October 23, 2012 | Blog | Guy Van Meulebrouck | 0 Comment Of course not. More complicated than before, yes.

Still located in the wrong part of the code -partly yes. But after careful review, I would definitely not say the dryer codes are washed up (or all wet). In fact I would go so far as to say they are worthwhile reading for architects. This 2010 code section is twice as long as it used to be so there is a fair amount of new material in it that effects architects. In Florida, requirements for where dryers are allowed to be located in a building have always been located in the mechanical code. This is unfortunate since mechanical engineers dont get involved in projects until the floor plan is pretty much established and set, and of course, mechanical engineers have minimal involvement in floor plans. The 2010 code for clothes dryer exhausts is about twice as long as the 2007 code. Possibly the biggest impact this mechanical code section has on architects is residential style clothes dryers should be located close to an outside wall (or roof exhaust cap). By close- I mean 25 horizontal feet. There are exceptions to this of course, but I recommend staying with the 25 feet as a general rule. This close distance is the simplest, most economical, and reliable option. So here is an update of the current 2010 code requirements for exhausting of dryers with emphasis on architectural aspects. (My comments are interspersed in the code in italics and parenthesis). I realize this is a long article but it does contain new design information that effects architecture. At the end of this article I will follow this up with some research I did on actual specific requirements of ten popular brands of clothes dryers. SECTION 504 CLOTHES DRYER EXHAUST 504.1 Installation. Clothes dryers shall be exhausted in accordance with the manufacturers instruction. Dryer exhaust systems shall be independent of all other systems and shall convey the moisture and any products of combustion to the outside of the building. (the products of combustion part is there for gas dryers). (This code section identifies a potential for missed communication since the person who specifies the dryers rarely specifies them until the end of the project and that person is never the mechanical engineer who needs to know about any unique or special requirements). Exception: this section shall not apply to listed and labeled condensing (ductless) clothes dryers. 504.2 Exhaust Penetrations. (this section pertains to larger commercial projects-not to single family residences. This section is worth reading if you design motels/apartments/gyms etc. ) Where a clothes dryer exhaust duct penetrates a wall or ceiling membrane, the annular space shall be sealed with noncombustible material, approved fire caulking or a non combustible dryer exhaust duct wall receptacle. Ducts that exhaust clothes dryers shall not penetrate or be located within any fire blocking, draft-stopping, or any wall, floor/ceiling or other assembly required by the Florida Building Code, Building to be fire-resistance rated, unless such duct is constructed of galvanized steel or aluminum of the thickness specified in Section 603.4 and the fire-resistance rating is maintain in accordance with the Florida Building Code, Building. Fire dampers, combination fire/smoke

dampers and any similar devices that will obstruct the exhaust flow shall be prohibited in clothes dryer exhaust ducts. (section 603.4 is referring to the mechanical code-which basically states that aluminum dryer ducts need to be one gauge heavier than their galvanized metal counterparts). 504.3 Cleanout. (all this section means to architects is if you need to go vertical in order to exhaust dryers, you may need an access door in hard ceilings below the duct riser). Each vertical riser shall be provided with a means for cleanout. Such means may include the exhaust duct connection to an individual dryer outlet if it is accessible and readily disassembled. 504.4 Exhaust installation. (this section pertains to the contractor mostly and is doesnt concern architects except for the last sentence.) ..Clothes dryer exhaust ducts shall not extend into or through ducts or plenums. (if you have a

commercial building with a return air plenum-options for ducting dryer exhaust just got very limited).
504.5 Makeup air. (I recommend providing transfer air openings for your

dryers, regardless of code. Louvered doors are the simplest way to do this. One reason for this: I found several manufacturers installation instructions requiring them and secondly, the trend with dryers is bigger and bigger. In fact, I found some of the larger dryers on the market right now already exceed the exhaust limit in this code section. A small dryer that doesnt need transfer air can always get replaced with a larger dryer later on. Besides, all dryers work better with no back pressure. Dont forget that many HVAC systems operate intermittently and do not always provide makeup air into the room.) Installations exhausting more than 200 cfm shall be
provided with makeup air. Where a closet is designed for the installation of a clothes dryer, an opening having an area of not less than 100 square inches shall be provided in the closet enclosure or makeup air shall be provided by other approved means. 504.6 Domestic clothes dryer ducts and 504.6.3 Transition ducts. (these sections are pretty boring unless you are a contractor so I skipped them) 504.6.4 Duct length. The maximum allowable exhaust duct length shall be determined by one of the methods specified in Section 504.6.4.1 or 504.6.4.2. (this is where it gets really interesting for architects) 504.6.4.1 Specified length. The maximum length of the exhaust duct shall be 35 feet from the connection to the transition duct from the dryer to the outlet terminal. Where fittings are used, the maximum length of the exhaust duct shall be reduced in accordance with Table 504.6.4.1 (transition duct means the flex duct you see between the wall and the dryer. Flex duct should not be used inside walls or beyond that point) Exception. Where a clothes dryer booster fan is installed and listed and labeled for the application, the maximum length of the exhaust duct, including any transition duct, shall be permitted to be in accordance with the booster fan manufacturers installation instructions. Where a clothes dryer booster fan is installed and not readily accessible from the room in

which the dryer is located, a permanent identifying label shall be placed adjacent to where the exhaust duct enters the wall. The label shall bear the words: This dryer exhaust system is equipped with a remotely located booster fan. Table 504.6.4.1 DRYER EXHAUST DUCT FITTING EQUIVALENT LENGTH (the table is likely to confuse people who arent duct designers so I will only show you the relevant parts for a single residential style clothes dryer) DRYER EXHAUST DUCT FITTING TYPE EQUIVALENT LENGTH 4 radius 90-degree elbow 5 feet

