NYC Admin. Code § 27-833 General.
§ 27-833 General.
All incinerators and other refuse disposal systems in buildings shall be constructed, installed and altered in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter.
Refuse Disposal Systems
NYC Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 1, subch. 14, art. 18
in effectNYC Admin. Code § 27-834 Compliance.
§ 27-834 Compliance.
All new and existing refuse disposal systems shall be installed, altered and maintained in buildings in conformity with the applicable provisions of the administrative code, the air pollution control code and as follows.
(a) Charging chutes for refuse disposal system shall comply with applicable provisions of subchapter fifteen of this chapter.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-835 Permitted types of incinerators.
§ 27-835 Permitted types of incinerators.
When permitted by sections 24-118 and 24-119 of title twenty-four of the administrative code, incinerators shall conform to the following:
(a) Semiautomatic incinerators. Semiautomatic incinerators shall be limited to capacities not exceeding one million seven hundred thousand Btu/hr. in other buildings. Semiautomatic incinerators may have manually operated grates, but shall have automatically operated flue gates, gas or oil burners with temperature controls, overfire air fans and nozzle system, emission control devices, and clock controlled cycles.
(b) Automatic incinerators. Automatic incinerators shall be required for capacities exceeding one million seven hundred thousand. They are optional for smaller capacities. Automatic incinerators shall have power operated grates, and automatically operated flue gates, gas or oil burners with temperature controls, overfire and underfire air fans and nozzle system, emission control devices and clock controlled cycles.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-836 Refuse collection rooms.
§ 27-836 Refuse collection rooms.
A refuse collection room shall be provided for refuse reduction systems which utilize methods other than burning. Such rooms shall comply with the requirements of section 27-837 of this article.
a. Existing refuse rooms and incinerator rooms which have been approved for such use, may be retained as approved.
b. Existing incinerator combustion chambers may be used in whole or in part as refuse collection rooms provided the grates are removed and provided they comply with the provisions of section 27-837 of this article.
c. Floors of refuse collection rooms shall be constructed of concrete and shall be sloped to a floor drain within the room, connected to the house drain. A hose connection shall be provided within the room.
d. A hopper and cut-off door shall be provided at the bottom of the refuse chute. Where compacting equipment is used, it shall be located entirely within the enclosure of the refuse collection room except that motors, pumps and controls may be installed in adjacent rooms.
e. Compacting equipment shall meet the criteria of the department of environmental protection and be approved. Where such equipment is installed so that the refuse flows directly into it, the compacting equipment may be used in place of the hopper and cut-off door. Compacting equipment shall be arranged to operate automatically when the level of refuse is not more than three feet below the lowest hopper door.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-837 Incinerator rooms.
§ 27-837 Incinerator rooms.
Incinerators and refuse collecting bins and spaces shall be located in rooms or compartments used for no other purpose. Such rooms or compartments shall be separated from all other occupancies by noncombustible construction having a fire resistance rating of at least two hours with self-closing opening protectives. Refuse collection bins and spaces shall be sprinklered in accordance with the construction provisions of subchapter seventeen of this chapter.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-838 Ventilation.
§ 27-838 Ventilation.
Fixed ventilation for combustion air to the incinerator room shall be provided by a louvered opening in a wall to outdoor air. When ducts are used, they shall be sized and installed so as to provide the amount of air required for combustion, taking into consideration head loss. Fans may be installed to deliver air to the incinerator room, provided they are in operation whenever the incinerator is in use. Louvers, ducts, and fans shall be sized to deliver at least two and one-half cfm of air for each pound per hour of refuse while burning is taking place. All duct work shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of subchapter thirteen of this chapter.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-839 Draft control.
§ 27-839 Draft control.
If a manual damper or automatic draft controller, is provided in the incinerator flue, it shall be capable of closing off not more than ninety-five per cent of the flue area, and the damper or controller shall be made of such materials and in such a manner so as to prevent warping, binding, cracking, corrosion, and distortion when exposed to operating temperatures. If an automatic draft controller is used, means shall be provided for temporary manual operation.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-840 Charging chutes and exhaust flues.
§ 27-840 Charging chutes and exhaust flues.
All incinerators shall be constructed with a flue within a chimney to exhaust the products of combustion and a refuse charging chute which shall be separate from the flue. Refuse charging chutes shall not discharge directly into incinerators, except in buildings classified in residential occupancy group J and in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter and subchapter fifteen of this chapter. Flues for existing incinerators and existing refuse chutes may be used as refuse charging chutes provided they are in good condition and comply with the requirements of subchapter fifteen of this chapter.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-841 Charging gates.
§ 27-841 Charging gates.
Charging gates, when provided, shall be power operated. Gates and guide rails shall be of such materials and construction so as to withstand a temperature of two thousand degrees Fahrenheit without distortion, warping, binding, cracking, or corrosion, and also to withstand impact by heavy falling objects.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-842 Auxiliary heat.
§ 27-842 Auxiliary heat.
Burners or other sources of heat shall be provided for all incinerators. Such heat sources shall be capable of maintaining a temperature of at least fifteen hundred degrees Fahrenheit at the discharge from the combustion chamber, and shall be equipped with safety devices to shut off the fuel in cases of ignition failure, flame failure, or insufficient draft.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-843 Construction of incinerators.
§ 27-843 Construction of incinerators.
