By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
My bathroom has an exhaust fan in the ceiling, and I always thought that it vented to the outside of the building. Now that I'm selling, the buyer's home inspector says that the fan is merely blowing into the attic, but that it does so at a screened exterior vent opening. Is this a problem, or does this venting arrangement comply with the building code? -Cindy
Dear Cindy,
According to the Uniform Building Code, a bathroom should be vented to the exterior by way of openable windows or by means of "a mechanical ventilation system connected directly to the outside." At first glance, one would assume that "connected directly to the outside" would call for a vent shaft terminating at the exterior of the building. But building codes are subject to the interpretations of those agencies and individual bureaucrats empowered to affect their enforcement. When one considers the many new homes in which bathroom vent ducts terminate at screened attic openings, it would appear that many building authorities are opting for that interpretation. To determine the specific legal outlook governing bathroom ventilation requirements in your area, you'll need to consult with your local building department.
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