I noticed during this remodel that the bathroom exhaust vent was installed about 30 inches below a window. Other than bad design in my opinion, ( possibility of fumes from vent coming up into the window), is there a code violation?
Bathroom Exahust vent
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CountryBumkin
Active Member
I don't know what the code says about the location, but I wouldn't worry about fumes.
Your just exhausting humid air (if there are fumes in it, those are the same fumes your breathing in while using the bathroom).
Your just exhausting humid air (if there are fumes in it, those are the same fumes your breathing in while using the bathroom).
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WJcandee
Wise One
If you mean the roof vent pipe for the vent stack in the plumbing, UPC says 10 feet from any openable window, and the top of it at least 3 feet above any openable window. UPC sec. 906.2. See p. 4 of http://www.klickitatcounty.org/documentcenter/view/103 Nice diagram there. Nothing specific about being under a window by any particular distance, apparently because it is assumed that the lateral difference, plus the other requirements in that section, will protect.
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CountryBumkin
Active Member
I think OP is talking about the "bathroom exhaust fan" venting.
WJcandee
Wise One
Yeah, I see that from your response, but I thought with the reference to fumes that maybe he meant the dwv vent penetration in the roof. Either way, you and I have him covered.
Sorry, I am not much of a plumber, so fumes and gases from a bathroom seem about the same to me! lol. This is a bathroom exahuast vent just below a window. I was concerned about the smells coming back in through the window. This is a 2 family building not a single.
The code I think that helps here is 2012 IRC M1508.4.5 air inlets shall be located so as not to take air from within 10ft of a plumbing vent opening, or an appliance vent outlet, or where it will pick up objectionable odors, fumes or flammable vapors. I believe the smells from someone else's bathroom venting through another's window would be considered objectionable odor. Considering how close this is just below that window, gas rises, there's a good chance it can enter through that window.
Do you agree?
Kreemoweet
In the Trades
Do not agree. You are fussing about a purely conjectural "problem". Air vented from below will be highly diluted, and
most likely will not enter any windows above. In any event, a window is NOT an "air inlet" within the meaning of the building
code. It is standard practice to vent bathrooms from the level of joist space separating building "floors", with windows above.
most likely will not enter any windows above. In any event, a window is NOT an "air inlet" within the meaning of the building
code. It is standard practice to vent bathrooms from the level of joist space separating building "floors", with windows above.
