PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 00-03-017.
Title of Rule: Amendment of chapter 51-42 WAC (amendment of the 1997 Edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code).
Purpose: To consider whether to amend the 1997 Edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code (chapter 51-42 WAC), published by the International Conference of Building Officials.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW.
Summary: The proposed rules include adoption of amendments to the 1997 Uniform Mechanical Code, including editorial corrections, consistent applications for direct fired equipment, code precedence clarification for ammonia discharge, WAC reference for gas pipelines, and further clarification of which sections of the UMC, Chapter 11 are not adopted.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Judith Darst, P.O. Box 48300, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 586-2251; and Enforcement: Local jurisdictions.
Name of Proponent: Washington State Building Code Council, governmental.
Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: The council is seeking comments on the issues proposed in the rules shown below.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: The proposed rule will amend chapter 51-42 WAC. Chapter 51-42 WAC adopts and amends the 1997 Edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), published by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO). The purpose is to further amend the 1997 UMC to make editorial corrections, amend applications for greater consistency, identify code precedence, reference other potentially required rules, and clarify which sections of UMC Chapter 11 are not adopted. The proposed amendments will provide greater clarity, consistency, and ease of use than the published version for application in Washington state.
Regulatory Review: In compliance with Executive Order 97-02, Regulatory Improvement, the following criteria for regulatory review will be considered at the time of final adoption of the rule.
1. Need. This rule is necessary to comply with the requirements of RCW 19.27.074. The council must regularly review updated versions of the Uniform Mechanical Code, published by the International Conference of Building Officials, and amend and adopt as deemed appropriate by the council. The purpose and objective of this review, as given in RCW 19.27.020, is to promote the health, safety and welfare of the occupants or users of buildings; to require minimum construction standards for the state of Washington; to permit the use of modern technical methods; to eliminate restrictive, obsolete, conflicting, duplicating and unnecessary regulations; and to provide standards to make buildings accessible to and usable by physically disabled persons. The technical advisory groups appointed by the council have identified rules that are obsolete, duplicative or ambiguous, and have proposed amendments and revisions.
2. Effectiveness and Efficiency. The mission of the council is to adopt building codes for uniform application throughout the state. In the course of the regular rule review, the council examined regulatory alternatives and new technologies. The council has identified where alternatives can be used effectively and efficiently. The council efficiently achieves uniform state building codes by serving as the central administrative agency for state-wide adoption of building codes.
3. Clarity. The council revised their filing procedure for state amendments to the national uniform codes. To enhance clarity, only those subsections with a state amendment will be filed under the main section number. The balance of the main section will remain as written in the national uniform code, as adopted by reference, unless otherwise noted. This reformatting change reorganizes and shortens the WACs.
4. Intent and Statutory Authority. The proposed rule is consistent with the legislative intent of the statute, chapter 19.27 RCW. The statute gives the council sufficient authority to maintain the state building code, and to amend and adopt new editions of the UMC, published by ICBO. However, the 1997 edition is the last version of the UMC that ICBO plans to publish.
5. Coordination. The council rule-making process has included participation by national, state, and local building, fire, mechanical and plumbing officials, as well as state agency representatives for the Departments of Social and Health Services, Health, Labor and Industries, and the State Fire Marshal. The council actively seeks participation from other state agencies to assure that duplication and inconsistency is eliminated.
6. Cost. The council appointed technical advisory groups and an Economic and Regulatory Assessment Committee to examine the costs and benefits associated with the revisions to the building codes.
7. Fairness. The state amendments to the Uniform Mechanical Code proposed by the council are intended to mitigate disproportionate impact on the regulated community. The council is made up of representatives from the regulated community, as well as public and regulatory officials. In addition, the council enlisted the assistance of technical advisory groups, made up of the individuals, organizations and businesses impacted by the building codes, to review code changes and proposals.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: 1. Section 405.1: This new section makes the rules for direct gas-fired make-up air heaters more consistent with the rules for unvented or direct fired fuel-burning equipment (Section 303.1.1).
2. Section 1101.6: This amendment clarifies that the Fire Code takes precedence for ammonia discharge from relief valves.
3. Section 1103.3: This change is editorial (deleting a stray letter "V").
4. Sections 1105.9 and 1105.9.4: These changes are editorial (entering the calculations into the text document).
5. Sections 1109 through 1124, and Section 1126: These new sections clarify that these UMC sections are not adopted in Washington state.
6. Section 1301: This new section informs the user that there are potentially other rules (chapter 480-93 WAC) that may apply to gas pipelines and single meter installations serving more than one building.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed changes have been evaluated for small business economic impacts. The Economic Regulatory Assessment Committee (ERAC) determined that a small business economic impact statement is not required since the proposed rules do not have an adverse effect or impact on small businesses.
RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. The State Building Code Council is not listed in this section as one of the agencies required to comply with this regulation.
Hearing Location: Spokane City Council Chambers, West 808 Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane, WA, on September 15, 2000, at 10:00 a.m.; and at the Radisson Hotel, 17101 International Boulevard, SeaTac, WA, on October 13, 2000, at 10:00 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Sue Mathers by September 1, 2000, TDD (360) 753-2200, or (360) 753-1184.
Submit Written Comments to: Judy Wilson, Chairman, State Building Code Council, P.O. Box 48300, Olympia, WA 98504-8300, fax (360) 586-5880, by October 13, 2000.
Date of Intended Adoption: November 17, 2000.
August 1, 2000
Judy Wilson
Council Chairman
OTS-4187.2
NEW SECTION
WAC 51-42-0405
Section 405 -- Direct gas-fired make-up air
systems.
405.1 General. Direct gas-fired make-up air heaters shall not
be installed for comfort heating in other than Group F, S, or U
Occupancies.
| EXCEPTION: | Direct gas-fired make-up air heaters may be installed in accordance with Section 909. |
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1101.1 Scope. This chapter shall govern the design,
installation, construction and repair of refrigeration systems
that vaporize and liquefy a fluid during the refrigerating cycle.
Refrigerant piping design and installation, including pressure
vessels and pressure relief devices, shall conform to this code. Permanently installed refrigerant storage systems and other
components shall be considered as part of the refrigeration
system to which they are attached.
1101.2 Factory-built equipment. Listed and labeled
self-contained, factory-built equipment shall be tested in
accordance with UL 207, 303, 412, 465, 471 or 1995.
1101.3 Protection. Any portion of a refrigeration system that
is subject to physical damage shall be protected in an approved
manner.
1101.4 Water connection. Water supply and discharge connections
associated with refrigeration systems shall be made in accordance
with this code and the plumbing code.
1101.5 Gas connection. Gas fuel devices and equipment used with
refrigeration systems shall be installed in accordance with this
code.
1101.6 General. Refrigeration systems shall comply with the
requirements of this code and, except as modified by this code,
ASHRAE 15-1994. Ammonia-refrigerating systems shall comply with
this code and, except as modified by this code, ASHRAE 15-1994
and IIAR 2-1992. Ammonia discharge from relief valves shall be
in accordance with the Fire Code.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. 98-02-056, § 51-42-1101, filed 1/6/98, effective 7/1/98.]
1103.1 General. For the purposes of applying Tables 1104.1,
1104.2(1), and 1104.2(2), refrigeration systems shall be
classified as high-probability or low-probability system based on
the potential hazard resulting from a leakage of refrigerant into
an occupancy-classified area other than the machinery room.
1103.2 High-probability systems. Direct systems and indirect
open-spray systems shall be classified as high-probability
systems.
EXCEPTION:
An indirect open-spray system shall not be required to be classified as a high-probability system if the pressure
of the secondary coolant is at all times (operating and standby) greater than the pressure of the refrigerant.
1103.3 Low-probability((V)) systems. Double-indirect open-spray
systems, indirect closed systems and indirect-vented closed
systems shall be classified as low-probability systems, provided
that all refrigerant-containing piping and fittings are isolated
when the quantities in Table 1104.1 are exceeded.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. 98-02-056, § 51-42-1103, filed 1/6/98, effective 7/1/98.]
1105.1 General. Where required by Table 1104.2(1), a machinery
room shall be provided to enclose refrigeration systems located
indoors. Access to the machinery room shall be restricted to
authorized personnel. For rooms where occupational exposure
could occur, see WAC 296-62-07515 and 296-62-3112.
1105.2 Dimensions. A machinery room shall be dimensioned so as
to provide clearances required by Chapter 3. There shall be
clear head room of not less than 7 feet 3 inches (2210 mm) below
equipment located over passageways.
1105.3 Doors. Each machinery room shall have self-closing,
weather-stripped doors opening in the direction of egress travel.
Doors and door openings shall comply with the requirements of the
Building Code.
1105.4 Openings. Openings to other parts of the building that
permit passage of escaping refrigerant to other parts of the
building are prohibited. Ducts and air handlers in the machinery
room that operate at a lower pressure than the room shall be
sealed to prevent any refrigerant leakage from entering the
airstream.
1105.5 Refrigerant vapor detector. Machinery rooms shall
contain a refrigerant vapor detector with an audible and visual
alarm. The detector, or a sampling tube that draws air to the
detector, shall be located in an area where refrigerant vapor
from a leak will concentrate. The alarm shall be actuated at a
value not greater than the corresponding TLV-TWA values shown in
Table 1104.1. Detectors and alarms shall be placed in approved
locations. Detection and alarm systems shall be powered and
supervised, monitored and annunciated, and installed and
maintained as required by Section 6313 of the Fire Code.EXCEPTIONS:
1. Egress doors serving the machinery room.
2. Access doors and panels in air ducts and air-handling units, provided that such openings are gasketed and
tight fitting.
