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DIPPING AND ROLL COATING (15-24-720 et seq.)

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 15, ch. 15-24, art. VII
in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-720 Definitions.

15-24-720 Definitions. "Dip tank" means a tank, vat or container containing Class I, II, or III flammable liquid or a liquid containing any volatile flammable substance in solution or by suspension in which articles or materials are immersed for the purpose of coating, finishing, cleaning, treating or similar processes. "Dip tank vapor area" means the area within a 20-foot radius of any dip tank, its drain board or associated drying, conveying or other equipment, during operation or shutdown periods, unless separated by walls conforming to Section 15-24-570 of this Code. (Prior code § 129.1-63)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-730 Restrictions.

15-24-730 Restrictions. Dip tanks shall not be permitted in any institutional building. Dip tanks shall not be permitted in any school, assembly or multiple-dwelling building, except in a room designed for the purpose, protected with an approved system of automatic sprinklers and separated vertically and horizontally from other parts of the building by construction having not less than two-hour fire-resistive rating. (Prior code § 129.1-64)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-740 Ventilation.

15-24-740 Ventilation. Ventilation of dip tanks vapor areas shall comply with the applicable sections of Title 14M. Such ventilation shall be adequate to prevent the vapor accumulations. Such ventilation shall also be so arranged that failure of any ventilating fan shall automatically stop any dip tanks conveying system. (Prior code § 129.1-65; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 43)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-750 General requirements.

15-24-750 General requirements. Dip tanks, as defined in Section 15-24-720, shall comply with all applicable provisions of this Code and with the special provisions of Sections 15-24-760 to 15-24-830. (Prior code § 129.1-66)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-760 Dip tank construction.

15-24-760 Dip tank construction. (a) Dip tanks shall be constructed of substantial noncombustible material and their supports shall be of heavy metal, reinforced concrete or masonry. (b) Adequate drainboards shall be provided to prevent the liquid from dripping on the floor or other undesirable locations. Such drainboards shall be constructed of substantial noncombustible material and shall have a pitch of not less than one-half-inch vertical rise for each ten feet of the horizontal so that the liquid will drain back to the dip tank or other suitable location. Such drainboards shall be arranged to automatically prevent the conducting of water into the dip tank in the event of a fire. (c) Dip tanks of over 150 gallons in capacity or ten square feet in liquid surface area hereafter installed shall have a trapped overflow pipe leading to an underground salvage tank complying with the requirements of Section 15-24-280. The bottom of the overflow connection shall be not less than six inches below the top of the tank. (d) Dip tanks in excess of 500 gallons in liquid capacity hereafter installed shall be equipped with an approved quick-opening valve located at the bottom of the dip tank. Such valve shall operate manually and shall also be arranged to automatically open the valve in the event of a fire and quickly drain the contents of the tank to an underground salvage tank, complying with the requirements of Section 15-24-280. Manual operation shall be from a safe, accessible location. Where gravity flow is not practicable, automatic pumps shall be provided. Such drains shall be trapped. (e) Dip tanks utilizing a conveyor system shall be so arranged that in the event of a fire, the conveyor system shall automatically cease motion and the required bottom drains shall open. (Prior code § 129.1-67)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-770 Electrical equipment.

15-24-770 Electrical equipment. Electrical wiring, motors and fixtures in any dip tank vapor area shall comply with Title 14E for hazardous locations and with the specific provisions of this section. (a) There shall be no open flames, spark- producing devices or heated surfaces having a temperature sufficient to ignite the vapors in any dip tank vapor area. (b) Electric wiring and equipment in any dip tank vapor area shall be explosion-proof type approved for use in such hazardous locations. Such area shall be considered as Class I, Division 1 hazardous locations as defined in Section 14E-5-500. (c) Unless specifically approved for locations containing both deposits of ignitable residues and explosive vapors, there shall be no such electrical equipment in the vicinity of dip tanks or associated drainboards or drying operations which are subject to splashing or dipping of dip tank liquids, except wiring in rigid conduit or in threaded boxes or fittings containing no taps, splices or terminal connections and except hereinafter specifically permitted in Sections 15-24-680 to 15-24-700 relating to electrostatic apparatus. (d) In any floor space outside of the dip tank vapor area, but within 20 feet therefrom and not separated by fire separation complying with Section 15-24-730, there shall be no open flames or spark- producing devices. Such areas shall be considered as Class I, Division 2 hazardous locations as defined in Section 14E-5-500. (Prior code § 129.1-68; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. II, § 57)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-780 Fire prevention requirements.

