CHAPTER 2
HOUSING MAINTENANCE CODE
[table of contents]

SUBCHAPTER 2
MAINTENANCE, SERVICES, AND UTILITIES

ARTICLE 8
Heat and Hot Water

Section
27-2028 Central Heat or Electric or Gas Heating System; When Required
27-2029 Minimum Temperature to be Maintained
27-2030 Self-inspection of Central Heating Plants
27-2031 Supply of Hot Water; When Required
27-2032 Gas-fueled or Electric Heaters
27-2033 Access to Boiler Room

Sec. 27-2028 Central heat or electric or gas heating system; when required.

Except as otherwise provided in this article, every multiple dwelling and every tenant-occupied one or two-family dwelling shall be provided with heat from a central heating system constructed in accordance with the provisions of the building code and the regulations of the department. A system of gas or electric heating provided for each dwelling unit may, if approved by the department, be utilized in lieu of a central heating system if:

1. the system is lawfully in use on July fourteenth, nineteen hundred sixty-seven; or
   
   
2. the system is approved by the appropriate city agencies having jurisdiction and is installed in a structure or building erected, converted, substantially rehabilitated, or completely vacated, after July fourteenth, nineteen hundred sixty-seven.

Sec. 27-2029 Minimum temperature to be maintained.

1. During the period from October first through May thirty-first, centrally-supplied heat, in any dwelling in which such heat is required to be provided, shall be furnished so as to maintain, in every portion of such dwelling used or occupied for living purposes:

1. between the hours of six a. m. and ten p. m., a temperature of at least sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit whenever the outside temperature falls below fifty-five degrees; and
   
   
2. between the hours of ten p. m. and six a. m., a temperature of at least fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit whenever the outside temperature falls below forty degrees.
   

2. During the period from October first through May thirty-first, all central heating systems required under this article shall be maintained free of any device which shall cause or which is capable of causing an otherwise operable central heating system to become incapable of providing the minimum requirements of heat or hot water as required by this article for any period of time. This subdivision shall not apply to any safety device required by law, or by a rule or regulation of any city agency, to be used in conjunction with a central heating system.

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Sec. 27-2030 Self-inspection of central heating plants.

Repealed.

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Sec. 27-2031 Supply of hot water; when required.

Except as otherwise provided in this article, every bath, shower, washbasin and sink in any dwelling unit in a multiple dwelling or tenant-occupied one-family or two-family dwelling shall be supplied at all times between the hours of six a. m. and midnight with hot water at a constant minimum temperature of one hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit from a central source of supply constructed in accordance with the provisions of the building code and the regulations of the department, provided however that baths and showers equipped with balanced-pressure mixing valves, thermostatic mixing valves or combination pressure balancing/thermostatic valves may produce a discharge temperature less than one hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit but in no event less than one hundred ten degrees Fahrenheit. Gas or electric water heaters may, if approved by the department, be utilized in lieu of a central source of supply of hot water if such heaters:

1. are lawfully in use on July fourteenth, nineteen hundred sixty-seven; or
   
   
2. are approved by the appropriate city agencies having jurisdiction and are installed in a structure or building erected, converted, substantially rehabilitated, or completely vacated after July fourteenth, nineteen hundred sixty-seven.

Sec. 27-2032 Gas-fueled or electric heaters.

1. Gas-fueled or electric space or water heaters, where permitted by this article as an alternative to a central supply of heat or hot water, shall be governed by the provisions of this section.
   
   
2. The capacity, number and location of such heaters shall be such as to furnish the same standard of heat or hot water supply, as the case may be, as is required to be furnished from a central heat or hot water system.
   
   
3. Electric heaters shall be approved by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. and shall comply with applicable provisions of the building code and the multiple dwelling law.
   
   
4. Gas-fueled heaters shall comply with article nine of this subchapter and with applicable provisions of the building code and the multiple dwelling law, but any such heater lawfully in existence on July fourteenth, nineteen hundred sixty-seven which does not comply with subdivision b of section 27-2034 of article nine of this subchapter shall comply with such section by July fourteenth, nineteen hundred seventy-eight. No person shall cause or permit to be occupied for sleeping purposes any room containing such a non-complying heater. Any heater installed in replacement of any such non-complying heater shall comply with all provisions of article nine of this subchapter.
   
   
5. The owner shall not, unless otherwise agreed between owner and tenant, be required to pay for the gas or electricity used by such heaters.
   
   
6. Notwithstanding any provision of prior law, it shall be the duty of the owner to keep each such heater in good repair and good operating condition, regardless of the identity of the person originally owning or installing the heater.
   
   
7. The owner shall instruct each successive tenant of an apartment in which such heaters are installed as to safe and proper method of using and operating such heaters.
   
   
8. The department may make and enforce regulations supplementary to the provisions of this section and article nine of this subchapter to secure an adequate supply of heat and hot water and to protect the health and safety of tenants.

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Sec. 27-2033 Access to boiler room.

1. The owner of every multiple dwelling shall have the area, where the building's heating system is located, readily accessible to members of the department to make inspection pursuant to this chapter. In the event such area is kept under lock, a key shall be kept on the premises at all times with such person as the owner shall designate; however, if there is a person residing on the premises who performs janitorial services, such person shall hold the key. The owner shall post a notice in a form approved by the department naming such designated person and his or her location.
   
   
2. Multiple dwellings owned and operated by the New York city housing authority shall be exempt from the requirements of this section.

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