Ventilation

The Chicago Building Code requires natural ventilation, as fresh airflow is important to a healthy environment. Natural ventilation must be through windows, doors, louvers or other natural openings to the outdoor air.

Requirements for natural ventilation mandate that window openings equal 4% of the floor area of the space. A 1,000 square-foot space must have 40 square feet of open window space. The Code also stipulates in Section 13-172-060 that mechanical ventilation cannot be substituted for natural ventilation in living, dining and sleeping rooms. And residential spaces cannot share a ventilation system with other uses.

For example, a live/work space must meet both CBC ventilation requirements for the residential use and the commercial use. Depending on your art production methods, such as welding, woodworking, jewelry making, etc., you may need mechanical ventilation.

Section 13-172-100: Mechanical Ventilation of the CBC states that “Mechanical ventilation shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 13-176 of the CBC.” For more information about ventilation issues, see Chapter 23: Safe and Healthy Spaces.