BUILDINGS AND ROOMS (15-26-070 et seq.)

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 15, ch. 15-26, art. II

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-26-070 Construction requirements - Gasholders.

15-26-070 Construction requirements - Gasholders. General. Every fume or flammable compressed gas building shall be without any basement, except such a basement as is permitted for a hazardous chemical storage building. Fume Hazard Gases. Type I, II, III, or IV construction shall be used for any building in which any fume hazard gas is manufactured, compressed, or stored; provided, however, that a building may be of any type of construction permissible for a Group F or S occupancy under the provisions of this Code, where any gas is permitted to be stored or used on the premises. Every such building of Type III or IV construction should be not more than one story above grade in height and shall have no mezzanine unless such building is equipped throughout with a standard system of automatic sprinklers. Flammable Compressed Gases. Type IA, IB, or IIA construction shall be used for any building in which any flammable compressed gas is manufactured, compressed, or stored; provided, however, that a building may be of any type of construction permissible for Group F or S occupancy under the provisions of this Code, where any such gas is permitted to be stored or used on the premises. Refrigerating Systems. Any mechanical refrigerating system built in accordance with the provisions of Title 14M shall be exempt from the provisions of this section. (Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-7-96, p. 15616; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 52)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-26-080 Fire-resistive separation.

15-26-080 Fire-resistive separation. (a) General. Every fume or flammable compressed gas room in a building of Type IA, IB, or IIA construction shall have an enclosure of two-hour fire-resistive construction, except as otherwise provided under this section. Every such room in a building of other than Type IA, IB, or IIA construction shall be enclosed by not less than one-hour fire-resistive construction; provided, however, that the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall prevail where inconsistent with this subsection. (b) Water-Purifying Equipment. No corrosive, explosive, flammable, irritant, poisonous, toxic or other noxious gas in a quantity exceeding ten pounds, whether in a container, cylinder, piping or other water-purifying equipment, shall be permitted in any assembly unit. All containers, cylinders, piping or other equipment containing more than ten pounds of such gases named in this section in any other building, shall be located within a room or space having a four-hour fire-resistive enclosure. Any such room shall have no opening except to an open court, private alley, public way or other open space not less than 100 feet in area. Nothing in the provisions of this section shall be construed as prohibiting the location of such equipment in the same room with a furnace, boiler or other heat-producing unit or incinerator, if such room is made to comply with the provisions of this section. (c) Cooling and Refrigerating Equipment. Any room or space used for cooling or refrigerating equipment shall conform to the requirements of Title 14M for refrigerating systems. (Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-7-96, p. 15616; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 53)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-26-090 Flammable compressed gas - Restrictions.

15-26-090 Flammable compressed gas - Restrictions. No person shall manufacture or compress any fume or flammable compressed gas, as defined in Section 15-26-020, nor store more than 2,500 cubic feet of any such gas in any building other than a fume or flammable compressed gas building constructed in accordance with this Code. (Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-7-96, p. 15616)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-26-100 Safety clearances.

15-26-100 Safety clearances. Every building hereafter designed, erected, altered or converted for the purpose of manufacturing or storing for resale any fume or flammable compressed gas in a quantity exceeding 2,500 cubic feet during any 24-hour period shall be freestanding and isolated by a safety clearance of not less than 250 feet. Every building hereafter designed, erected, altered or converted for the purpose of manufacturing, compressing or storing acetylene gas at a pressure of more than 15 pounds per square inch shall be freestanding and isolated by a safety clearance of not less than 250 feet. Any building or group of buildings used for the purpose of the production, distribution, or storage of any fume or flammable compressed gas shall be exempt from the provisions of the preceding paragraph with respect to any other building or structure within the same group and used for similar purposes. Any public utility engaged in the production, distribution, or storage of illuminating gas shall also be exempt from the provisions of the preceding paragraph, except as prohibited or otherwise regulated in other provisions of this Code. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the storage for use on the premises of acetylene gas in cylinders in a quantity of 2,500 cubic feet or less or the generation of any such gas for use on the premises in a quantity of 2,500 cubic feet or less at a pressure of 15 pounds or less per square inch, or the use of any number of cylinders of any such gas which is in actual use or attached ready for use in any industrial process. Any mechanical refrigerating system built in accordance with Title 14M shall be exempt from the provisions of this section. (Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-7-96, p. 15616; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 54)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-26-110 Floor area limits.

15-26-110 Floor area limits. Fume or Flammable Compressed Gas Buildings. Every fume or flammable compressed gas building shall have a floor area limited by the provisions of Title 14B for Group F-1 occupancies. Fume or Flammable Compressed Gas Rooms. No fume or flammable compressed gas room shall have a floor area of more than 600 square feet; provided, however, that this requirement shall not apply to a room used for no purpose other than the operation of a water purification plant or refrigerating unit. Two sides, or two ends, or one side and one end of every fume or flammable compressed gas room shall be enclosed by an outside wall. Not more than two fume or flammable compressed gas rooms shall be permitted in any building; provided, however, that in a building equipped throughout with a standard system of automatic sprinklers not more than six such rooms shall be permitted. Manufactured Gas Building. Any building used exclusively for the production, distribution or storage of manufactured gas as public utility shall be exempt from the provisions of this section. (Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-7-96, p. 15616; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 55)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-26-120 Ventilation.

15-26-120 Ventilation. Every fume or flammable compressed gas room shall have means of natural ventilation as required under Section 15-28-260 for material heating rooms. The combined area of ventilating openings with closures arranged to open automatically in case of explosion or fire shall be not less than five percent of the total wall area. (Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-7-96, p. 15616)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-26-130 Sign requirements.

