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Chapter 21 — DRY CLEANING

Section 2106 — SPOTTING AND PRETREATING

2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

2106.1 General.

Spotting and pretreating operations and equipment shall comply with the provisions of Sections 2106.2 through 2106.5.

2106.2 Class I solvents.

The maximum quantity of Class I solvents permitted at any workstation shall be 1 gallon (4 L). Spotting or prespotting shall be permitted to be conducted with Class I solvents where they are stored in and dispensed from approved safety cans or in sealed DOT-approved metal shipping containers of not more than 1-gallon (4 L) capacity.

2106.2.1 Spotting and prespotting. Spotting and prespotting shall be permitted to be conducted with Class I solvents where dispensed from plastic containers of not more than 1 pint (0.5 L) capacity.

2106.3 Class II and III solvents.

Scouring, brushing, and spotting and pretreating shall be permitted to be conducted with Class II or III solvents. The maximum quantity of Class II or III solvents permitted at any workstation shall be 1 gallon (4 L). In other than Group H-2 occupancy, the aggregate quantities of solvents shall not exceed the maximum allowable quantity per control area for use-open system.

2106.3.1 Spotting tables. Scouring, brushing or spotting tables on which articles are soaked in solvent shall have a liquid-tight top with a curb on all sides not less than 1 inch (25 mm) high. The top of the table shall be pitched to ensure thorough draining to a 1 [1] / 2 -inch (38 mm) drain connected to an approved container.

2106.3.2 Special handling. Where approved, articles that cannot be washed in the usual washing machines are allowed to be cleaned in scrubbing tubs. Scrubbing tubs shall comply with the following:

  1. Only Class II or III liquids shall be used.
  2. The total amount of solvent used in such open containers shall not exceed 3 gallons (11 L).
  3. Scrubbing tubs shall be secured to the floor.
  4. Scrubbing tubs shall be provided with permanent 1 [1] / 2 -inch (38 mm) drains. Such drain shall be provided with a trap and shall be connected to an approved container.

2106.3.3 Ventilation. Scrubbing tubs, scouring, brushing or spotting operations shall be located such that solvent vapors are captured and exhausted by the ventilating system.

2106.3.4 Bonding and grounding. Metal scouring, brushing and spotting tables and scrubbing tubs shall be permanently and effectively bonded and grounded.

2106.4 Type IV systems.

Flammable and combustible liquids used for spotting operations shall be stored in approved safety cans or in sealed DOTn-approved shipping containers of not more than 1 gallon (4 L) in capacity. Aggregate amounts shall not exceed 10 gallons (38 L).

2106.5 Type V systems.

Spotting operations using flammable or combustible liquids are prohibited in Type V dry cleaning systems.

