Form revised June 11, 2010
FISCAL NOTE FOR NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS
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Department: |
Contact Person/Phone: |
DOF Analyst/Phone: |
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Department of Planning and Development |
Maureen Traxler/233-3892 |
Amanda Allen/684-8894 |
Legislation Title:
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Mechanical Code, amending Chapter 22.400.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code, and adopting by reference Chapters 2 through 9, and Chapters 11 through 15 of the 2009 International Mechanical Code, and amending certain of those chapters; adopting a new Chapter 1 related to administration, permitting and enforcement; and repealing Sections 2-12 of Ordinance 122531.
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· Background: These codes are adopted by the State, and State law requires local jurisdictions to enforce them. Seattle adds local amendments to the State codes. (A detailed list of Seattle amendments is attached.) The Construction Codes Advisory Board (CCAB) has approved these proposed ordinances. CCAB, which consists of representatives of the general public, and design, development and construction industries, has devoted countless hours to reviewing and discussing these proposals. A draft of the Seattle Building Code was made available for public comment in January 2010. There is substantial consensus about this ordinance.
· Please check one of the following:
__X__ This legislation does not have any financial implications.
Changes in Seattle Amendments—2009 Seattle Mechanical Code
Many of the changes from the 2006 edition to the 2009 edition of the International and Seattle Mechanical codes are technical changes that will not have a major impact on construction. The most significant of the changes are listed here. Amendments that are carried forward from the 2006 Seattle Mechanical Code are not listed.
Chapter 1 Administration.
There have been several changes made throughout Chapter 1 to be consistent with the changes made in the other codes adopted by Seattle (Building, Residential, etc.). The most significant of the changes are listed here.
Several sections. Procedures for emergency orders, hazard correction orders, notices of violation, stop work orders, occupancy violations, notices of revocation of permits, suspensions and revocations of certificates of occupancy are revised for consistency.
Several sections. The term “permit plans” and similar phrases have been replaced with the term “construction documents” for consistency with terminology used in the International codes.
103.1 The references to the editions of the standards for propane equipment are updated.
103.2 A new section is added to clarify that permit applications are reviewed under the codes in effect on the date a complete permit application is submitted. This codifies DPD’s practice for “vesting” of permit applications.
Previous Section 103.4, which was added by the State, addressing potential conflict between the Mechanical Code and the Ventilation Code has been removed, since the ventilation requirements are now directly incorporated into the Mechanical Code.
110 A new section is added to specify that applicants may request administrative review by the building official of decisions about enforcement of the Building Code. Applicants may also request an advisory review by the Construction Codes Advisory Board except for specific enforcement orders.
116 The section on standards for permit applications is modified to give DPD authority to accept permit applications in electronic format.
Chapter 2 Definitions.
Definition of “environmental air” now includes transformer vault exhaust.
Definition of “high-rise building” has been added.
Chapter 3 General Regulations.
306.5 A new amendment raises the height of guardrails required at the edge of roofs containing mechanical equipment. The IMC requires a 30 inch high guardrail; Seattle will require the guard be 42 inches. The spacing of rungs on ladders that provide access to the rooftop is also revised.
Chapter 4 Ventilation.
Chapter 4 regulating ventilation has been substantially revised in the IMC, and will alter not only the airflow requirements, but also the way that they are calculated. The new procedures will result in slightly lower outdoor air rates for most occupancies when compared with the previous code. The changes make the IMC more consistent with contemporary ventilation and air quality criteria that are based on research conducted since the ventilation provisions of the IMC were last revised. In addition, many provisions of the State Ventilation and Indoor Air Code (VIAQC) have been incorporated into this chapter, so that the VIAQC may be repealed.
403.3.1 The method for calculating the minimum outdoor airflow has been revised. The new method is determined as a function of occupancy classification and the effectiveness of the air distribution system. This coordinates with the ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2004 edition.
Table 403.3, which established minimum ventilation rates, has been substantially revised to coordinate with the new outdoor airflow calculation methods as well as to introduce an airflow rate factor that is based upon the area of the space and an exhaust rate. In addition, more detailed occupancy classifications are provided. The revisions make the IMC consistent with the ventilation rate requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2004. The following have been added to Table 403.3, for the purposes of better coordination with Section 404.3: “Elevator lobbies in garages l” within “Public Spaces,” “Ticket booths (within enclosed parking garage) l” within “Storage,” and “Footnote l. This space shall be maintained at a positive pressure. See Section 404.3.”
403.3.2 Where a single ventilation system serves more than one zone, the basic design parameters may result in the over ventilation of one zone based upon the requirements of the other. To compensate for this, the IMC now allows for the outdoor air intake flow rate to be determined by a series of calculations that is essentially a weighted average of the outdoor air intake of all the zones served by the system. This has been done in order to keep the outdoor airflow requirements more closely tied to the actual demand of the system and occupancies.
403.8 The provisions for ventilation of residential occupancies from the VIAQ are incorporated into Section 403.8. DPD has added examples illustrating how intermittent ventilation airflow rates should be calculated.
