WSR 05-17-011

PROPOSED RULES

BUILDING CODE COUNCIL


[ Filed August 4, 2005, 8:21 a.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 5-13-142 [05-13-143].

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 51-11 WAC, Washington State Energy Code, Section 1423 - Economizers.

     Hearing Location(s): Renton Holiday Inn Select, One South Grady Way, Renton, WA 98055-2500, on October 14, 2005, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: November 4, 2005.

     Submit Written Comments to: John Neff, Council Chair, P.O. Box 42525, Olympia, WA 98504-2525, e-mail sbcc@cted.wa.gov, fax (360) 586-9383, by October 13, 2005.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Sue Mathers by September 30, 2005, TTY (360) 753-7427 or (360) 725-2966.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The state Building Code Council has adopted an emergency rule modification to this section when it was determined that language adopted previously would cause undue expense for residential systems. The proposed permanent rule would establish an economizer threshold of 54,000 Btu/h for residential cooling units.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: RCW 19.27A.025 and 19.27A.045.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 19.27A.025, 19.27A.045.

     Statute Being Implemented: Chapters 19.27, 19.27A, and 34.05 RCW.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: The council is seeking comments on the issue proposed in the rule shown below.

     Name of Proponent: Washington State Building Code Council, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Krista Braaksma, P.O. Box 42525, Olympia, WA 98504-2525, (360) 725-2964; and Enforcement: Local jurisdictions.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This proposed amendment is intended to reduce the cost of residential cooling systems and was determined to not have a disproportionate cost on small businesses. This rule effectively cancels out the code change previously proposed and reinstates the previous code provision; therefore, there is no difference in cost.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. This rule reinstates a previous rule and poses no change in cost or compliance.

August 3, 2005

John Neff

Council Chair

OTS-8152.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 05-01-013, filed 12/2/04, effective 7/1/05)

WAC 51-11-1423   Economizers.   Economizers meeting the requirements of Section 1413 shall be installed on:

     a. Cooling units installed outdoors or in a mechanical room adjacent to outdoors having a total cooling capacity greater than 20,000 Btu/h including those serving computer server rooms, electronic equipment, radio equipment, telephone switchgear; and

     b. Other cooling units with a total cooling capacity greater than 54,000 Btu/h, including those serving computer server rooms, electronic equipment, radio equipment, and telephone switchgear.


Exception: For Group R Occupancy, economizers meeting the requirements of Section 1413 shall be installed on single package unitary fan-cooling units having a total cooling capacity greater than 54,000 Btu/h.

     The total capacity of all units without economizers (i.e., those units with a total cooling capacity less than a. and b. above) shall not exceed 240,000 Btu/h per building, or 10% of its aggregate cooling (economizer) capacity, whichever is greater. That portion of the equipment serving Group R Occupancy is not included in determining the total capacity of all units without economizers in a building.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.025, 19.27A.045 and chapters 19.27, 19.27A, and 34.05 RCW. 05-01-013, § 51-11-1423, filed 12/2/04, effective 7/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.025, 19.27A.045. 02-01-112, § 51-11-1423, filed 12/18/01, effective 7/1/02; 01-03-010, § 51-11-1423, filed 1/5/01, effective 7/1/01; 98-03-003, § 51-11-1423, filed 1/8/98, effective 7/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.025. 93-21-052, § 51-11-1423, filed 10/18/93, effective 4/1/94.]

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