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9)
2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
  4. Chapter 4 — EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS
  5. Chapter 5 — FIRE SERVICE FEATURES
  6. Chapter 6 — BUILDING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS
  7. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  8. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHI…
  9. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  10. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  11. Chapter 11 — CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS
  12. Chapter 12 — ENERGY SYSTEMS
  13. Chapter 20 — AVIATION FACILITIES
  14. ▸ Chapter 21 — DRY CLEANING
    Overview
    1. Section 2101 — GENERAL
    2. Section 2102 — DEFINITIONS
    3. Section 2103 — CLASSIFICATIONS
    4. Section 2104 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
    5. Section 2105 — OPERATING REQUIREMENTS
    6. Section 2106 — SPOTTING AND PRETREATING
    7. Section 2107 — DRY CLEANING SYSTEMS
    8. Section 2108 — FIRE PROTECTION
  15. Chapter 22 — COMBUSTIBLE DUST-PRODUCING OPERATIONS
  16. Chapter 23 — MOTOR FUEL-DISPENSING FACILITIES AND REPAIR GARAGES
  17. Chapter 24 — FLAMMABLE FINISHES
  18. Chapter 25 — FRUIT AND CROP RIPENING
  19. Chapter 26 — FUMIGATION AND INSECTICIDAL FOGGING
  20. Chapter 27 — SEMICONDUCTOR FABRICATION FACILITIES
  21. Chapter 28 — LUMBER YARDS AND AGRO-INDUSTRIAL, SOLID BIOMASS A…
  22. Chapter 29 — MANUFACTURE OF ORGANIC COATINGS
  23. Chapter 30 — INDUSTRIAL OVENS
  24. Chapter 31 — TENTS, TEMPORARY SPECIAL EVENT STRUCTURES AND OTH…
  25. Chapter 32 — HIGH-PILED COMBUSTIBLE STORAGE
  26. Chapter 33 — FIRE SAFETY DURING CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION
  27. Chapter 34 — TIRE REBUILDING AND TIRE STORAGE
  28. Chapter 35 — WELDING AND OTHER HOT WORK
  29. Chapter 36 — MARINAS
  30. Chapter 37 — COMBUSTIBLE FIBERS
  31. Chapter 38 — RESERVED
  32. Chapter 39 — PROCESSING AND EXTRACTION FACILITIES
  33. Chapter 40 — STORAGE OF DISTILLED SPIRITS AND WINES
  34. Chapter 41 — TEMPORARY HEATING AND COOKING OPERATIONS
  35. Chapter 48 — MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION STUDIO S…
  36. Chapter 49 — REQUIREMENTS FOR WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AR…
  37. Chapter 50 — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS—GENERAL PROVISIONS
  38. Chapter 51 — AEROSOLS
  39. Chapter 52 — RESERVED
  40. Chapter 53 — COMPRESSED GASES
  41. Chapter 54 — CORROSIVE MATERIALS
  42. Chapter 55 — CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
  43. Chapter 56 — EXPLOSIVES AND FIREWORKS
  44. Chapter 57 — FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS
  45. Chapter 58 — FLAMMABLE GASES AND FLAMMABLE CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
  46. Chapter 59 — FLAMMABLE SOLIDS
  47. Chapter 60 — HIGHLY TOXIC AND TOXIC MATERIALS
  48. Chapter 61 — LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES
  49. Chapter 62 — ORGANIC PEROXIDES
  50. Chapter 63 — OXIDIZERS, OXIDIZING GASES AND OXIDIZING CRYOGENI…
  51. Chapter 64 — PYROPHORIC MATERIALS
  52. Chapter 65 — PYROXYLIN (CELLULOSE NITRATE) PLASTICS
  53. Chapter 66 — UNSTABLE (REACTIVE) MATERIALS
  54. Chapter 67 — WATER-REACTIVE SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS
  55. Chapter 80 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  56. Appendix Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON US…
  57. Appendix A — BOARD OF APPEALS
  58. Appendix B — FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS
  59. Appendix BB — FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS
  60. Appendix C — FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
  61. Appendix CC — FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
  62. Appendix D — FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS
  63. Appendix E — HAZARD CATEGORIES
  64. Appendix F — HAZARD RANKING
  65. Appendix G — CRYOGENIC FLUIDS—WEIGHT AND VOLUME EQUIVALENTS
  66. Appendix H — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT PLANS AND HAZARDOU…
  67. Appendix I — FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS—NONCOMPLIANT CONDITIONS
  68. Appendix J — BUILDING INFORMATION SIGN
  69. Appendix K — CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING AMBULATORY…
  70. Appendix L — REQUIREMENTS FOR FIREFIGHTER AIR REPLENISHMENT SY…
  71. Appendix M — HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS—RETROACTIVE AUTOMATIC SPRINKL…
  72. Appendix N — INDOOR TRADE SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS
  73. Appendix O — VALET TRASH AND RECYCLING COLLECTION IN GROUP R-2…
  74. Appendix P — TEMPORARY HAUNTED HOUSES, GHOST WALKS AND SIMILAR…
  75. Appendix Q — COMMUNITY WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE (WUI) FIRE HAZ…

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