Commercial Bathroom Exhaust Fan Code Requirements

General lighting fan circuit required.

Commercial bathroom exhaust fan code requirements.

Air inlets must be at least 10 feet with exceptions from known contaminant sources and protected from snow with rodents and insect screens. Bathrooms must have windows when this section is adopted by a community it essentially says that for venting purposes bathrooms must have windows that open. In lieu of compliance with section 403 1 through section 403 3 mechanical ventilation may be implemented in compli ance with ashrae 62 1. Every bathroom requires an openable window that provides at least 1 5 square ft of air flow area when open 2006 irc 303 3 or mechanical type ventilation.

The illustration above demonstrates the use of a ceiling exhaust fan mounted in the rest room exhausting the stale air. According to the code this circuit may be a 15 amp circuit if it serves just lighting but it should be a 20 amp circuit if it is also serving a vent fan. 1 cubic foot per minute 0 0004719 m 3 s. 50 cfm intermittent or 20 cfm continuous operation 2006 irc 303 3x.

Table 403 3 2 3 minimum required local exhaust rates for group r 2 r 3 and r 4 occupancies for si. The exhaust from a bathroom or kitchen in a residential dwelling shall not be considered to be a hazardous or noxious contaminant. Bathroom exhaust fan venting code summary section r303 3. Required bathroom vent fan ventilation rate in cfm.

Spaces meeting exhaust requirements of bathrooms are exempted from above provisions. Each bathroom should have a circuit for lighting and an exhaust fan. 25 or 50 cfm ft for hotels motels resorts and dormitories and a slightly more modest 20 50 cfm for private dwellings. This ventilation code specifies a bathroom exhaust airflow rate for toilet rooms and bathrooms not served by a window of adequate size of.

A commercial restroom will require air to be changed 8 12 times an hour depending on the size of the facility and your local code. Every occupied space shall be ventilated by natural means in accordance with section 402 or by mechanical means in accordance with section 403.