404 has been heavily amended by Seattle to clarify the requirements for ventilation of enclosed garages, loading docks and repair garages. A section is added that specifies ventilation requirements for vehicle repair garages. Seattle added language to 404.1 to ensure that minimum ventilation is provided at all times. Seattle added an exception to 404.2.1 to accommodate automated parking conditions, where engines are not running while the vehicles are “parked” on racks, for instance. 404.3 Seattle added “elevator lobbies” as a specific type of room associated with a parking garage, and added clarification about relative pressure measurements.
Chapter 5 Exhaust Systems.
501.2.1 Seattle is adding specific requirements for transformer vault exhaust.
502.4 Amendments are added to the IMC provisions for exhaust systems for stationary storage battery systems to coordinate with the Fire Code.
504.6 The maximum length for dryer exhaust is increased from 25 feet to 35 feet unless specified otherwise by the manufacturer's installation instructions. Revised provisions require protection of the dryer duct against penetration by drywall fasteners. Seattle relocated requirements from 504.6.7 to 504.6, so the requirements apply to both domestic and commercial clothes dryer exhaust rather than applying just to domestic.
504.8 Due to the length limitations for dryer exhaust ducts, the termination of the ducts and compliance with the code requirements is difficult in multi-story buildings. This new section provides specific requirements that help to address how the ducts can be gathered into a common exhaust and address the shaft requirements that affect them.
506.3.9 and .10 Revisions clarify the provisions for grease duct enclosures. The requirements are split out to three sections to provide separate stand-alone requirements depending on which type of enclosure is used. The primary purpose of this change was to consolidate and simplify the grease duct clearance provisions with the grease duct enclosure provisions. State amendments add requirements for grease duct cleanouts. A Seattle amendment is deleted that had reduced the minimum clearance between grease ducts and gypsum duct enclosures. Seattle added an interpretation to clarify that combustible materials, even when fire-treated or protected with layers of gypsum board, are not to be considered noncombustible.
506.4.2 This new IMC section provides termination requirements for Type II commercial kitchen hood exhaust, which previously had not been specifically addressed by the code.
507.2.1 The type of hood system required above a commercial cooking appliance depends on the type of cooking appliance located beneath it. The revisions eliminate the references to specific appliances such as fryers, broilers, steamers, and replaced them by tying the provisions to the defined terms of light-, medium-, heavy-, and extra-heavy-duty cooking appliances. A new state amendment excepts small multifamily occupancies from requirement to use Type I hoods.
Table 507.2.2 A new table is added to the Seattle code to make it easier to determine what type of exhaust hood is required for domestic cooking appliances used in nonresidential occupancies.
507.9 Cemetitious wallboard has been added to the exception for clearances from a Type I hood. Therefore, this material will be exempt from the 18-inch clearance to combustibles requirement.
510.2.3 A new section is added to the Seattle code to specify exhaust ventilation requirements for model shops and other intermittent facilities. These requirements are taken from the International Fire Code.
511.1.1 A new amendment requires that dust collectors for dust, stock and refuse conveying systems be interlocked with the power supply so that the conveying systems will not operate without the collector also operating.
Chapter 6 Duct systems.
601.2 Seattle changed the existing amendment regarding an exception to air movement in egress systems (air supply to corridors in high-rise buildings) to indicate a method that is more likely to be used than what was previously indicated.
603.5.1 Seattle reordered and modified the existing exception items (that were previously added by Seattle amendment) in this section, to be consistent with State amendments and to limit air supply ducts to parking garages only.
606.4.1 An amendment clarifies that smoke detectors used for air distribution systems are only required to be connected to a fire alarm system if the alarm system is required by the IFC.
Chapter 7 Combustion air.
Chapter 7 New provisions specifying combustion air requirements for oil-burning appliances are added. The provisions are taken from the national standard.
Chapter 9 Specific Appliances, Fireplaces and Solid Fuel-burning Equipment.
918.6 Unconditioned attics and crawl spaces are specifically prohibited as sources of outdoor or return air for forced-air heating systems. A new exception has been added to permit the use of return air within a kitchen. Seattle amended item 6 (regarding crawl spaces) of this new section for clarification.
Chapter 11 Refrigeration.
1101.10 The IMC requires refrigerant access ports that are located outdoors to be equipped with a locking cap to limit unauthorized access. Many children across the country have been injured or killed by inhaling refrigerant.
1104.2.2 An IMC revision excludes electrical equipment and appliances in areas using ammonia refrigerants from having to comply with the "hazardous location" requirements of the Electrical Code. The exemption coordinates with ASHRAE 15 and recognizes the low probability of ignition for ammonia.
1105.3 The requirements for refrigerant detectors in refrigeration machine rooms are modified to coordinate with changes to the Seattle Fire Code.
Chapter 12 Hydronic piping.
Chapter 12 The revisions to the IMC allow a number of additional options in the design and installation of hydronic piping systems. The primary revision is the use of ASME B31.9 as an alternate method of compliance. Additional changes add new materials and provisions to regulate joints, connections, and fittings.
Chapter 14 Solar systems.
1401.1 Seattle added a note to reference the Seattle Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code for regulations applicable to boilers and pressure vessels, and the Uniform Plumbing Code for regulations applicable to water heaters.