Section 400.18636. Laundry chutes.

(1) A laundry chute shall be  enclosed in  a  shaft   that  is constructed of an assemblage of noncombustible materials which have not less than a 1-hour resistance to fire. If the shaft terminates within the building, the top shall be  covered with noncombustible material that affords not less than a 1-hour resistance to fire. There shall  be   no openings into the shaft other than those necessary for the  intended use of the laundry chute. An opening directly into the shaft shall be protected by a chute door normally utilized by the industry. The spaces between the chute and the shaft shall  be   filled  in   at    each   floor   level   with noncombustible material. A feed door for a laundry chute shall not be installed in any corridor or hallway that is used as a passageway to a means of egress. A feed door shall be located in an enclosed sprinklered room or compartment that is separated from other parts of the building by walls, a floor, and a ceiling that have a fire-resistant rating of not less than 1 hour. Openings to the room or compartment shall be protected by B-labeled fire doors in labeled fire door frames.

(2)   A sprinkler head shall be installed at the top of the chute and within the laundry chute at alternate floor levels in buildings that are more than 2 stories in height. A laundry chute shall empty into a separate room, closet, or bin that is constructed of materials which have not  less than a 1-hour resistance to fire and shall be   protected   with   automatic sprinklers.

(3)   If the shaft terminates through the roof of the building, the top may have an open vent. If not equipped with an open vent, the top of the shaft shall have a skylight. The skylight shall be glazed  with  ordinary glass that is 10% of the shaft area. If the sill of the window is not less than 2 feet above the roof level and not less  than  10 feet  from  any property line or other exposure on which it faces,  the   skylight   may be provided with a window of equivalent construction and size which is set into the side of the shaft.

History: 1994 AACS.