§ 18-28-403.3 — Ventilation requirements
Municipal Code of Chicago (2026 S-74, current through Council Journal of June 17, 2026) · Municipal Code of Chicago § 18-28-403.3
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18-28-403.3 Ventilation requirements.
See Table 18-28-403.3, Ventilating Requirements. Table 18-28-403.3 Ventilating Requirements* For a printer-friendly PDF version of Table 18-28-403.3, please click here. * S = Mechanical Supply; E = Mechanical Exhaust From Room; RO = Relief Opening; NR = No Requirement; NV = Natural Ventilation; Vent opening = percentage of floor area. Room Purpose | Vent Opening Percent of Floor Area | Mechanical Ventil. CFM/SF | Remarks Less Than | Not Less Than | S, Supply | E, Room Exhaust Room Purpose | Vent Opening Percent of Floor Area | Mechanical Ventil. CFM/SF | Remarks Less Than | Not Less Than | S, Supply | E, Room Exhaust Correctional Cell rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.2 | 1.2 | Dry Cleaners/Laundries Dry Cleaning | | 4 | 0 | 4 | See 18-28-403.3.3. 4 | | 1.5 | 4 Laundries (Residential for less than 30 units) | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 0 | 1 Laundries serving general public | | | 1.5 | 1.5 | See 18-28-403.3.3. Linen Rooms | | | 0.5 | 0.5 | Education Music Rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.5 | 0.75 Class Rooms/Auditoriums | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.5 | 0.75 Cooking Rooms for Instruction only | | 4 | 0 | 1.5 | 4 | | 1.0 | 1.5 Libraries/Reading Rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.2 | 0.6 Food and Beverage Service Cafeterias/Food Courts | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.5 | 2.0 Public Dining Rooms - no cooking equipment | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.5 | 1.5 Public Dining Rooms - with cooking equipment | | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | | 1.5 | 2 Grills | | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | | 1.5 | 2 Kitchen, public | | 3 | 0 | 4 | See Note 5. 3 | | 1.2 | 4 Lounges/Bars | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.0 | 1.5 Health Care Anesthesia Storage Rooms | | | 1.2 | 1.2 | See Note 5. Autopsy Rooms | | | 1.5 | 3.0 | See Note 5. Doctor's - Dentist exam rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 0.6 | 0.3 Delivery Rooms/Birthing Rooms | | | 2.0 | 1.0 | Intensive Care | | | 2.0 | 1.0 | No recirculation within room. Morgues | | | 1.5 | 3.0 | See Note 5. Nurseries | | | 2.0 | 1.0 | Operating Rooms | | | 2.0 | 1.0 | No recirculation within room. Patient Rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | May exhaust through toilet room. 4 | | 0.3 | 0.3 Physiotherapy | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 0.6 | 0.3 Recovery Rooms | | | 1.0 | 1.0 | No recirculation within room. Sterilizing Equipment Rooms | | | 1.6 | 1.6 | No recirculation within room. See Note 5. Treatment Rooms | | | 0.6 | 0.3 | X-Ray operator's rooms | | | 0.6 | 0.3 | Hotels, Motels and Dormitories Banquet Halls/Assembly Pre-function | | | 2.0 | 1.5 | Hotels (Lobby) | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.0 | NR Sleeping Rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | See Chapter 14B-12; may exhaust through toilet room. 4 | | 0.3 | 0.3 Toilet Rooms / Bathrooms – Private | | | | | See Note 6. Foyers except the above | | | 0 | 0 | Sleeping Rooms (Dormitories) | | 4 | NV | NV | See Chapter 14B-12. Offices Lunch Rooms - no cooking | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.5 | 1.5 Offices and computer rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 0.6 | 0.3 Entrance lobby | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.0 | NR Private Dwellings (Single and Multiple) Living Quarters | | | NV | NV | See Chapter 14B-12. Living Quarters (Kitchen) | | 4 | 0 | 0 | See Note 7. 4 | | 0 | 1.5 Toilet Rooms / Bathrooms – Private | | | | | See Note 6. Multi-Purpose Rooms | NR | NR | 0.3 | 0.3 or R.O. | Public Spaces Corridors | | | NR | NR | Dressing Rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.0 | 1.2 Janitor's Closet | | | 0 | 2.0 | See Note 5. Locker Rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | See Note 5. 4 | | 0.3 | 1.2 Pedestrian Passageways (below grade) | | | 1.5 | 1.0 | Pedestrian Passageways (above grade) | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.5 | 1.0 Shower Rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | Smoking Rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | See Note 5. 4 | | 1.0 | 1.5 Toilet Rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | See Note 5. 