Chapter 34

LAUNDRIES AND DRY CLEANING*
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* Cross References: Businesses, ch. 10.
State Law References: Licensing of laundries, G.L. 1956, § 5-16-1 et seq.; authority of city to regulate laundries, G.L. 1956, § 45-22-2.
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Article I. In General
Sec. 34-1. Laundromat permit--Required.
Sec. 34-2. Same--Fee.
Sec. 34-3. Same--Expiration.
Secs. 34-4--34-30. Reserved.

Article II. Self-Service Dry Cleaning Establishments
Sec. 34-31. Definitions.
Sec. 34-32. License required.
Sec. 34-33. License application.
Sec. 34-34. Issuance of license.
Sec. 34-35. License fee.
Sec. 34-36. Posting of license and other information.
Sec. 34-37. Inspection by owner.
Sec. 34-38. Inspection by fire chief, building inspector and director of health.
Sec. 34-39. Revocation of license.
Sec. 34-40. Trained attendant required during business hours; duties.
Sec. 34-41. Premises to be kept in good repair and in sanitary condition.
Sec. 34-42. Metal refuse receptacle required.
Sec. 34-43. Usable area to be visible from exterior.
Sec. 34-44. Illumination.
Sec. 34-45. Coin-changing devices.
Sec. 34-46. Coin-operated amusement devices prohibited.
Sec. 34-47. Minimum ceiling height; temperature and humidity.
Sec. 34-48. Electrical outlets not to be available for use by public.
Sec. 34-49. Certain equipment to be inaccessible to public.
Sec. 34-50. Machinery to bear label of approval of testing organization.
Sec. 34-51. Maximum capacity of cleaning devices.
Sec. 34-52. Control of opening of machine doors.
Sec. 34-53. Dryer doors to open from interior on application of pressure.
Sec. 34-54. Cleaning devices to be accessible to public only from front.
Sec. 34-55. Cleaning devices to be automatic, vapor-tight, and able to remove solvents.
Sec. 34-56. Ventilation of cleaning devices.
Sec. 34-57. Solvents generally.
Sec. 34-58. Circulation and removal of solvents; spotting operations.
Sec. 34-59. Storage of solvents.
Sec. 34-60. Equipment to be enclosed by partitions; ventilation and exhaust required.
Sec. 34-61. Permissible concentration of solvent in air; emanation of vapors or odors.
Sec. 34-62. Posting of machine instructions.
Sec. 34-63. Fire extinguishers required.
Sec. 34-64. Respiratory protective equipment required.
Sec. 34-65. Premises not to be used as dwelling; installation in basement or below grade prohibited.
Sec. 34-66. Penalty.

ARTICLE I.

IN GENERAL

Sec. 34-1. Laundromat permit--Required.

No person shall establish, operate or conduct the business of furnishing to the public the use of laundromats, washing machines or any other piece of equipment used for the purpose of washing clothing or cloth materials; nor shall any person establish, operate or conduct the business of using laundromats, washing machines or any other piece of equipment used for the purpose of washing clothing or cloth materials without first obtaining from the board of public safety a permit for the same.
(Code 1971, § 12-1)
State Law References: Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 5-16-2.

Sec. 34-2. Same--Fee.

The board of public safety is hereby authorized to establish a fee to be paid for each permit required by section 34-1. The amount of the fee shall be as provided in chapter 18.
(Code 1971, § 12-2)

Sec. 34-3. Same--Expiration.

All permits issued shall expire on June 30 next succeeding the date of such permit, and no rebate shall be made from the fee for such permit for any term less than one year.
(Code 1971, § 12-3)

Secs. 34-4--34-30. Reserved.

ARTICLE II.

SELF-SERVICE DRY CLEANING ESTABLISHMENTS

Sec. 34-31. Definitions.

For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply:

Dry cleaning devices means any coin-operated mechanisms to be immediately utilized for any of the purposes specified in this section, and employing any solvent other than water.

Self-service dry cleaning establishment means any attended or unattended place, building, structure, room, establishment, or portion thereof available to the general public for the purpose of dry cleaning wearing apparel, table, bed or other household linens, towels, curtains, draperies, rugs, blankets, or other materials through the use of coin-operated machines or devices.
(Code 1971, § 12-16)
Cross References: Definitions generally, § 1-2.

