Vernon Hills — Ch. 5 Art. III One and Two Family Dwelling Code § 5-59
Chapter XVI, Mechanical
Operative Text
(a) Section M1601.1.1 is deleted and in its place is approved to read as follows: M1601.1.1 Above-ground duct systems: Above-ground duct systems shall conform to the following: 1. Equipment connected to duct systems shall be designed to limit discharge air temperature to a maximum of 250°F (121°C). 2. Factory-made air ducts shall be constructed of class 0 or class 1 materials as designated in table M1601.1.1(1). 3. Fibrous duct construction shall conform to the SMACNA "Fibrous Glass Duct Construction Standards" or NAIMA "Fibrous Glass Duct Construction Standards." 4. Minimum thicknesses of metal duct material shall be as listed in table M1601.1.1(2). Galvanized steel shall conform to ASTM A 525. 5. Gypsum products are permitted to be used to construct return air ducts or plenums, provided that the air temperature does not exceed 125°F (52°C) and exposed surfaces are not subject to condensation. 6. Duct systems shall be constructed of materials having a flame-spread index not greater than 200. (b) Section M1601.1.2 is deleted and in its place is approved to read as follows: M1601.1.2 Underground duct systems: Underground duct systems shall be constructed of approved plastic. The maximum duct temperature for plastic ducts shall not be greater than 150°F (66°C). Nonmetallic ducts shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions. Plastic pipe and fitting materials shall conform to cell classification 12454-B of ASTM D 1248 or ASTM D 1784 and external loading properties of ASTM D 2412. All ducts shall slope to an accessible point for drainage. Where encased in concrete, ducts shall be sealed and secured prior to pouring any concrete. (c) Section M1601.5 Under-floor plenums is deleted. (d) Section M1801.1.1 is created and approved to read as follows: M1801.1.1 Chimney and vent enclosures and caps: 1. All chimneys and vents used for venting wood-burning appliances shall be enclosed in a chimney chase. Exterior finish materials shall match or compliment the predominant exterior finish material of the dwelling. All portions of the venting system, including termination spark arrestors and rain caps, that penetrate through the chimney chase shall be black in color. 2. All intake and exhaust vents used for venting water heaters, furnaces and similar appliances that penetrate through the roof shall be installed at the minimum height allowed by the manufacturer specifications. Ideally, vents shall be installed below the ridge of the roof so the vent is not visible when viewed from the front property line and grouped within the same enclosure when more than one is present. All portions of the venting system, including termination rain caps, may remain their natural color when installed through the roof. 3. If manufacturer specifications require an intake or exhaust vent to terminate more than three feet above the roof, said vent shall be enclosed in a chimney chase. All portions of the vents, including termination rain and spark arrestor caps that penetrate a chimney chase shall be black in color. (e) Section M1804.2 is deleted and in its place is approved to read as follows: M1804.2 Termination enclosure: Vent termination shall comply with sections M1804.2.1 through M1804.2.6. All vents shall be enclosed in accordance with section M1801.1.1. (f) Section M1905 is hereby inserted to read as follows: M1905. Laundry drain pans/drip pans required. 1. Unless installed in an unfinished basement or lower level location with direct access to a floor drain, the washing machine shall installed over a drain pan/drip pan. (g) Chapter 22 --Special Piping and Storage Systems is deleted.
Vernon Hills Chapter 5, Article III, Section 5-59 establishes local modifications to the standard residential mechanical code governing duct systems, chimney and vent enclosures, and laundry drain pans in one- and two-family dwellings. Above-ground and underground duct systems must meet specific material, temperature, and flame-spread requirements, while chimneys and vents serving wood-burning appliances and other heating equipment must be enclosed in chases and finished to match or complement the home's exterior. Additionally, washing machines not located in an unfinished basement with floor drain access must be installed over a drain or drip pan.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of one- and two-family dwellings in Vernon Hills subject to § 5-59 generally ensure that all duct installations use approved materials meeting the temperature limits and flame-spread index thresholds spelled out in the section's subsections (a) and (b). Compliant operators also verify that chimneys and vent chases for wood-burning and fuel-fired appliances are enclosed, finished to match the home's exterior, and that all penetrating components are black in color as required by subsection (d). For laundry installations, operators typically confirm that any washing machine outside an unfinished basement with floor drain access is placed over a properly installed drain pan per subsection (f).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Vernon Hills one- and two-family dwellings can look to § 5-59 to understand the mechanical standards their unit's duct systems, venting, and laundry areas are expected to meet. If ductwork materials appear non-compliant, vents are improperly finished or unenclosed, or a washing machine lacks a required drain pan, these may represent code deficiencies worth documenting. General enforcement paths include contacting the Vernon Hills building or code enforcement department, raising the issue with a tenant-rights organization, or consulting an attorney familiar with local housing code requirements.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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