Does anybody know the NJ code on putting in a laundry chute? I hear there are some fire code regulations in some places but am having trouble getting my hands on actual code. Every time I’ve tried emailing the local city person supposedly knowledgable about the codes in the past, but they were never very helpful. I was planning on using sheet metal duct in a straight shot from the 2nd floor hallway to the basement with a pit-stop (opening) in the kitchen. Is putting in a laundry chute totally prohibited or do I just need to follow some regulations?
Thanks!!!
Replies
i would think the door has to be self closeing
When did you start doing laundry in New Jersey? I thought y'all were still wearin' animal skins.
the chute needs to be long enough to get to the rock in the river
It was a nice place to stuff my little brother down. He really liked it when there was clothes on the pile not just the basket.
Putting in a laundry chute - where?? In a residence? Single-family or two-family? Multiple-family? Non-residential??
The NJ Codes are on-line but can't be printed (you can 'capture' a page with an image-processing program and print that):
http://www2.iccsafe.org/states/newjersey/
If it falls under the one-and-two family residential code (IRC-NJE 2006) there are no specific rules except that the chute should be enclosed with sheetrock and should have a door top and bottom - no fire ratings or self-closing door required.
Jeff
By the way, the adoption of the IRC / IBC 2006 in NJ is called the Uniform Construction code for just that reason - it's the same everywhere in the State - there are no 'some places it's this, some places it's that' - not legally anyway.
Jeff
Edited 6/27/2009 7:12 pm ET by Jeff_Clarke
New Jersey does not have a building code. New Jersey has a UCC (uniform constuction code) that references the IRC (international residenial code) for residential construction.
I believe NJ is on IRC 2006 but not certain. (actually I am pretty sure but again dont bank on it)
Last I recall, any opening from 1st to 2nd floor must be firestopped, so I am envisioning Metal duct (no screws obviously) and self closing rated doors top and bottom
Absolutely not in one-and-two-family construction.
Please quote chapter and verse on that. The IRC 2006 is ADOPTED as modified, not 'referenced.'
Jeff
Edited 6/27/2009 7:14 pm ET by Jeff_Clarke
It would be in a singl-family, residential.
Thanks for the link. I'll look through it to see whether the sheetrock enclosing it has to be fire-retardant/resistant or not. Probably not though--probably this would be for a chute that was wood-framed wthout a sheet metal lining inside.
In what little searching for NJ codes I could find, anything that came up was from 2006.
Thanks again.
For one-and-two family, there are no mentions of laundry chutes. You have to take it as a 'shaft' for which in that code category there are few requirements.
I can't think of many (any?) fire-rated opening protectives for one-and-two family (maybe if your boiler room has equipment over 450 MBTU or something) and few fire-rated sheetrock conditions - notably habitable space over garages.
Jeff
Jeff_Clarke, just out of curiosity, what did you use to build your laundry chute? Is there anything you would do differently in hindsight? Did you build it in a house in NJ?
I looked at the link you posted but didn't find any mention of shafts. Several sections have been deleted, although they were mostly plumbing and electrical-related. I did find a complete copy of the same document without deleted chapters in pdf format here:
http://www.archive.org/details/gov.nj.residential
It does say that a clothes chute cannot have any electrical wires running through it or across it (duh), but otherwise I can't find anything else related to chutes or even shafts. I'll take your word for it that I'm fine without special self-closing doors and fire-rated materials. Thanks for all your helpful notes.
No problem.
Mine is sealed hardboard on the inside.
BTW we DO have a new Fire Code - not sure about any mention there (doubt it).
Also for anyone who is interested, here are the issues that changed in going over to the latest IRC - http://www.njba.org/NJBA_2006%20IRC-IBC%20seminar%20handouts_Rev.6-21-07.pdf
Jeff
Edited 7/2/2009 9:33 pm ET by Jeff_Clarke
agreed. It is adopted as modified but the modifications are minor and I really doubt that the state modified anything about laundry chutes.
Point is you need to reference IRC, not any NJ code. The inspector can enforce and interpret the IRC.
There tends to be a general misnomer that the State makes the codes. My experience in NJ is similar in that the inspectors interpret or inspect to their standard, not the code and the code is what they are supposed to inspect too.
Point is you need to reference IRC, not any NJ code. The inspector can enforce and interpret the IRC.
There tends to be a general misnomer that the State makes the codes. My experience in NJ is similar in that the inspectors interpret or inspect to their standard, not the code and the code is what they are supposed to inspect too.
Jeff - I'm sorry but every single word of this is incorrect with respect to code and practice in NJ.
Jeff - A NJ licensed architect since 1984 (also licensed in NY and PA)
PS - I also have a laundry chute in my house, built by me, installed in the last year.
Edited 6/28/2009 10:58 am ET by Jeff_Clarke
Jeff
Tell me what I am incorrect about. A portion of it was about my experiences in New Jersey, which is not fact, it is opinion based on my experiences.
I am willing to learn, but tell me what I say that is incorrect so I can learn or disagree with you.
thanks
Jeff
Just a dumb builder who oversaw construction in New Jersey for 8 years for a builder and was responsible for getting prototype plan approvals and permits in all the townships we worked in.
No one here is dumb. Well, almost ;o)The opinion thing is just the point. Lots of 'opinions' about how to place concrete ... that's what this forum is about, I think - sharing 'opinions' and 'techniques'.
Codes are codes - what is written is a minimum requirement, not an opinion. It's the Uniform Construction Code (aka the building code) for just that reason - no one code official can 'adjust' it in any way - there are sanctions for that. It's the same code in Hazlet as it is in Camden.
The IRC is not the NJ Code - it is the basis for it ... but if you use the IRC2006 and NOT the NJE (which I posted the link to) you will come up against a differing requirement at some point. And it won't be much fun.
" My experience in NJ is similar in that the inspectors interpret or inspect to their standard, not the code"
This is specifically prohibited.
Jeff
Edited 6/28/2009 7:30 pm ET by Jeff_Clarke
I can not disagree with anything you are saying.
re. the inspectors enforcing their own codes being strictly prohibited, you are right. I dont know how much it changed since 1998 when the UCC was already the Jersey code, but i had inspectors tell me that if I wanted to build in their town, do x. I left it up to my manager to determine if we wanted to wage war. He usually acquiessed. (This was after me citing the chapter and verse, getting commentary, proposing we get a boca rep interpretation, etc.)
Deal with a little of the same stuff in PA but it has gotten much better over the last 5 years.