Incinerators shall be constructed so as to be gas tight and shall be lined or protected with heat resistive materials suitable for the services required, as follows:
(a) Masonry incinerators. When the combined hearth and grate area is twenty square feet or less, or the number of habitable rooms served is one hundred or less, combustion chambers, separation chambers, and connecting gas passages shall be constructed of eight inch common brick thick and lined with four and one-half inch of refractory material with an intervening air space of one inch. When the combined hearth and grate area is more than twenty square feet, or the number of habitable rooms served is more than one hundred, combustion chambers, separation chambers, and connecting gas passages shall be constructed of common brick eight inches thick and lined with nine inches of refractory material with an intervening air space of one inch.
(1) TIES. Noncorroding metal ties shall be used at least every fifth course of common-brick. Structural steel angles, straps, and tiebacks shall be installed on all masonry incinerators having more than one hundred twenty-five cubic feet of combustion chamber volume.
(2) INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION. Interior walls, curtain walls, bridge walls, or baffles shall, in every case, be of refractory brick, at least nine inches thick.
(3) ARCHES. Sprung arches may be used if the span is less than four feet. Flat suspended type arches shall have a minimum of five inches of refractory material between the furnace heat and the hangers. Flat suspended arches shall have an insulated block roof at least two and one-half inches thick.
(4) ISOLATION. No structural supports for the vertical building flues or other parts of the building shall rest upon the incinerator; nor shall any metal guides, hangers, or structural steel parts of the incinerator be exposed to direct heat of combustion.
(5) THERMAL BLOCK INSULATION. High temperature block insulation shall be at least equal to type 3 specified in reference standard RS 14-10.
(6) REFRACTORY. Refractory material shall be firebrick or hydraulic setting castable refractory.
a. Firebrick. Firebrick shall be high duty, spall resistant and conform to type A reference standard RS 14.7.
b. Castable refractories. Castable refractories shall conform to reference standard RS 14.8 (Class F).
c. Mortar. Mortar for firebrick shall be air setting high temperature cement conforming to reference standard RS 14-14.
(b) Steel-cased incinerators. In lieu of the eight inch common brick outer wall and one inch air space required in subdivision (a) of this section, the outside enclosure of incinerators may be of no. 12 manufacturers standard gauge steel casing that is welded, riveted, or bolted to be gastight, with at least two thicknesses of two and one-half inch high-temperature block insulation applied with staggered joints.
(c) Other constructions. Other forms of incinerator construction, equivalent in terms of structural strength, insulating value, and temperature and erosion resistance, may be used, subject to approval by the commissioner.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-844 Construction of chimneys and charging chutes.
§ 27-844 Construction of chimneys and charging chutes.
For requirements governing the construction of chimneys and charging chutes, see article four of subchapter fifteen of this chapter.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-845 Cleanouts.
§ 27-845 Cleanouts.
Openings shall be provided so that all parts of the incinerator can be cleaned, including the ash pit, the combustion chamber, the passes of separation chambers, and the incinerator flue. Cleanouts shall be closed by tight fitting doors or covers, securely latched or otherwise held in a closed position. Ash pit and combustion chamber closures and frames shall be of cast iron or equivalent, with the frames securely attached to the incinerator.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-846 Accessibility.
§ 27-846 Accessibility.
Sufficient space shall be provided around the incinerator and its appurtenances to facilitate cleaning, repair, and servicing. Clearance shall be provided to allow the cleanout doors to be completely opened so that all parts of the combustion chamber, ash pit, separation chambers, etc. may be reached and so implements used for this purpose can be freely manipulated. All dampers, gates, burners, valves, levers, etc., shall be accessible for repair and adjustment or replacement. No construction shall be located closer than sixteen inches to any part of an incinerator, except that noncombustible structural members two feet wide or less parallel to the incinerator, may be located as close as six inches to the incinerator, provided such members do not reduce accessibility to any moving parts of the incinerator.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-847 Cabinets and control wiring.
§ 27-847 Cabinets and control wiring.
All control equipment shall be installed in dustproof, noncombustible cabinets. Such cabinets shall not be mounted on the incinerator. Conduits carrying control wiring for the incinerator shall not be fastened to the incinerator. All electrical work shall comply with the electrical code of the city of New York.
NYC Admin. Code § 27-848 Posting.
§ 27-848 Posting.
(a) Operating and maintenance instructions shall be permanently and conspicuously mounted under transparent protective covers in the incinerator room, together with the equipment use permit. The instructions shall include complete procedures for operating and maintaining fuel burners, dampers, and other devices, and shall state quantities and kinds of materials that may be burned.
(b) On every door that opens into a space in which a service opening into a refuse chute is located, or on the wall directly over the service opening into the chute, the following sign shall be permanently and conspicuously posted: "THROWING LIGHTED MATCHES, CIGARS OR CIGARETTES, CARPET SWEEPINGS, NAPTHALENE, CAMPHOR BALLS OR FLAKES, FLOOR SCRAPINGS, OIL SOAKED RAGS, EMPTY PAINT CANS, AEROSOL CONTAINERS, OR ANY OTHER FLAMMABLE OR HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE OR EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCE INTO THIS CHUTE IS UNLAWFUL AND SUBJECTS THE OFFENDER TO A PENALTY". Such signs shall be designed as follows:
(1) Signs on doors leading to the service openings and on walls over service openings shall be at least eight inches wide and three inches high, with lettering at least one-quarter inch high. The signs shall be located on the hall side approximately five feet above the floor.
(2) The lettering of the signs shall be of bold type, and shall be properly spaced to provide good legibility. The lettering and the background shall be of contrasting colors.
(3) Signs shall be durable and shall be securely attached to the door or wall.
(4) Sufficient lighting shall be provided so that the signs are easily readable at all times.
Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-52336Fetched: 10/24/2026