EXCEPTION:
Detectors are not required for ammonia systems complying with Section 1106.8.
1105.6 Tests. Periodic tests of the detector, alarm and
mechanical ventilating system shall be performed in accordance
with manufacturer's specifications and as required by the code
official.
1105.7 Fuel-burning equipment. Open flames that use combustion
air from the machinery room shall not be installed in a machinery
room.
1105.8 Sign. A sign shall be posted on the machinery room door
prohibiting access of unauthorized personnel.EXCEPTIONS:
1. Matches, lighters, halide leak detectors and similar devices.
2. Where the refrigerant is carbon dioxide or water.
3. Fuel-burning equipment shall not be prohibited in the same machinery room with refrigerant-containing
equipment where combustion air is ducted from outside the machinery room and sealed in such a manner as to
prevent any refrigerant leakage from entering the combustion chamber, or where a refrigerant vapor detector is
employed to automatically shut off the combustion process in the event of refrigerant leakage.
1105.9 Ventilation. Machinery rooms shall be mechanically
ventilated to the outdoors. Mechanical ventilation shall be
capable of exhausting the minimum quantity of air both at the
normal operating and emergency conditions. Multiple fans or
multispeed fans shall be allowed in order to produce the
emergency ventilation rate and to obtain a reduced airflow for
normal ventilation. Fans providing refrigeration machinery room
temperature control or automatic response to refrigerant vapor
are allowed to be automatically controlled to provide
intermittent ventilation as conditions require.
EXCEPTION:
Where a refrigerating system is located outdoors more than 20 feet (6096 mm) from any building opening and
is enclosed by a penthouse, lean-to or other open structure, natural or mechanical ventilation shall be provided. Location of the openings shall be based on the relative density of the refrigerant to air. The free-aperture cross
section for the ventilation of the machinery room shall be not less than:
| Q = 0.07 x √G)) | |||
| F = √G | |||
| For SI: | F = 0.138 √G | ||
where:
F = The free opening area in square feet (m2).
G = The mass of refrigerant in pounds (kg) in the largest
system, any part of which is located in the machinery room.
1105.9.1 Discharge location. The discharge of the air shall be
to the outdoors in accordance with Chapter 5. Exhaust from
mechanical ventilation systems shall be discharged not less than
20 feet (6096 mm) from a property line or openings into
buildings.
1105.9.2 Supply air. Provisions shall be made for supply air to
replace that being exhausted. Openings for supply air shall be
located to avoid intake of exhaust air. Air supply and exhaust
ducts to the machinery room shall serve no other area, shall be
constructed in accordance with Chapter 5 and shall be covered
with corrosion-resistant screen of not less than 1/4 inch (6.4
mm) mesh. The supply air shall be taken from directly outside
the building. Intakes shall be fitted with backdraft dampers or
similar approved flow control means to prevent reverse flow.
1105.9.3 Quantity--normal ventilation. During occupied
conditions the mechanical ventilation system shall exhaust the
larger of the following:
| 1. | Not less than 0.5 cfm per square foot (0.0025 m3/s • m2) of machinery room area or 20 cfm (0.009 m3/s) per person; or |
| 2. | A volume required to maintain a maximum temperature rise of 18°F (-7.8°C) based on all of the heat-producing machinery in the room. |
| F = 0.138 √G)) | |||
| Q = 100 x √G | ||
| For SI: | Q = 0.07 x √G |
where:
Q = The airflow in cubic feet per minute (m3/s).
G = The design mass of refrigerant in pounds (kg) in the largest
system, any part of which is located in the machinery room.
1105.10 Termination of relief devices. In the equipment room,
pressure relief devices, fusible plugs and purge systems shall
terminate outside of the structure at a location not less than 15
feet (4572 mm) above the adjoining grade level and not less than
20 feet (6096 mm) from any window, ventilation opening or exit.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. 98-02-056, § 51-42-1105, filed 1/6/98, effective 7/1/98.]
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Table 11-A - Refrigerant groups, properties and allowable
quantities. This table is not adopted.
Table 11-B - Permissible refrigeration systems and
refrigerants. This table is not adopted.
Table 11-C - Value of f (f) for equation 11-7. This table
is not adopted.
Table 11-D - Field leak test pressures in psig. This table
is not adopted.
Table 11-E - Condensate waste size. This table is not
adopted.
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1301.2 Other authorities. In addition to the Uniform Mechanical
Code, provisions of chapter 480-93 WAC regarding gas pipeline
safety may also apply to single meter installations serving more
than one building. The provisions of chapter 480-93 WAC are
enforced by the Washington Utilities and Transportation
Commission.
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