Sec. 34-32. License required.

No person shall engage in the business of operating any self-service dry cleaning establishment within the city without first obtaining a license to do so for each such establishment to be conducted by such person. Any person that shall engage in the business of a self-service dry cleaning establishment without first procuring a license so to do shall be punishable as provided in section 1-4, and each day, or fraction of a day, on which such person shall maintain any such establishment without a license shall be construed as a separate and distinct offense.
(Code 1971, § 12-17)
State Law References: Laundry permit required, G.L. 1956, § 5-16-2.

Sec. 34-33. License application.

An application for a license required by this article shall be made in conformity with the general requirements of this Code relating to each establishment where such business is to be engaged in by the applicant, wherever located within the city, and such application shall describe the equipment to be installed and specify the dry cleaning solvent, if any, which is to be provided.
(Code 1971, § 12-18)

Sec. 34-34. Issuance of license.

Every application required for a license under this article shall be approved by the building inspector, the director of the health department, and the fire department as to compliance of the premises named therein with the building provisions and the fire and health regulations of this Code, respectively, before a license shall be issued. Said license shall be issued by the board of public safety.
(Code 1971, § 12-20)

Sec. 34-35. License fee.

An annual license fee in lieu of any such other fee for each self-service dry cleaning establishment license shall be charged and shall be based upon the aggregate number of washing machines, dryers, extractors and dry cleaning devices situated and maintained in any such establishment, and is to be as provided in chapter 18.
(Code 1971, § 12-21)

Sec. 34-36. Posting of license and other information.

Licenses required by this article shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the licensed establishment, and in addition thereto there shall be so posted the name, address and telephone number of either the owner, operator, manager or proprietor thereof.
(Code 1971, § 12-22)

Sec. 34-37. Inspection by owner.

The operator of every self-service dry cleaning establishment shall cause the dry cleaning devices and related component facilities situated therein to be inspected at least once during each aggregate period of 24 hours that said establishment is open to the public, and shall cause said mechanisms to be maintained in good working order.
(Code 1971, § 12-23)

Sec. 34-38. Inspection by fire chief, building inspector and director of health.

It shall be the duty of the chief of the fire department, the building inspector and the director of health to inspect each self-service dry cleaning establishment at least once every six months for the purpose of ascertaining whether the provisions of this Code and the laws of the state relative to keeping and operating of such self-service dry cleaning establishments are being complied with, and it shall be their duty to cause all such provisions of this Code and laws to be strictly enforced.
(Code 1971, § 12-24)

Sec. 34-39. Revocation of license.

Any license granted pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be subject to revocation for cause, as is the case with all other licenses, and, in addition thereto, the board of public safety may revoke the same at any time it shall appear, upon a finding of the appropriate department, that any such self-service dry cleaning establishment is being maintained in violation of the ordinances of the city, and is dangerous or detrimental to the health of the city or the health of the persons patronizing said establishment.
(Code 1971, § 12-25)

Sec. 34-40. Trained attendant required during business hours; duties.

Each installation licensed under this article must have a trained attendant on duty during business hours. The attendant must have a thorough knowledge of the theory of operation of the dry cleaning system, and his/her duties are outlined as follows:

(1) Reviewing operating instructions step by step with customers.

(2) Investigating all customer complaints, if any, and taking whatever action necessary to correct the problem.

(3) Assisting in preventative maintenance by keeping alert for various minor malfunctions and reporting the information to the serviceperson.

(4) Handling emergency conditions, and performing the following duties:

a. In case of electrical failure: When the strong odor of solvent is noticed, immediately conduct all customers outside of the building. Lock the door so no one may enter while power is off. Do not go back into the building until electrical power is restored.

b. If the exhaust system should stop operating: Immediately call serviceperson.

c. If a regular size load of cleaning continues to cycle for over 75 minutes: Immediately call serviceperson.

d. If any solvent leak into the customer area occurs: Immediately call serviceperson and fire department.

e. If any large solvent leak into the service area occurs: Immediately call serviceperson and fire department.

f. If "Do Not Use" lights go on three or more units out of eight: Immediately call serviceperson.
(Code 1971, § 12-26)

Sec. 34-41. Premises to be kept in good repair and in sanitary condition.

