Florida Building Code

Florida Building Code

The 7th edition of the Mechanical Code, released in 2020. As of 2023, still relevant.

The state of Florida is clear in section 601.5 Under Chapter 6 Duct Systems, regarding Return Air Openings in terms of Closet doors in front of the opening. This would be in compliance with heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems with a closet door in front of the opening. The following 7 rules and their explanations are shown below.

1. Openings shall not be located less than 10 feet (3048 mm) measured in any direction from an open combustion chamber or draft hood of another appliance location in the same room or space.

2. Return air shall not be taken from a hazardous or insanitary location or a refrigeration room as defined in this code.

3. The amount of return air taken from any room or space shall be not greater than the flow rate of supply air delivered to such room or space.

4. Return and transfer openings shall be sized in accordance with the appliance or equipment manufacturer’s installation instructions, ACCA Manual D or the design of the registered design professtional.

5. Return air taken from one dwelling unit shall not be discharged into another dwelling unit.

6. Taking return air from a crawl space shall not be accomplished through a direct connection to the return side of a forced air furnace. Transfer openings in the crawl space enclosure shall not be prohibited.

7. Return air shall not be taken from a closet, toliet room, kitchen, garage, boiler room, furnace room or unconditioned attic.