Section R303—Light, ventilation and heating.
R303.1 Natural light. All habitable rooms shall have an aggregate glazing area of not less than 8 percent of the floor area of such rooms.
EXCEPTION: | The glazed areas need not be installed in rooms where artificial light is provided capable of producing an average illumination of 6 footcandles (65 lux) over the area of the room at a height of 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor level. |
R303.2 Adjoining rooms. For the purpose of determining light requirements, any room shall be considered as a portion of an adjoining room when at least one-half of the area of the common wall is open and unobstructed and provides an opening of not less than one-tenth of the floor area of the interior room but not less than 25 square feet (2.3 m2).
EXCEPTION: | Openings required for light shall be permitted to open into a sunroom with thermal isolation or a patio cover, provided there is an openable area between the adjoining room and the sunroom or a patio cover of not less than one-tenth of the floor area of the interior room but not less than 20 square feet (2 m2). |
R303.3 Bathrooms. This section is not adopted.
R303.4 Minimum ventilation performance. Dwelling units shall be equipped with local exhaust and whole-house ventilation systems designed and installed as specified in Section M1505.
EXCEPTION: | Additions with less than 500 square feet of conditioned floor area are exempt from the requirements in this Code for Whole-House Ventilation Systems. |
R303.5.1 Intake openings. Mechanical and gravity outdoor air intake openings shall be located a minimum of 10 feet (3048 mm) from any hazardous or noxious contaminant, such as vents, chimneys, plumbing vents, streets, alleys, parking lots and loading docks, except as otherwise specified in this code.
For the purpose of this section, the exhaust from dwelling unit toilet rooms, bathrooms and kitchens shall not be considered as hazardous or noxious.
EXCEPTIONS: | 1. The 10-foot (3048 mm) separation is not required where the intake opening is located 3 feet (914 mm) or greater below the contaminant source. |
| 2. Vents and chimneys serving fuel-burning appliances shall be terminated in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapters 18 and 24. |
| 3. Clothes dryer exhaust ducts shall be terminated in accordance with Section M1502.3. |
R303.5.2 Exhaust openings. Exhaust air shall not be directed onto walkways. All exhaust ducts shall terminate outside the building. Terminal elements shall have at least the equivalent net free area of the duct work.
R303.5.2.1 Exhaust ducts. Exhaust ducts shall be equipped with back-draft dampers. All exhaust ducts in unconditioned spaces shall be insulated to a minimum of R-4.
R303.7 Interior stairway illumination. Interior stairways shall be provided with an artificial light source to illuminate the landings and treads. Stairway illumination shall receive primary power from the building wiring. The light source shall be capable of illuminating treads and landings to levels not less than 1 foot-candle (11 lux) measured at the center of treads and landings. There shall be a wall switch at each floor level to control the light source where the stairway has six or more risers.
EXCEPTION: | A switch is not required where remote, central or automatic control of lighting is provided. |
R303.8 Exterior stairway illumination. Exterior stairways shall be provided with an artificial light source located at the top landing of the stairway. Stairway illumination shall receive primary power from the building wiring. Exterior stairways providing access to a basement from the outdoor grade level shall be provided with an artificial light source located at the bottom landing of the stairway.
R303.9 Required glazed openings. Required glazed openings shall open directly onto a street or public alley, or a yard or court located on the same lot as the building.
EXCEPTIONS: | 1. Required glazed openings that face into a roofed porch where the porch abuts a street, yard or court are permitted where the longer side of the porch is not less than 65 percent unobstructed and the ceiling height is not less than 7 feet (2134 mm). |
| 2. Eave projections shall not be considered as obstructing the clear open space of a yard or court. |
| 3. Required glazed openings that face into the area under a deck, balcony, bay or floor cantilever are permitted where an unobstructed pathway of not less than 36 inches (914 mm) in height, 36 inches (914 mm) in width, and no greater than 60 inches (1524 mm) in length is provided and opens to a yard or court. The pathway shall be measured from the exterior face of the glazed opening, or if the glazed opening is in a window well, at the window well wall furthest from the exterior face of the glazed opening. |
R303.10 Required heating. When the winter design temperature in Table R301.2 is below 60°F (16°C), every dwelling unit shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining a minimum room temperature of 68°F (20°C) at a point 3 feet (914 mm) above the floor and 2 feet (610 mm) from exterior walls in all habitable rooms at design temperature. The installation of one or more portable heaters shall not be used to achieve compliance with this section.
EXCEPTION: | Unheated recreational tents or yurts not exceeding 500 square feet provided it is not occupied as a permanent dwelling. |
R303.10.1 Definitions. For the purposes of this section only, the following definitions apply.
DESIGNATED AREAS are those areas designated by a county to be an urban growth area in chapter
36.70A RCW and those areas designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as being in nonattainment for particulate matter.
SUBSTANTIALLY REMODELED means any alteration or restoration of a building exceeding 60 percent of the appraised value of such building within a 12-month period. For the purpose of this section, the appraised value is the estimated cost to replace the building and structure in kind, based on current replacement costs.
R303.10.2 Primary heating source. Primary heating sources in all new and substantially remodeled buildings in designated areas shall not be dependent upon wood stoves.
R303.10.3 Solid fuel burning devices. No new or used solid fuel burning device shall be installed in new or existing buildings unless such device is U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certified or exempt from certification by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and conforms with RCW
70A.15.1005,
70A.15.3500,
70A.15.3510, and
70A.15.3530.
EXCEPTIONS: | 1. Wood cook stoves. |
| 2. Antique wood heaters manufactured prior to 1940. |
[Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27.031 and
19.27.074. WSR 23-23-104, § 51-51-0303, filed 11/15/23, effective 3/16/24; WSR 23-02-058, 23-12-104, and 23-20-024, § 51-51-0303, filed 1/3/23, 6/7/23, and 9/25/23, effective 3/15/24; WSR 20-03-023, § 51-51-0303, filed 1/6/20, effective 7/1/20; WSR 16-03-025, § 51-51-0303, filed 1/11/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27.031 and chapters
19.27 and
34.05 RCW. WSR 13-04-068, § 51-51-0303, filed 2/1/13, effective 7/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27.031 and
19.27.074. WSR 10-03-098, § 51-51-0303, filed 1/20/10, effective 7/1/10; WSR 04-01-109, § 51-51-0303, filed 12/17/03, effective 7/1/04.]