Every store, room or place used as a self-service dry cleaning establishment shall at all times be kept in good repair and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition as to floors, walls, ceilings, windows, woodwork, machines, utensils and fixtures.
(Code 1971, § 12-27)

Sec. 34-42. Metal refuse receptacle required.

Every owner, operator, manager or proprietor of a self-service dry cleaning establishment shall cause a metal refuse receptacle to be situated upon its premises in a location easily accessible to the patrons.
(Code 1971, § 12-28)

Sec. 34-43. Usable area to be visible from exterior.

No self-service dry cleaning establishment shall be conducted or operated unless the area therein accessible to the general public is visible from the outside thereof.
(Code 1971, § 12-29)

Sec. 34-44. Illumination.

No self-service dry cleaning establishment shall be conducted or operated unless there is provided during its period of availability to the general public, in all parts of such store, room or place available to the general public, and not directly obstructed by machines or other equipment, either natural light of at least ten footcandles or artificial light of at least 30 footcandles, as shown by an illuminameter test.
(Code 1971, § 12-30)

Sec. 34-45. Coin-changing devices.

Any coin-changing devices which may be situated within the confines of any self-service dry cleaning establishment shall be of a vault type and located in a position as conspicuous to the exterior vantage points thereof as may be practicable.
(Code 1971, § 12-31)

Sec. 34-46. Coin-operated amusement devices prohibited.

No coin-operated music or other amusement devices may be situated upon the premises of any self-service dry cleaning establishment.
(Code 1971, § 12-32)

Sec. 34-47. Minimum ceiling height; temperature and humidity.

No self-service dry cleaning establishment shall be conducted in any store, room or place in which the clean height between the ceiling and the finished floor is less than nine feet, or in which the temperature and humidity are such as might endanger the health of persons utilizing the facilities therein.
(Code 1971, § 12-33)

Sec. 34-48. Electrical outlets not to be available for use by public.

No electrical outlets shall be made available for use by the general public in any self-service dry cleaning establishment.
(Code 1971, § 12-34)

Sec. 34-49. Certain equipment to be inaccessible to public.

All facilities or mechanisms for the heating and softening of water, for the production of heat, for the operation of venting and cooling devices, for the operation and maintenance of dry cleaning devices and for the storage of dry cleaning solvents shall be inaccessible to the general public in every self-service dry cleaning establishment.
(Code 1971, § 12-35)

Sec. 34-50. Machinery to bear label of approval of testing organization.

Every washing, extracting, drying or dry cleaning device which shall be installed or maintained in a self-service dry cleaning establishment shall be of a make, type or design having principal component parts which have been tested and approved by, and which bear the tested label of, an organization nationally recognized as an authority on safety with respect to the type of device or part concerned.
(Code 1971, § 12-36)

Sec. 34-51. Maximum capacity of cleaning devices.

No cleaning device so rated as having a capacity in excess of 25 pounds dry weight of materials shall be installed or maintained in any self-service dry cleaning establishment.
(Code 1971, § 12-37)

Sec. 34-52. Control of opening of machine doors.

Every dryer, extractor and dry cleaning device situated within any self-service dry cleaning establishment shall be so designed that it is inoperable when the door thereof is open, and, furthermore, every dry cleaning device so situated shall be so designed that its door cannot be opened during the course of its normal operating cycle, or upon an abnormal interruption thereof.
(Code 1971, § 12-38)

Sec. 34-53. Dryer doors to open from interior on application of pressure.

No dryer shall be installed subsequent to November 22, 1963, which is not capable of having its door opened from the interior thereof upon the application of outward pressure against it.
(Code 1971, § 12-39)

Sec. 34-54. Cleaning devices to be accessible to public only from front.

Every dry cleaning device situated in such a self-service dry cleaning establishment shall be accessible to the general public from its front only.
(Code 1971, § 12-40)

Sec. 34-55. Cleaning devices to be automatic, vapor-tight, and able to remove solvents.

Every dry cleaning device situated in a self-service dry cleaning establishment shall have a fully automatic operation and be, while in operation, substantially vapor-tight with respect to the area accessible to the public therein, and be of such a design that its normal course of operation will be uninterrupted and it will remove all significant amounts of the solvents utilized by it from the materials placed within it.
(Code 1971, § 12-41)

Sec. 34-56. Ventilation of cleaning devices.

