Venting of Clothes
Dryers
PDF Version of BQA 98-024
(PDF, 8 KB)
Date: July 30, 1998 -- DSL-BQA-98-024
To: Community Based Residential
Facilities CBRFs 09; Adult
Family Homes AFH 04
From: Judy Fryback, Director, Bureau of Quality Assurance
For Community Based Residential Facilities, HFS 83.41(10)(b) states that
"All electrical, mechanical, water supply, fire protection and sewage disposal
systems shall be maintained in a safe and functioning condition". For Adult Family
Homes, HSS 88.04(2)(f) states that "The licensee may not permit the existence or
continuation of a condition in the home which places the health, safety or welfare of a
resident at substantial risk of harm" and HSS 88.05(3)(b) states that "The home
shall be free from hazards…"
All dryer manufacturers and local fire departments recommend the use of rigid metal
vent tubing for clothes dryers and frequent cleaning of the dryer’s lint catcher and
the vent tubing. It is strongly recommended that the lint catcher in a clothes dryer be
cleaned after each load of laundry and that the entire length of vent tubing be cleaned
several times each year, depending on the frequency of use. When cleaning the vent tubing
it is especially important to also clean the end of the tubing and the exit cover where
the vent tubing exits the building, as this is where many fires originate."
Therefore, the Bureau of Quality Assurance expects that all clothes
dryers in Community Based Residential Facilities and Adult Family Homes, whether gas or
electric, will be vented to the outside using only rigid metal vent tubing. This tubing is
typically made of aluminum, which is economical and easy to install. The use of flexible
plastic tubing and flexible metal tubing (which is made of metal rings held together with
cloth and glue, both of which are flammable materials) is prohibited. The total distance
of venting shall not exceed 25 feet, consistent with resident building codes.
We ask that you:
-
Take appropriate action if your facility’s dryer is vented with
material other than rigid metal tubing.
-
Clean the dryer lint catcher frequently
-
Clean the entire length of the vent tubing several times per year.
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