Discussion and Review of Tiffin Municipal Code Revisions – Preparation for Setting the Public Hearing — Tiffin City Code - DRAFT

CHAPTER 156 HOUSING CODE (5) Escape Window. In basement units where one means of egress is a window, such window shall have an unobstructed opening no less in area than that required in the Building or Fire Codes. (6) Fire Escapes. No existing fire escape shall be deemed a sufficient means of egress unless it is in compliance with the Fire Codes of the State and the City. (7) Doorways. Every doorway providing ingress or egress from any dwelling unit, rooming unit or habitable room shall be at least six feet, four inches high and 24 inches wide. 7. Natural Light. A. Every habitable room, except a kitchen, shall have at least one window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum total glazed window or skylight area, for every habitable room, except the kitchen, shall be at least eight percent of the floor area of such room. B. For the purpose of determining natural light and natural ventilation requirements, any room may be considered as a portion of an adjoining room when one-half of the area of the common wall is open and unobstructed and provides an opening of not less than one-tenth of the floor area of the interior room or 25 square feet, whichever is greater. 8. Ventilation. A. Interior Air Quality. Every dwelling unit and rooming unit shall be free from dangerous levels of air pollution from carbon monoxide, sanitary sewer gas, fuel gas, dust, and other harmful air pollutants. B. Natural Ventilation. (1) Every window or other device with openings to the outdoor space, used for ventilation, shall be supplied with screens of not less than 16 mesh per inch. (2) The total openable window area, as measured between stops, in every habitable room shall be equal to at least four percent of the floor area of such room. (3) Every door opening directly from a dwelling unit or rooming unit to outdoor space, the use of which is necessary to meet the minimum ventilation requirements of this code, shall have a supplied screen or screens and a self-closing device. (4) Every cellar window, soffit or roof vent used or intended to be used for ventilation and every other opening to a cellar, crawl space, or interior roof area, which might provide an entry for rodents or birds, shall be supplied with a heavy wire screen of not larger than one-fourth inch mesh or such device as will effectively prevent entrance. (5) For natural ventilation, every bathroom or toilet compartment shall have at least one openable window facing directly to the outdoors and at least 45 percent of the window must be openable. C. Mechanical Ventilation. CODE OF ORDINANCES, TIFFIN, IOWA - 1336 -