PDFWAC 51-52-0401

Section 401General.

401.2 Ventilation required. Every occupied space other than enclosed parking garages and buildings used for repair of automobiles shall be ventilated in accordance with Section 401.2.1, 401.2.2 or 401.2.3. Enclosed parking garages and buildings used for repair of automobiles shall be ventilated by mechanical means in accordance with Sections 403 and 404.
401.2.1 Group R occupancies. Ventilation in Group R occupancies shall be provided in accordance with Section 403.4.
401.2.2 Ambulatory care facilities and Group I-2 occupancies. Ambulatory care facilities and Group I-2 occupancies shall be ventilated by mechanical means in accordance with Section 407.
401.2.3 All other occupancies. Ventilation in all other occupancies shall be provided by natural means in accordance with Section 402 or by mechanical means in accordance with Sections 403.1 to 403.7.
401.3 When required. Group R occupancies shall be vented continuously or intermittently in accordance with Section 403.4. Ventilation in all other occupancies shall be provided during the periods that the room or space is occupied.
401.4 Intake opening location. Air intake openings shall comply with all of the following:
1. Intake openings shall be located not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from lot lines or buildings on the same lot. Lot lines shall not be defined as a separation from a street or public way.
2. Mechanical and gravity outdoor air intake openings shall be located not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) horizontally from any hazardous or noxious contaminant source, such as vents, streets, alleys, parking lots, and loading docks, except as specified in Item 3 or Section 501.3.1. Outdoor air intake openings shall be permitted to be located less than 10 feet (3048 mm) horizontally from streets, alleys, parking lots, and loading docks provided that the openings are located not less than 25 feet (7620 mm) vertically above such locations. Where openings front on a street or public way, the distance shall be measured from the closest edge of the street or public way.
3. Intake openings shall be located not less than 3 feet (914 mm) below contaminant sources where such sources are located within 10 feet (3048 mm) of the opening.
EXCEPTION:
Separation is not required between intake air openings and living space environmental air exhaust air openings of an individual dwelling unit or sleeping unit where a factory-built intake/exhaust combination termination fitting is used to separate the air streams in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. A minimum of 3 feet (914 mm) separation shall be maintained between other environmental air exhaust outlets and other dwelling or sleeping unit factory-built intake/exhaust combination termination fittings.
4. Intake openings on structures in flood hazard areas shall be at or above the elevation required by Section 1612 of the International Building Code for utilities and attendant equipment.
EXCEPTION:
Enclosed parking garage and repair garage ventilation air intakes are permitted to be located less than 10 feet horizontally from or 25 feet vertically above a street, alley, parking lot, and loading dock.
401.7 Testing and balancing. At the discretion of the building official, flow testing may be required to verify that the mechanical system(s) satisfies the requirements of this chapter. Flow testing may be performed using flow hood measuring at the intake or exhaust points of the system, in-line pitot tube, or pitot-traverse type measurement systems in the duct, short term tracer gas measurements, or other means approved by the building official.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. WSR 20-03-041, § 51-52-0401, filed 1/8/20, effective 7/1/20; WSR 16-01-148, § 51-52-0401, filed 12/21/15, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.190, 19.27.074, 19.27.031 and chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW. WSR 10-03-099, § 51-52-0401, filed 1/20/10, effective 7/1/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.190, 19.27.020, and chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW. WSR 07-01-092, § 51-52-0401, filed 12/19/06, effective 7/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.020, 19.27.031, 19.27.074 and chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW. WSR 05-01-015, § 51-52-0401, filed 12/2/04, effective 7/1/05.]