4 | | 0 | 2.0 Waiting Rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.0 | 1.0 Retail Stores Malls | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.0 | 1.0 Retail Stores | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.0 | 1.0 Specialty Shops Auto and vehicle washing (attended) | | | 1.0 | 1.0 | See Note 5. Auto repair shops | | | 1.0 | 1.0 | See Note 5. Photo materials and engraving | | 4 | 0 | 0 | See 18-28-403.3.3. 4 | | 1.0 | 1.0 Beauty Parlors/Barber Shops | | 4 | 0 | 0 | See Note 5. 4 | | 1.2 | 1.2 Theaters Auditoriums (including stage) | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 2.0 | 1.5 Concert Halls | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 2.0 | 1.5 | Foyers in Theaters | | | 1.0 | 1.0 | 4 | | 2.0 | 1.0 Studios – motion picture, radio, TV | | | 1.5 | 0.75 | Or RO. Theatrical Community Centers | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.5 | 0.75 Workrooms Workshops not otherwise classified | | 4 | 0 | 0 | See 18-28-403.3.3. 4 | | 1.2 | 1.2 Wood working shop | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | See Article 5 - Makeup air is required when direct exhaust > 5, 000 CFM. 4 | | 1.2 | 1.2 Spray Finishing | | 4 | | | See Article 5 - Makeup air is required when direct exhaust > 5, 000 CFM. 4 | | 1.5 | 1.2 Spray Booths | | 4 | | | See Article 5 - Makeup air is required when direct exhaust > 5, 000 CFM. 4 | | 1.5 | 1.5 Bank Vaults Attended | | | 0.6 | 0.3 | Battery Charging - Dry Cell Batteries | | | NR | 0.5 | 3 or more batteries. - Other Batteries | | | NR | 1.0 Sports and Amusement Bowling Alleys (seating areas) | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.7 | 0.85 Ball Rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 2.0 | 1.5 Cabarets | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 2.0 | 1.5 Dance Halls/Discos | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 2.0 | 1.5 Game Rooms/Arcades | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.6 | 1.6 Gymnasiums | | 4 | 0 | 0 | Or RO. 4 | | 2.0 | 1.5 Natatoriums (deck and seating) | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 2.0 | 1.5 Recreation Rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 2.0 | 1.5 Skating Rinks, Ice Arenas | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 1.5 | 1.5 Skating Rinks, Roller | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 2.0 | 1.5 Storage Storage inactive | | | 0 | 0 | Storage active | | | 0.5 | 0.5 | Storage cold (no permanent occupancy) | | | 0 | 0 | Vault, Storage | | | NR | NR | Laboratories Laboratories | | 5 | 0 | 0 | See 18-28-403.3.3. 5 | | 1.2 | 1.2 Animal Rooms | | | 0 | 1.5 | Religious Auditoriums for worship/Chapels | | 4 | 0 | 0 | Or RO. 4 | | 1.5 | 0.75 Special Use Convention Halls | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 2.0 | 1.5 Council Chambers | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 2.0 | 1.5 Court Rooms | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | 2.0 | 1.5 Exhibition Rooms | | | 1.5 | 0.75 | Or RO. Fraternal Rooms | | | 1.5 | 0.75 | Or RO. Lodge Halls | | | 1.5 | 0.75 | Or RO. Museums | | | 0.6 | NR | Or RO. Garages/Parking Structures | See Miscellaneous Garages, 6 or more cars | | | 0.75 | 1.0 | | | RO | 1.0 | Private Garages (less than 6 cars) | | | RO | RO | 1.0 sf of opening per car. Garages in or attached to Hospitals | | | 0.75 | 1.0 | Exhaust duct, 14 gauge. | | RO | 1.0 Note 1. [Reserved.] Note 2. [Reserved.] Note 3. [Reserved.] Note 4. Corridor make-up air system for residential building over 55 feet in height shall be sized to equal the total of toilet, kitchen and dryer air exhaust requirements. Note 5. There shall be no recirculation permitted from these spaces. Note 6. For each private toilet room or bathroom: 20 CFM when the exhaust system is designed to operate continuously when the associated living quarters are occupied; 50 CFM when the exhaust system is designed to operate intermittently. For intermittent operation, either an automatic control or ready access to a manual control shall be provided within the room. Note 7. For each residential kitchen: 50 CFM when the kitchen is enclosed and the exhaust system is designed to operate continuously when the associated living quarters are occupied; 100 CFM vented range hood or 300 CFM mechanical exhaust (including downdraft) when the kitchen is unenclosed or the exhaust system is designed to operate intermittently. For intermittent operation, either an automatic control or ready access to a manual control shall be provided within the room. (Amend Coun. J. 9-14-16, p. 31143, § 8; Amend Coun. J. 3-29-17, p. 45477, § 12; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. XII, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 9-14-21, p. 35949, Art. IV, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 9-21-22, p. 52080, Art. II, § 8)
