B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Troubleshooting
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Work Refused
Aircraft
During cockpit setup a OPS Manager came to the cockpit to inform of aircraft history of a chemical smell with aircraft. Flight Attendant informed us a bad smell in the cabin. I went in the cabin along with my First Officer it did smell like a strong chemical smell throughout the cabin a very strong in the last 10 rows. I contacted Dispatch and the Chief Pilot. Maintenance came on board and did confirm the smell. Then I contacted Dispatch to refuse the aircraft.
B757 Captain reported refusing the aircraft during pre-flight due to a strong chemical smell. Reportedly; the aircraft has a 'history' of fume events.