CHAPTER 5
NON-RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES

SECTION PM-501.0 GENERAL

PM-501.1 Scope: The provisions of this Chapter shall govern the minimum conditions and standards for light, ventilation, plumbing facilities and fixtures, mechanical-facilities and equipment and electrical facilities and equipment in non-residential occupancies.

PM-501.2 Responsibility: The owner of the structure shall provide and maintain light, ventilation, plumbing facilities and fixtures, mechanical facilities and equipment and electrical facilities and equipment in compliance with these requirements. A person shall not occupy as owner-occupant or permit another person to occupy any premises which does not comply with the requirements of this Chapter.

SECTION PM-502.0 LIGHT

PM-502.1 Common corridors and stairways: Every common corridor, interior stairway and exterior stairway shall be provided with artificial light capable of providing a minimum of 1 foot-candle (11 lux) at floors, landings and treads. Continuous operation of the lighting system is required during all hours of occupancy except during those hours when there is sufficient natural light to comply with these requirements.

PM-502.2 Other spaces: All other spaces shall be provided with natural or artificial light sufficient to permit the maintenance of sanitary conditions, and the safe occupancy of the space and utilization of the appliances, equipment and fixtures.

SECTION PM-503.0 VENTILATION

PM-503.1 Bathrooms and toilet rooms: Every bathroom and toilet room shall be equipped with natural or mechanical ventilation in accordance with Sections PM-503.1.1 or PM-503.1.2.

   PM-503.1.1 Natural ventilation: Natural ventilation shall be provided by openable area equal to or greater than 4 percent of the bathroom or toilet room served.

   PM-503.1.2 Mechanical ventilation: Air exhausted by a mechanical ventilation system from all bathrooms or toilet rooms shall comply with the mechanical code or shall provide a minimum of 6 air changes per hour to the space and shall be exhausted to the exterior without recirculation to any space, or not more than 85 percent of the exhaust air shall be recirculated where the system is provided with effective absorption and filtering equipment.

PM-503.2 Process Ventilation: Where injurious, toxic, irritating or noxious fumes, gases, dusts or mists are generated, a local exhaust ventilation system shall be provided to remove the contaminating agent at the source. Air shall be exhausted to the exterior in accordance with The Philadelphia Code and not be recirculated to any space.

SECTION PM-504.0 PLUMBING FACILITIES AND FIXTURES

PM-504.1 Employee's facilities: A minimum of one water closet, one lavatory and one drinking facility shall be available to employees.

   PM-504.1.1 Drinking facilities: Drinking facilities shall be a drinking fountain, water cooler, bottled water cooler, or disposable cups next to a sink or water dispenser. Drinking facilities shall not be located in toilet rooms or bathrooms.

PM-504.2 Toilet rooms: Toilet rooms and bathrooms shall provide privacy and shall not constitute the only passageway to a hall or other space, or to the exterior.

PM-504.3 Plumbing fixtures: All plumbing fixtures shall be properly installed with adequate clearances for usage and cleaning and be maintained in a safe, sanitary and functional condition, free from obstructions, leaks and defects.

   PM-504.3.1 Water supply: Every required sink, lavatory, water closet, bathtub, shower or other plumbing fixture shall be properly connected to a public or approved private water supply in accordance with the plumbing code.

   PM-504.3.2 Hot water: Hot water equipment shall be provided which is capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit water to be drawn at every required sink, lavatory, bathtub, shower and laundry facility at a temperature of not less than 110 degrees F (43 degrees C) without reliance on the space heating facilities. Water heating equipment shall be set so that the temperature of water drawn from non-process plumbing fixtures shall not exceed 125 degrees F (52 degrees C).

      PM-504.3.2.1 Relief valve: Water heaters shall be equipped with a combination temperature and pressure relief valve and relief valve discharge pipe which is properly installed and maintained.

   PM-504.3.3 Sanitary drainage: All plumbing fixtures shall be properly connected to a public or approved private sewage disposal system in accordance with the plumbing code.

SECTION PM-505.0 MECHANICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

PM-505.1 Maintenance: All mechanical equipment, fireplaces and solid fuel-burning appliances shall be properly installed and maintained in a safe working condition, and shall be capable of performing the intended function.

   PM-505.1.1 Cooking and heating equipment: All cooking and heating equipment, components and accessories in every heating, cooking and water-heating device shall be maintained free from leaks and obstructions.

   PM-505.1.2 Chimney: All fuel-burning equipment and appliances shall be connected to an approved chimney or vent.

   Exception: Fuel-burning equipment and appliances which are labeled for unvented operation.

   PM-505.1.3 Clearances: All required clearances to combustible materials shall be maintained.

   PM-505.1.4 Safety controls: All safety controls for fuel-burning equipment shall be maintained in effective operation.

   PM-505.1.5 Combustion air: A supply of air for complete combustion of the fuel and for ventilation of the space shall be provided for the fuel-burning equipment.

   PM-505.1.6 Energy conservation devices: Devices purporting to reduce fuel consumption by attachment to a fuel-burning appliance, to the fuel supply line thereto, or to the vent outlet or vent piping therefrom, shall not be installed unless labeled for such purpose and installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

PM-505.2 Cooling facilities: 331 At such time as the Department of Public Health declares a heat emergency, the owner or operator of nursing home and senior citizen occupancies in Group I-2 (Dependent Care Facilities) shall, whenever the indoor ambient air temperature exceeds 81 degrees F (27 degrees C), supply mechanical air cooling to every habitable room to maintain a temperature not exceeding 81 degrees F (27 degrees C).

Exception: Where there are separate mechanical air cooling facilities for each dwelling or rooming unit, and such facilities are under the sole control of the occupant of the dwelling or rooming unit.

   PM-505.2.1 Equipment: The cooling equipment in the facility shall be capable of maintaining an indoor ambient air temperature which does not exceed 81 degrees F (27 degrees C) based on an outside design temperature of 100 degrees F (38 degrees C).

   PM-505.2.2 Room temperature measurements: The required room temperature shall be measured three feet (914 mm) above the floor approximately at the center of the room.

 

Notes

331	Amended, Bill No. 030774 (approved December 31, 2003). See note 235 for effective date provisions.