N.Y.C. Admin. Code § FGC 615: Section FGC 615: Sauna Heaters

615.1 General.

Sauna heaters shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

615.2 Location and protection.

Sauna heaters shall be located so as to minimize the possibility of accidental contact by a person in the room.

615.2.1 Guards.

Sauna heaters shall be protected from accidental contact by an approved guard or barrier of material having a low coefficient of thermal conductivity. The guard shall not substantially affect the transfer of heat from the heater to the room.

615.3 Access.

Panels, grilles and access doors that are required to be removed for normal servicing operations shall not be attached to the building.

615.4 Combustion and dilution air intakes.

Sauna heaters of other than the direct-vent type shall be installed with the draft hood and combustion air intake located outside the sauna room. Where the combustion air inlet and the draft hood are in a dressing room adjacent to the sauna room, there shall be provisions to prevent physically blocking the combustion air inlet and the draft hood inlet, and to prevent physical contact with the draft hood and vent assembly, or warning notices shall be posted to avoid such contact. Any warning notice shall be easily readable, shall contrast with its background and the wording shall be in letters not less than 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) high.

615.5 Combustion and ventilation air.

Combustion air shall not be taken from inside the sauna room. Combustion and ventilation air for a sauna heater not of the direct-vent type shall be provided to the area in which the combustion air inlet and draft hood are located in accordance with Section 304.

615.6 Heat and time controls.

Sauna heaters shall be equipped with a thermostat which will limit room temperature to 194°F (90°C). If the thermostat is not an integral part of the sauna heater, the heat-sensing element shall be located within 6 inches (152.4 mm) of the ceiling. If the heat-sensing element is a capillary tube and bulb, the assembly shall be attached to the wall or other support, and shall be protected against physical damage.

615.6.1 Timers.

A timer, if provided to control main burner operation, shall have a maximum operating time of 1 hour. The control for the timer shall be located outside the sauna room.

615.7 Sauna room.

A ventilation opening into the sauna room shall be provided. The opening shall be not less than 4 inches by 8 inches (101.6 mm by 203.2 mm) located near the top of the door into the sauna room.

615.7.1 Warning notice.

The following permanent notice, constructed of approved material, shall be mechanically attached to the sauna room on the outside:

WARNING: DO NOT EXCEED 30 MINUTES IN SAUNA. EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE CAN BE HARMFUL TO HEALTH. ANY PERSON WITH POOR HEALTH SHOULD CONSULT A PHYSICIAN BEFORE USING SAUNA.

The words shall contrast with the background and the wording shall be in letters not less than 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) high.

Exception: This section shall not apply to one- and two-family dwellings.