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Chicago Overview
Municipal Code of Chicago
MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO
TITLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE 2 CITY GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
TITLE 3 REVENUE AND FINANCE
TITLE 4 BUSINESSES, OCCUPATIONS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
TITLE 5 HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TITLE 6 HUMAN RIGHTS*
TITLE 7 HEALTH AND SAFETY
TITLE 8 OFFENSES AFFECTING PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE
TITLE 9 VEHICLES, TRAFFIC AND RAIL TRANSPORTATION
TITLE 10 STREETS, PUBLIC WAYS, PARKS, AIRPORTS AND HARBORS
TITLE 11 UTILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
TITLE 12 RESERVED
TITLE 13 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
TITLE 14 RESERVED*
TITLE 14A ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS OF THE CHICAGO CONSTRUCTION CODES*
TITLE 14B BUILDING CODE*
TITLE 14C CONVEYANCE DEVICE CODE*
TITLE 14E ELECTRICAL CODE*
TITLE 14F FIRE PREVENTION CODE*
TITLE 14G FUEL GAS CODE*
TITLE 14M MECHANICAL CODE*
TITLE 14N 2022 ENERGY TRANSFORMATION CODE*
TITLE 14P PLUMBING CODE*
TITLE 14R BUILDING REHABILITATION CODE*
TITLE 14X MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS*
TITLE 15 FIRE PREVENTION
TITLE 16 LAND USE
TITLE 17 CHICAGO ZONING ORDINANCE
TITLE 18 BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE
CHAPTER 18-11 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 18-13 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 18-14 BUILDING ENERGY USE BENCHMARKING
CHAPTER 18-27 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 18-28 MECHANICAL SYSTEMS*
Article I. Administration (18-28-101 et seq.)
Article II. Definitions (18-28-201 et seq.)
Article III. General Regulations (18-28-301 et seq.)
Article IV. Ventilation (18-28-401 et seq.)
18-28-401 General.
18-28-401.1 Scope.
18-28-401.2 Ventilation required.
18-28-401.3 When required.
18-28-401.4 Method of producing ventilation.
18-28-401.5 Reserved.
18-28-401.5.1 Reserved.
18-28-401.5.1.1 Reserved.
18-28-401.5.1.2 Reserved.
18-28-401.5.1.3 Reserved.
18-28-401.5.1.4 Reserved.
18-28-401.5.1.5 Relief openings.
18-28-401.5.1.6 Air quantities.
18-28-401.5.1.7 Damper.
18-28-401.5.2 Opening location.
18-28-401.5.3 Points of exhaust discharge.
18-28-401.6 Outdoor air opening and protection.
18-28-401.7 Additional ventilation.
18-28-402 Natural Ventilation.
18-28-402.1 Natural ventilation.
18-28-403 Mechanical Ventilation.
18-28-403.1 Source of air supply.
18-28-403.1.1 Air reduction to actual load.
18-28-403.1.2 Demand ventilation.
18-28-403.1.3 Systems with water economizers.
18-28-403.2 Structural requirements of a mechanical system.
18-28-403.3 Ventilation requirements.
18-28-403.3.1.
18-28-403.3.2 Refrigerated rooms.
18-28-403.3.3 Dangerous or noxious contaminants.
18-28-403.3.4 Total air supply.
18-28-403.3.5 Air filter requirements.
18-28-403.3.6 Pedestrian passage way.
18-28-403.3.7 Reserved.
18-28-403.3.7.1 Reserved.
18-28-403.3.7.2 Reserved.
18-28-403.3.8 Outside air requirements.
18-28-403.4 Deliberately omitted.
18-28-403.5 Deliberately omitted.
18-28-403.6 Deliberately omitted.
18-28-403.7 Deliberately omitted.
18-28-403.8 Deliberately omitted.
18-28-403.9 Exhaust through direct openings or ducts.
18-28-403.10 Garages.
18-28-403.11 Multi-purpose rooms.
18-28-403.12 Partitions.
18-28-403.13 Public garages.
18-28-403.14 Compliance.