15-24-780 Fire prevention requirements. A dip tank shall be required when for any reason articles or materials are immersed in Class I, II or III flammable liquids or in a liquid containing any volatile flammable substance in solution or in suspension. All dip tank, flow coat and roll coating operations and maintenance shall comply with the following: (a) Areas in the vicinity of the dip tanks shall be kept clear of combustible stock and shall be kept entirely free of combustible debris. (b) Frequent inspections and tests of all dip tank facilities shall be made by a qualified employee, including covers, overflow pipe inlets and discharge pipe, bottom drains, all valves including quick opening valves, electrical wiring and equipment and grounding connections ventilating facilities and all extinguishing equipment. Any defects shall be promptly corrected. (Prior code § 129.1-69)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-790 Fire-extinguishing equipment.

15-24-790 Fire-extinguishing equipment. Fire extinguishing equipment shall be provided as follows: (a) Standard fire extinguishers shall be required. (b) Dip tanks having less than 150 gallons capacity or less than ten square feet liquid surface area shall be fitted with a cover complying with the provisions of Section 15-24-800 or with one of the automatic extinguishing facilities specified below. (c) Dip tanks of over 150 gallons capacity or having a liquid surface area in excess of ten square feet shall be protected with at least one of the following automatic extinguishing facilities: 1. An approved automatic water spray extinguishing system; 2. An approved automatic foam extinguishing system; 3. An approved automatic carbon dioxide extinguishing system; 4. An approved automatic dry chemical extinguishing system. (Prior code § 129.1-70)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-800 Dip tank covers.

15-24-800 Dip tank covers. Dip tank covers shall comply with the following: (a) Covers shall be arranged to close automatically in the event of a fire. Such tank covers shall also be arranged for manual operation. (b) Covers shall be constructed of substantial noncombustible materials or if of the tin-clad type, the enclosing metal shall be with locked joints. (c) Chains or wire rope shall be used for cover support or operating mechanism. (d) Covers shall be kept closed when dip tanks are not in use. (Prior code § 129.1-71)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-810 Hardening and tempering tanks.

15-24-810 Hardening and tempering tanks. Hardening and tempering tanks shall comply with the requirements of Sections 15-24-760 to 15-24-800 and with the specific requirements of the following provisions: (a) Such tanks shall not be located on or within 20 feet of combustible floors. Such tanks shall not be closer than 20 feet for a furnace or other open-flame heating device, torch or other heat-producing device. (b) Such tanks shall be provided with a noncombustible hood and vent, and shall be vented directly to the outside of the building and shall otherwise comply with the requirements of Title 14M. Such vents and hood shall not be closer than 18 inches to any combustible materials. (c) Each such tank shall be equipped with a high temperature limit switch so arranged to sound a suitable audible alarm when the temperature of the quenching medium reaches 50 degrees below the flashpoint. (d) Such tanks having a capacity of over 500 gallons or having a liquid surface area of 25 square feet or more shall be protected as specified in Section 15-24-790(b) or (c) of this Code. (e) Air under pressure shall not be used to fill or to agitate the quenching medium in the tanks. (Prior code § 129.1-72; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 44)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-820 Flow coat operations.

15-24-820 Flow coat operations. Flow coat operations shall comply with the requirements for dip tanks. The area of the sump and any area within 20 feet of the flow coat operations shall be considered the vapor area. Flow coat operations shall also conform to the following specific requirements: (a) Paint or other flammable liquid shall be supplied by direct low pressure pumping arranged to automatically shut down by means of approved heat- actuated devices in the event of a fire. (Prior code § 129.1-73)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-830 Roll coating operations.

15-24-830 Roll coating operations. Roll coating operations shall comply with the following provisions and the other applicable requirements of the code: (a) The processes of roll coating, spreading and impregnating in which fabrics, paper or other material is passed directly through a dip tank or trough containing flammable liquids or over the surface of a roller that revolves partially submerged in a flammable liquid shall conform to the requirements of Sections 15-24-760 to 15-24-800 of this Code. (b) Adequate arrangements shall be made to prevent sparks from static electricity by electrically bonding and grounding all metallic rotating and other parts of the machinery and equipment and by the installation of static collectors. All such electrical bonding and grounding shall be done in strict accordance with the provisions of Title 14E. (Prior code § 129.1-74; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. II, § 58)
Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2678647Fetched: 10/24/2026

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