Section 27-762. Crawl spaces  


Latest version.
  • (a) Buildings and structures without basements.
      In  buildings and structures constructed without basements, and in which
      the first floor construction does not bear directly  on  the  ground,  a
      space at least eighteen inches high shall be provided directly under the
      floor  beams, girders or sill of the first floor construction. Where the
      floor above such a space is constructed of  wood  or  metal,  the  space
      shall be ventilated by one of the following means:
        (1) At least four widely-distributed ventilating openings, providing a
      total  net  free area of at least one eight-hundredth of the area of the
      crawl space, shall be provided in the foundation walls, and  the  ground
      within  the  crawl  space  shall  be  covered  with  a  vapor barrier in
      durability equivalent to at least fifty-five pounds, roofing  felt  with
      unsealed laps and with a transmission rate of one perm or less. At least
      two  ventilating  openings,  providing a total net free area of at least
      one fifteen-hundredth the area of the crawl space shall be  provided  in
      foundation walls, provided that a vapor barrier with a transmission rate
      of  one perm or less is installed over the entire underside of the first
      floor construction and overlaps the walls.
        (2) Other means acceptable to the commissioner.
        (b) Buildings and structures with basements. No foundation wall  vents
      shall  be  required  where  one side of a crawl space is completely open
      except for structural members, to a basement that has an area  at  least
      equivalent  to  that  of  the crawl space, provided that the basement is
      naturally ventilated  by  openings  complying  with  section  27-749  of
      article  six  of  this  subchapter and having a free openable area of at
      least five per cent of the floor area of the basement.