Every dry cleaning device shall be equipped with a mechanical system of ventilation connected by way of vapor-tight conduits to the outside atmosphere, or to an efficient vapor reclaiming device, and so designed as to maintain automatically an air flow of at least 100 feet per minute face velocity through its door whenever it is opened; and such system shall be the sole means by which vapors shall be routinely discharged from said dry cleaning device.
(Code 1971, § 12-42)

Sec. 34-57. Solvents generally.

No solvent other than water may be used or provided in any self-service dry cleaning establishment except within a dry cleaning device, and no such solvent shall be flammable or of a type other than that specified by the manufacturer thereof, or have an established maximum allowable concentration of less than 100 parts per million for eight hours of human exposure thereto.
(Code 1971, § 12-43)

Sec. 34-58. Circulation and removal of solvents; spotting operations.

(a) All solvents shall be circulated to and removed from such dry cleaning devices by means of vapor-tight corrosive-resistant conduits and emanate from tanks or other enclosures so designed as to prevent the escape therefrom of any significant amounts of solvent vapor, and, furthermore, such unit of any such system shall be so designed that, upon leakage of liquids therefrom, the product of such leakage shall be intercepted and contained in reservoirs having a capacity greater than the entire contents of such system.

(b) Spotting operations using flammable liquids shall not be permitted where self-service dry cleaning equipment is installed.
(Code 1971, § 12-44)

Sec. 34-59. Storage of solvents.

All solvents stored upon the premises of any self-service dry cleaning establishment shall be contained in sealed metal containers.
(Code 1971, § 12-45)

Sec. 34-60. Equipment to be enclosed by partitions; ventilation and exhaust required.

All equipment for the maintenance and operation of such dry cleaning devices shall be enclosed by partitions and be mechanically ventilated to the outside atmosphere by devices capable of evacuating against static pressure of 0.25 water inches from such partitioned area air-drawn from that part of the premises available to the public, in the following specified quantities:

Number of Machines Served by Equipment in Partitioned Area Cubic Feet per Minute per Machine
1 to 3 500
4 to 8 400
9 to 16 375
17 or more 360

The operation of both this system of exhaust and the independent ventilation system of each dry cleaning machine, as required under section 35-56, shall be maintained at all times when any self-service dry cleaning establishment is open to the public and solvent is contained in the system concerned.
(Code 1971, § 12-46)

Sec. 34-61. Permissible concentration of solvent in air; emanation of vapors or odors.

A concentration of such dry cleaning solvent in excess of 40 parts per million shall not be permitted to prevail in that part of any self-service dry cleaning establishment available to the public, nor shall there emanate therefrom vapors or odors which shall constitute a nuisance to any portion of the premises in which such establishment is located, or to any adjoining or nearby premises.
(Code 1971, § 12-47)

Sec. 34-62. Posting of machine instructions.

Each self-service dry cleaning device shall have complete step-by-step instructions for the use thereof and all prohibitions with regard thereto prominently posted.
(Code 1971, § 12-48)

Sec. 34-63. Fire extinguishers required.

A utility fire extinguisher of either the carbon dioxide or dry chemical type must be provided on the premises; the size and type shall be subject to approval of the chief of the fire department.
(Code 1971, § 12-49)
Cross References: Fire prevention and protection, ch. 20.

Sec. 34-64. Respiratory protective equipment required.

Respiratory protective equipment shall be provided for maintenance personnel and must be kept in good repair and available for immediate use. This equipment shall be of size and type approved by the director of health.
(Code 1971, § 12-50)

Sec. 34-65. Premises not to be used as dwelling; installation in basement or below grade prohibited.

No part of the building or structure in which a coin-operated dry cleaning business is conducted shall be used as a dwelling, nor shall such systems be installed in basements or below grade level.
(Code 1971, § 12-51)

Sec. 34-66. Penalty.

Any person violating any provision of this article shall be punishable as provided in section 1-4, and a separate offense shall be regarded as having been committed for each day during which each violation shall continue after due notice shall have been given by the board of public safety and a reasonable time shall have been allowed for making any changes necessary under the provisions of this article.
(Code 1971, § 12-52)