Construction, Fire, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing AWS

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Construction, Fire, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing

MPC Meeting | February 27, 2018

City of Arlington, Texas

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To establish the minimum requirements to safeguard:  The public health, safety and general welfare

through structural strength, means of egress, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety

 Life and property from fire and other hazards

(wind, flooding, freezing, moisture) attributed to the built environment

 To provide safety to fire fighters and emergency

responders during emergency operations.

CLARITY

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SIMPLE

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REDEVELOPMENT-FOCUSED

Insurance Services Offices (ISO) evaluates municipalities using Building Code Effectiveness Grading Survey (BCEGS) 

Uses a class system of 1 – 10 for grading (class 1 - being considered exemplary.

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Evaluations are generally on a 5-year cycle

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2014 scores for City of Arlington: 4 for SF family dwellings, and  3 for all other structures 

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The “timeliness” of adopted model codes weighs significantly in the scoring process.

• • • • • • • • •

Benbrook Kennedale Fort Worth Hurst Euless Bedford Southlake Dallas Irving

• • • • • •    

Carrolton Richardson Garland Plano Trophy Club West Lake Grand Prairie Cedar Hill University Park Farmers Branch

1. 2. 3. 4.

International Residential Code International Building Code International Energy Conservation International Existing Building Code

 Carbon monoxide alarms now require connection to the

house wiring system with battery backup.  In existing buildings - exterior work such as roofing,

windows, doors, and decks and porch additions no longer trigger the carbon monoxide alarm provisions.  Dwelling Unit Requires Carbon Monoxide Alarms if:  Attached garage; or  Contains fuel-fired appliance.

 Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are allowed

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Change of definition related to Institutional (I) Occupancies:  Created two sub-classes, so that not all requirements

(pertaining to fire suppression, fire alarms, smoke compartments along with other life safety criteria) have to be met for the less intense use. 

Condition 1 – all persons receiving custodial care are capable of responding to an emergency situation to complete building evacuation without any assistance

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Condition 2 – any persons receiving custodial care who require limited verbal or physical assistance while responding to an emergency situation to complete building evacuation

Storm Shelters required in:

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critical emergency operations facilities

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educational structures

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Local amendment – to apply only to new educational buildings

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Exempted: 

When the building housing the facility or occupancy type meets the shelter design criteria in the ICC 500 manual

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When the campus has an existing storm shelter that can accommodate the occupancy

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Envelope leakage and duct leakage testing are required

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Duct and envelope testing requirements are more stringent than in the 2009

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Improved window performance; .35 U factor & .25 SHGC

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Wall/ceiling insulation; R20 walls & R38 ceiling

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Efficient lighting requirement has gone from 50% to 75%

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Whole house mechanical ventilation is required

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R3 hot water piping insulation is required:      

For pipes ¾” and larger Pipes outside of conditioned space Pipes under a floor slab Supply and return piping in a recirculation system Buried pipe Piping from a water heater to a manifold system

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Commissioning- HVAC, water heating, lighting and envelope commissioning by 3rd party

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HVAC – new equipment efficiencies, additional requirements for ventilation systems and lighting

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Water heating – improved efficiency and controls

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Lighting – occupancy sensors and daylighting controls

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Additional Efficiency Packages – requires choosing 1 of 6 above code options for compliance

Comparing a new house under the 2009 IECC to the 2015 IECC: 

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The average homeowner in our climate zone (3A) will save: 

$385.36 per year in energy costs (or a cost savings of 22.1%)

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$5,517.37 or more will be the average life-cycle (30 years) cost savings, adjusted with anticipated inflation rate

The average increase in construction costs: 

For a slab-on-grade house is $2,209.52, which will increase the average mortgage by $69.37/year

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It will take 3.7 years to pay back the extra cost of construction (cost increase vs energy savings)

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International Existing Building Code (IEBC) is a new stand alone document to address the redevelopment of existing structures IEBC provides alternative approaches to achieve compliance on repairs, alterations, change of occupancy, additions and relocations of existing structures.

1. International Fire Code

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Fire Safety and Evacuation Plans 

Required for Group A, other than church with OL < 2,000

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Buildings with both Group A and atrium

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Group B, F, M with OL >500, or >100 on floor other than LED

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Groups R-1, R-4, R-2 college/univ dormitories

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High-rise

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Mall buildings >50,000 ft2

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Occupant evacuation elevators

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Definition Clarification of Combustible Materials in Plenums Abandoned wiring is deemed to be storage  It must be removed in the accessible areas  Unless the wiring is tagged for future use

 Storage is prohibited  It must be removed

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Co2 Systems for Beverage Dispensing within enclosed spaces

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Accidental releases can fill an enclosed space 

Odorless and colorless gas that is heavier than air

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Systems >100 pounds (»9.5 gallons) are regulated

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Operational permit are required for tanks >100 lbs

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Protection required  

Continuous gas detection system, or Mechanical ventilation

External fill connections

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These requirements are designed to be installed when a system is placed inside an enclosed structure.

1. 2015 International Mechanical Code 2. 2017 National Electrical Code 3. 2015 International Plumbing Code & 2015 International Fuel Gas Code

 No new significant changes to the IMC  Changes are primarily to clarify or modify existing standards  Most construction projects should see little to no impact  Local amendments do not add any new regulations. Only clarify or add additional methods for compliance.

 The 2017 National Electrical Code was adopted as the state code effective September 15, 2017.  Arc-fault circuit interrupters are now required in guest rooms and suites in hotels and motels.  Meeting rooms of 1,000 sq. ft or less must have wall receptacles spaced approximately every 12 feet and at least one floor receptacle.  Tamper resistant receptacles now required in preschools and schools, business and professional offices, corridors, and gymnasiums.  Used equipment that is to be relocated must be certified through a third-party testing agency.

 Public restrooms are not required in quick-service occupancies such as takeout-only restaurants, dry cleaners and ATM lobbies when public area is 300 sq. ft. or less.  Local amendment exempts drinking fountains when occupant load is 30 or less. (IPC states 15 or less.)  Drain pans are not required under replacement water heaters when a drain pan was not previously required.

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Jan 2018 Jan 23 Feb 6 Feb 9 Feb 9 Feb 22 Feb 27 March 6 March 20 April 10 May 14

- Draft ordinance on webpage - CMO meeting - Mechanical/Plumbing Adv Board Mtg (also Public Open House) - Developers Focus Group Meeting - Electrical Advisory Board Meeting (also Public Open House) - Building & Fire Advisory Board Meeting (Public Open House) - Municipal Policy Committee Meeting - City Council Work session - CC First Reading - CC Final Reading - Effective date