is, I can't find it in the code. Can someone tell me where it is?
 
. Problem is, I can't find it in the code. Can someone tell me where it is?
Click to expand...

You can't find it in the NEC because it isn't an NEC requirement. This would most likely be a building or mechanical code requirement. I would check with the local AHJ and ask them.

Chris
 
I often see that in print specs, but I've never read it in the code. If it was in the code, it would be in the IBC or the IMC... Let me dig a minute, as this has my curiosity peaked. I have both of them on CD, so it should only take a bit. :cool:
 
Well, here you go, from the IMC:

401.3 When required. Ventilation shall be provided during the
periods that the room or space is occupied.

Naturally, the IMC lists about a zillion areas in which ventillation is required, and bathrooms and toilet rooms are among them.

The IBC does contain language related to bathroom and toilet room venting, but it basically refers you to the IMC.

There you have it. That's my best effort.
 
phishwi said:
I had a feeling. I can't stand it when a forman tells me that something is a code, when it's not. Thanks for the info
Click to expand...
Well, your foreman was right. He just didn't say which "code". The NEC is no the be all and end all of codes an electrician will bump into. There are electrical requirements in the IBC, IMC, IFC, IEBC and IPMC that electricians will regularly bump into. It pays to skim these documents every once in a while.
 
mdshunk said:
Well, here you go, from the IMC:

401.3 When required. Ventilation shall be provided during the
periods that the room or space is occupied.

Naturally, the IMC lists about a zillion areas in which ventillation is required, and bathrooms and toilet rooms are among them.

The IBC does contain language related to bathroom and toilet room venting, but it basically refers you to the IMC.

There you have it. That's my best effort.
Click to expand...
That only tells me that it is required when someone is in the bathroom not the whole building...JMO
 
Chris6245 said:
That only tells me that it is required when someone is in the bathroom not the whole building...JMO
Click to expand...
I agree! From reading that, and lacking any print requirement, you could use other control schemes for the restroom fan. My favored method is to use a 2-pole switch in each restroom. I use one pole for the lights (assuming 120v), and use the other pole to control the fan or fan contactor coil (if centrally installed fan for many baths). It's not very likely that someone will be in the restroom with the lights off, which is why I like that method. A time clock in the mechanical room or janitor's closet seems to show up on prints a good bit.
 
Just did one in 2 restrooms at a county owned golf facility. The fans, EF 1 and EF 2 are only speced to came on when the outside HVAC fresh air intake dampers are open.
So say you finish 9 and go to the reading room to reread Annex G. Two sentences in and things are getting bad fast. What no switch, fresh air dampers closed? Get out of there man!
Still waiting for a call on that one.
 
Originally Posted by Chris6245
That only tells me that it is required when someone is in the bathroom not the whole building...JMO

Right, he only asked if the bathroom need to be exhausted and he was told that it needed to be on as long as the building was occupied and Mark said that it only needed to be on when the restroom was occupied.

The building has other requirements. Such as three complete air changes prior to being occupied in the morning or the minimum required ventilation rate for one hour and a certain amount of outside air is required when the building is occupied and other requirements.

Sorry got to typing and realized that these may be CA requirements only
 
sparky59 said:
How long does the sensor keep everything on. Sometimes i take a lot of reading material.
Click to expand...

Well I usually take reading material too, but if it takes that long I usually fall asleep anyway.:D :D When that happens, it is difficult for me to get going again. My legs have also fallen asleep and kind of act like they are made of rubber or something.

The sensor can be adjusted to anywhere up to 20 minutes, if I recall correctly.:smile:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top