18-28-403.15 Generator rooms.
18-28-404 Deliberately omitted.
18-28-405 Deliberately omitted.
18-28-406 Ventilation of Uninhabited Spaces.
18-28-406.1 General.
Article V. Exhaust Systems (18-28-501 et seq.)
Article VI. Duct Systems (18-28-601 et seq.)
Article VII. Combustion Air (18-28-701 et seq.)
Article VIII. Chimneys and Vents (18-28-801 et seq.)
Article IX. Specific Appliances, Fireplaces and Solid Fuel-Burning Equipment (18-28-901 et seq.)
Article X. Boilers, Water Heaters and Pressure Vessels (18-28-1001 et seq.)
Article XI. Refrigeration (18-28-1101 et seq.)
Article XII. Hydronic Piping (18-28-1200 et seq.)
Article XIII. Fuel Oil Piping and Storage (18-28-1301 et seq.)
Article XIV. Fuel-Gas Piping (18-28-1401 et seq.)
Article XV. Solar Thermal Systems (18-28-1501 et seq.)
CHAPTER 18-29 PLUMBING*
CHAPTER 18-30 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 18-31 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 18-32 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 18-36 REFERENCE STANDARDS*
APPENDIX TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO (RESERVED)*
TABLES
Chicago Zoning Ordinance and Land Use Ordinance
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18-28-401.7 Additional ventilation.
   If the air condition in any habitable room becomes objectionable due to causes other than the occupancy by human beings, and the Building Commissioner finds that the health and comfort of the human occupants is endangered, additional ventilation by natural or mechanical means shall be provided in accordance with Article 5, Exhaust Systems, or as approved by the Building Commissioner.
18-28-402 Natural Ventilation.
18-28-402.1 Natural ventilation.
   Natural ventilation shall comply with Chapter 12 of the Chicago Building Code.
(Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. XII, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 9-14-21, p. 35949, Art. IV, § 2)
18-28-403 Mechanical Ventilation.
18-28-403.1 Source of air supply.
   The air supply for every ventilation system, either natural or mechanical, shall be taken from out of doors, except in the following situations:
   Exceptions:
      1.   Recirculation. When air is supplied 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 conditions 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. Under such conditions, not less than thirty-three and one-third percent of the Code requirements shall be taken from out-of-doors by the mechanical ventilating supply system; and sixty-six 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.
      2.   When air is supplied by a mechanical ventilating supply system which is not equipped with devices prescribed in paragraph 1, then only such portions of the air volumes of the system design capacity in cfm that exceed the total code requirements in cfm may be recirculated during the time of room occupancy. The air intake and all equipment and ducts shall be so arranged that all of the code required air supplied by the system can be taken from outside, with provisions made for release or exhaust of such air to the atmosphere.
      3.   Prohibited exhaust. 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 might 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.
18-28-403.1.1 Air reduction to actual load.
   For Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems, the amount of air delivered to any given space shall be allowed to be reduced to track the load in the space provided that the minimum amount of air delivered to the space is not less than 1/3 of the code required air supply.
18-28-403.1.2 Demand ventilation.
   The amount of outside air delivered by a mechanical supply system may be reduced during operation below the quantities listed in Table 18-28-403.3 if the system is capable of measuring and maintaining CO2 levels in occupied spaces no greater than 1,000 ppm. The system capacity shall be greater than or equal to the ordinance requirements.
18-28-403.1.3 Systems with water economizers.
   If a system is equipped with a water economizer in accordance with the Chicago Energy Conservation Code, the amount of outside air delivered by the mechanical air handling system shall be no less than 1/3 of the code-required supply air. The area of the outside air intake shall be sized so that at least 1/3 of the code-required supply air can be taken from outdoors at velocities not in excess of 1,000 feet per minute (304.8 mpm) through the free area. The remaining air may be supplied by a recirculating air system if the system is equipped with devices to control temperature and dust content. The total quantity of air delivered to the space shall be 100 percent of the code-required air.
(Amend Coun. J. 9-14-21, p. 35949, Art. IV, § 3)
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