15-26-130 Sign requirements. Every fume or flammable compressed gas building and every fume or flammable compressed gas room shall have the words "DANGER – POISONOUS GAS" where any fume hazard gas occurs, or the words "DANGER – FLAMMABLE GAS" where any flammable compressed gas occurs, painted in a conspicuous position on the outside of every entrance thereto; provided, however, that no such sign shall be required for any building or room in which not more than two standard cylinders of such gas are present at any time. No-smoking signs shall also be provided wherever flammable compressed gas is stored. Such wording shall be in plainly legible bright red letters on a white background with letters not less than six inches high and with the principal strokes thereof not less than three-fourths inch in width. (Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-7-96, p. 15616)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-26-140 Fume hazard gases - Storage and handling.

15-26-140 Fume hazard gases - Storage and handling. The storage or handling of fume hazard gases shall comply with the following requirements: (1) Containers having a pressure of 15 psi or less or a quantity less than 2,500 feet may be stored in suitably ventilated cabinets located outside of the main building, adequately protected from extreme heat and accumulations of snow and ice; if within a building they shall be in rooms complying with the preceding sections. No combustible material shall be allowed in such rooms or within ten feet of an outside cabinet. Quantities in excess of the above limits shall not be allowed in any building other than a fume hazard building complying with the requirements of this chapter. (2) Signs having a white field with red letters four inches high and having a stroke of one-half inch shall be conspicuously posted. Such signs shall read "TOXIC GAS – HANDLE WITH CARE". (3) Defective containers which permit leakage or spillage shall be disposed of or repaired in an approved manner. No spilled materials shall be allowed to accumulate on floors or shelves. (Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-7-96, p. 15616)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-26-150 Tank storage.

15-26-150 Tank storage. Tanks which contain more than 55 gallons of fume hazard and/or flammable compressed gases shall be located outside of any building or buried below ground level. When above ground, said tank or tanks containing liquids shall be diked. Each dike shall have a capacity of not less than one and one-half times the combined capacity of the tank or tanks it surrounds. Dike construction shall be as specified in Section 15-24-170 of this Code; provided, however, the materials of the dike walls shall be inert with respect to the materials contained within the tank or tanks. (Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-7-96, p. 15616)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-26-160 Emergency controls.

15-26-160 Emergency controls. The provisions of this section shall apply to all existing as well as newly installed tanks. All tanks, piping and fittings shall be compatible with the materials to be stored or handled. Outlets and inlets of all aboveground tanks shall have a shutoff valve as close as possible to the tank, with no branches or outlets between the tank and valve. All inlet pipes shall have an additional check valve as close as possible to the tank valve. In addition to any other valves, when the stored material is reactive with air or water there shall be a valve at each pipeline connection to any tank below the liquid level, which valve shall be effective inside the tank shell or head and can be operated manually to prevent the flow of liquid from the tank even though the pipelines are broken from the tank. All remote reach rods to valves shall be of substantial construction and shall be accessibly located and clearly marked "Emergency Shut-Off Valve". There shall be an effective flexible connection between that tank valve and piping system or the piping shall be so arranged with swing joints to prevent stress and strain between the piping system and tank. Where the exterior piping and sides of the tank are not inert to the material being stored, the piping, piping supports and tank shall be made inert by coating or some other means to one and one-half times the height of the dike. (Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-7-96, p. 15616)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-26-170 Tankers and tank cars - Safety clearances.

15-26-170 Tankers and tank cars - Safety clearances. Tankers or tank cars of fume hazard and/or flammable compressed gases of any capacity shall not be located within one-eighth mile from any building containing a Group A, E, I or R occupancy. (Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-7-96, p. 15616; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 56)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-26-180 Neutralizing agents.

15-26-180 Neutralizing agents. Whenever a fume hazard gas and/or flammable compressed gas can be chemically changed to a less dangerous and more stable material, a qualified chemist of the manufacturer shall state in writing the safest and quickest method of changing the total capacity of the tank or tanks in case of a rupture, spillage or other emergency. The owner and/or operator of said tank or tanks shall keep sufficient quantities of the changing agent as hereinbefore determined so as to be readily available in the event of an emergency. (Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-7-96, p. 15616)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-26-190 Emergency equipment.

15-26-190 Emergency equipment. The name and address of the manufacturer or the nearest producer of the specific fume hazard and/or flammable compressed gas being used and a placard outlining emergency first aid directions shall be posted and remain posted in a conspicuous place at the points of unloading and use and in at least one other approved location. Oxygen-generating or self-contained air or oxygen masks having a United States Bureau of Mines or National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health approval for a minimum of one-half-hour protection shall be maintained in a readily accessible location outside the areas of probable contamination and sufficient for all personnel associated with the operation. Additional air or oxygen containers which will provide for a minimum of one-hour use of each mask shall be kept at the location of each gas mask. All personnel that may be required to use gas masks must be required at reasonable intervals to practice their application and use. Gas masks must be kept in condition, ready for immediate use at all times with fully charged containers. An approved repair kit with all the necessary tools, appurtenances and material required to repair a leak or replace a defective valve or other part shall be kept in a location accessible to the tank and outside the probable area of contamination. Protective clothing suitable for use with the materials stored shall be provided and be kept in good condition where its use will provide effective protection against the fume hazard gas. Gas masks, repair kit and duplicate wrenches shall be kept in a conspicuous location and shall be conspicuously labeled for immediate identification. (Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-7-96, p. 15616)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2679075Fetched: 10/24/2026