New guidance explains why halogenerators do not replace required outdoor air and why continuing code violations can lead to daily fines in some states.
ORLEANS, MA, UNITED STATES, September 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Salt Cave Builder, a nationwide designer and builder of commercial salt caves, has issued new educational guidance urging salt-room owners, developers, architects and contractors to verify that required ventilation remains operational whenever a room is occupied.
The guidance addresses instructions sometimes supplied with overseas salt-room systems that recommend shutting off HVAC equipment or restricting airflow during halotherapy sessions. Those practices may be intended to keep dry salt aerosol suspended longer in the air, but the recommendation violates building and mechanical codes adopted by U.S. states and local jurisdictions, or the approved plans for a specific property.
“A salt cave is an occupied room before it becomes a wellness experience,” said Dr. Margaret Smiechowski, founder of Salt Cave Builder. “Required ventilation cannot simply be switched off because an operating manual recommends it. The outdoor air, return or exhaust path, room pressure, climate control and halogenerator output must be designed to work together for that specific room.”
The International Mechanical Code is a model code used or adopted in 46 states, the District of Columbia and several U.S. territories, according to the International Code Council. Local governments may adopt different editions and amendments, so the exact requirements must be confirmed for every project.
Several provisions of the 2024 International Mechanical Code are central to the issue. Section 401.2 requires that occupied spaces be ventilated by approved natural or mechanical means. Sections 403.2 and 403.3 require outdoor airflow to be calculated using factors such as occupancy, floor area, activity, and air distribution. Section 405.1 requires mechanical ventilation controls to operate the system whenever the served spaces are occupied and requires air-conditioning systems that supply the required ventilation to maintain the outdoor-air rate during occupancy.
This does not mean every heating or cooling component must operate at all times. A cooling unit may be turned off if a separate, approved system continues to deliver the required air and maintain the necessary return or exhaust path.
Salt Cave Builder also emphasizes that a halogenerator is not a ventilation system. A halogenerator grinds and disperses dry salt particles, but its small fan does not provide the calculated outdoor air, return airflow, exhaust capacity, or pressure control required for an occupied commercial room.
The company’s guidance explains that no single airflow setting is appropriate for every salt cave. Room dimensions, occupant load, session length, supply and return locations, exhaust, pressure, temperature, humidity, filtration, local climate, and halogenerator output should be evaluated as one coordinated design. Project-specific decisions should be reviewed with qualified licensed professionals and the local authority having jurisdiction.
There is no single national fine for a ventilation violation. Enforcement depends on state law, local ordinances, adopted code editions, notice, and the facts of the case.
However, ongoing violations can result in daily penalties in some states. Massachusetts law authorizes fines of up to $1,000 for each state building-code violation and treats each day as a separate offense. New York law authorizes fines of up to $1,000 per day in circumstances specified by Executive Law Section 382. Florida law generally permits fines of up to $250 per day for a first violation and $500 per day for a repeat violation, subject to applicable enforcement procedures, with higher limits authorized in certain larger jurisdictions. These amounts are statutory maximums, not automatic fines for every ventilation issue.
Other consequences may include notices of violation, correction orders, permit problems, occupancy restrictions, liens, or court-ordered abatement.
Additional information about professional salt cave design is available at https://saltcavebuilder.com.
About Salt Cave Inc.
Founded by Dr. Margaret Smiechowski, Salt Cave Builder designs and constructs professional salt caves and salt rooms throughout the United States. With more than two decades of experience, the company coordinates cave design, climate control, airflow, and halogeneration for individual commercial projects.
Media Contact
Dr. Margaret Smiechowski
Salt Cave Builder
Phone: 802-770-3138
Email: saltcavevt@gmail.com
Website: https://saltcavebuilder.com
This release provides general educational information and is not legal or engineering advice. Code editions, amendments, enforcement procedures, and penalties vary by jurisdiction.
Margaret Smiechowski
Salt Cave Inc
+1 802-770-3138
email us here
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