(the point of this code section is the maximum allowed length of dryer duct has to take into account the number of elbows in the duct. The more elbows, the closer the dryer needs to be to its outside wall termination or roof termination). 504.6.2.4.2 Manufacturers instructions. The maximum length of the exhaust duct shall be determined by the dryer manufacturers installation instruction. The code official shall be provided with a copy of the installation instructions for the make and model of the dryer. Where the exhaust duct is to be concealed, the installation instructions shall be provided to the code official prior to the concealment inspection. In the absence of fitting equivalent length calculations from the clothes dryer manufacturer, Table 504.6.4.1 shall be used. (this section allows for the fact that some dryers have more powerful fans that others. The basic code compliance method makes sure that any dryer can be used successfully at any time during the buildings life. The alternate code compliance requires the architect to submit extra detailed paperwork and as we will see later, requires that the building owner get a permanent sign advising them that only certain clothes dyers will work. Booster fans are the third option available if the 35 feet is not possible). 504.6.5 Length identification. Where the exhaust duct is concealed within the building construction, the equivalent length of the exhaust duct shall be identified on a label or tag. The label or tag shall be located within 6 feet of the exhaust duct connection. 504.6.6 Exhaust duct required. Where space for a clothes dryer is provided, an exhaust duct system shall be installed. Where the clothes dryer is not installed at the time of occupancy, the exhaust duct shall be capped at the location of the future dryer. Exception: Where a listed condensing clothes dryer is installed prior to occupancy of structure. (in case you are wondering what a condensing dryer is-it has a

refrigeration system built into it that forces the moisture out of the air and doesnt need an exhaust duct. It does have a drain pipe though. I have never seen a condensing dryer myself and suspect they are pricey).
504.6.7 Protection required. Protective shield plates shall be placed where nails or screws from finish or other work are likely to penetrate the clothes dryer exhaust duct. Shield plates

shall be placed on the finished face of all framing members where there is less than 1-1/4 between the duct and the finished face of the framing member. Protective shield plates shall be constructed of steel, have a thickness of 0.062 and extend a minimum of 2 above sole plates and below top plates. 504.7 Commercial clothes dryers. (this section has no architectural ramifications

in it so I skipped it)
504.8 Common exhaust systems for clothes dryers located in multistory structures. Where a common multistory duct system is designed and installed to convey exhaust from multiple clothes dryers, the construction of the system shall be in accordance with all of the following: 1. The shaft in which the duct is installed shall be constructed and fireresistance rated as required by the Florida Building Code, Building. 2. Dampers shall be prohibited in the exhaust duct. Penetrations of the shaft and ductwork shall be protected in accordance with Section 607.5.5, Exception 2. 3. Rigid metal ductwork shall be installed within the shaft to convey the exhaust. The ductwork shall be constructed of sheet steel having a minimum thickness of .(No. 26 gage) and in accordance with SMACNA Duct Construction Standards. 4. The ductwork with the shaft shall be designed and installed without offsets. 5. 6. (boring mechanical stuff so I skipped them) 7. The exhaust fan shall run continuously and shall be connected to a standby power source. 8. Exhaust fan operation shall be monitored in an approved location and shall initiate an audible or visual signal when the fan is not in operation. 9. Makeup air shall be provided for the exhaust system. 10. A cleanout opening shall be located at the base of the shaft to provide access to the duct to allow for cleaning and inspection. The finished opening shall be not less than 12x12. 11. Screens shall not be installed at the termination. So there you have it. As you can see, there are many parts of this code that are worthwhile for architects to know and keep in mind while the floor plan is still being laid out. Even though this is a long article, I wanted to include some more information on domestic clothes dryers. I took the time to look up various types of residential clothes dryers available here in Florida to see exactly how much the acceptable dryer duct lengths varies from model to model. I summarized this in the table below:

A Survey of Manufacturers Published

Dryer Duct Lengths

note-this table does not include all possible models
Manufacturer GE Maytag Kenmore Roper LG ElectroLux Admiral Samsung Whirlpool Frigidaire High End Dryer w/ 2 elbows 35 feet/105 feet 38 feet 38 feet 41 feet 90 feet No info found 51 feet Not stated 32 feet Cheap Dryer w/ 2 elbows 35 feet 100 feet 38 feet 38 feet 41 feet No info found 51 feet 38 feet 32 feet

You can find duct lengths of any dryer you are interested on the internet. As important as this information can be in dryer selection, it is always buried in middle of installation manuals. Fun facts about clothes dryers: considering the average annual use of clothes dryers, a high efficiency dryer only saves about $84 dollars per year in energy costs (according to Energy Star). Lint piling up in exhaust systems can cause fires and kill people.

By Guy Van Meulebrouck PE

consulting engineer Lakeland, Florida guy@guyvanmconsulting.com