Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 245 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 245-162
Multiple dwellings
Operative Text
A. Refrigerants. (1) Refrigerants that are highly flammable shall not be used in multiple dwellings. (2) Direct systems using refrigerants that are flammable or toxic shall not be used for air-conditioning purposes. B. Ventilating systems. (1) Ventilating systems shall be installed and maintained so that the rapid spread of heat, flame or smoke through the system will be prevented and so that, under conditions of use, the temperature of any combustible material adjacent thereto or in contact therewith will not exceed a safe temperature. (2) Stairways, passageways, exits, shafts, hoistways or attics shall not be used as plenum chambers. (3) Ducts shall be securely fastened in place and appropriately fire stopped. (4) Ducts and other air-handling equipment shall be of noncombustible material. (5) Filters shall be installed and maintained so as not to constitute a fire or smoke hazard. (6) Ducts passing through or located within combustible construction shall be separated from such construction by a clearance of at least 1/2 inch or by a noncombustible insulating material or shall be quality controlled. (7) Air required for ventilation shall be taken from the exterior or shall be quality controlled. (8) Exhaust air from a dwelling unit or a space whose contents may emit odors, fumes or vapors shall not be circulated to other occupied spaces within the building. C. Air intake and exhaust openings. (1) Air intake and exhaust openings shall be installed, located and maintained so as not to constitute a hazard or nuisance and so as to prevent the possibility of fire, smoke, fumes or foreign matter being drawn into the system. (2) Ventilating systems shall be provided with adequate openings for incoming and outgoing air to obtain the required circulation. Intake openings shall provide air from an uncontaminated source. (3) Where openings for mechanical exhaust are located in spaces that also contain fuel-burning equipment, there shall be provided fixed intake openings from the exterior to supply sufficient air so that the fuel-burning equipment is not adversely affected. (4) Exhaust openings shall be located so that the exhaust air will not create a nuisance. D. Ventilation requirements. (1) Enclosures or spaces where heat, gases, vapors or odors may accumulate and become a potential source of hazard or nuisance shall be provided with adequate means of ventilation to remove such excess. (2) Public spaces shall be provided with means for obtaining air supply for the maximum number of persons for which such spaces are designed. E. Safety controls. (1) Every system using recirculated air and serving an assembly space for more than one fire area or more than one story of a building shall be provided with controls arranged so that, under an abnormal rise in temperature of the air in the system, the fans causing normal circulation shall stop and require manual restart. (2) Every system for ventilating an assembly space shall be provided with an emergency switch conveniently located and with a durable sign giving instructions for shutting down the system in case of fire.
Section 245-162 of Sleepy Hollow's Code of Ordinances establishes fire, smoke, and air-quality safety standards for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems in multiple dwellings. The provision prohibits highly flammable refrigerants and restricts flammable or toxic refrigerants in air-conditioning systems, while requiring that ductwork, filters, and ventilation components be constructed and maintained to prevent the spread of heat, flame, or smoke. It also mandates that exhaust air from dwelling units not recirculate to other occupied spaces, that air intakes draw from uncontaminated exterior sources, and that assembly spaces be equipped with automatic fan shutoff controls and emergency switches in the event of a fire.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple dwellings subject to Sleepy Hollow Code ch. 245 § 245-162 generally ensure that all HVAC refrigerants, ductwork, filters, and ventilation components meet the fire-safety and air-quality specifications set out in the provision. Compliant operators use noncombustible duct materials, maintain proper clearances from combustible construction, and verify that exhaust air from individual units is never recirculated to shared occupied spaces. For buildings with assembly spaces, operators typically install and test the automatic fan-shutoff controls and clearly labeled emergency switches required by § 245-162(E) and keep maintenance records demonstrating ongoing compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents of multiple dwellings in Sleepy Hollow are protected by § 245-162, which requires building owners to maintain ventilation and refrigeration systems that do not pose fire, smoke, or air-quality hazards. If a tenant observes conditions suggesting non-compliance—such as unusual fumes circulating through shared ventilation, missing or unlabeled emergency shutoff switches, or visible duct damage—those observations may be relevant to a housing code complaint filed with the appropriate local code enforcement authority. Tenants may also consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how § 245-162 violations could be raised in housing proceedings.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation