Section 13.50.023. Mechanical code.

The International Mechanical Code (I.M.C.), Chapters 1 - 15 and Appendix A (2009 Edition), are adopted by reference to regulate all occupancies and buildings with the following revisions:  
The I.M.C. is revised by deleting all the references to the "ICC Electrical Code or NFPA 70" and replacing them with "Electrical Code as adopted by 8 AAC 70.025, as amended as of October 16, 2012 and as amended from time to time";  
The I.M.C. is revised by deleting all the references to the "International Fuel Gas Code" and "International Plumbing Code" and replacing them with "Plumbing Code as adopted by 8 AAC 63.010, as amended as of September 27, 2008 and as amended from time to time";  
		(1) Chapter 1 of the I.M.C. is revised by deleting Sections 103, 104, and 106 - 110 and is revised by deleting the words "in accordance with the International Energy Conservation Code";  
		(2) Chapter 3, Section 301.3 (Fuel gas appliances and equipment) of the I.M.C., is revised by deleting the words "fuel gas distribution piping and equipment" and "fuel gas-fired appliance venting systems";  
		(3) Chapter 3, Section 303.3 (Prohibited locations) of the I.M.C., is revised by deleting the words "of the International Energy Conservation Code" from the second sentence of exception 3;  
		(4) Chapter 3, Section 304.9 (Clearances to combustible construction) of the I.M.C., is revised to read: "Clearances to combustible construction. Heat-producing equipment and appliances must be installed to maintain the required clearances to combustible construction as specified in the listing and manufacturer's instructions. These clearances may be reduced only in accordance with Section 308 of the I.M.C. Certain unlisted, heat-producing equipment shall be allowed if the equipment is installed in a manner so as to maintain the clearances to combustible construction specified in Table 304.7 of this Code. Clearances to combustibles must include considerations as door swing, drawer pull, overhead projections or shelving and window swing, shutters, coverings, and drapes. Devices such as doorstops or limits, closers, drapery ties, or guards, may not be used to provide the required clearances.";  
		(5) Chapter 3, Section 304.9 of the I.M.C., is revised by amending Table 304.8 and 304.9 to read:  
"Table 304.8 STANDARD INSTALLATION CLEARANCES, IN INCHES FOR CERTAIN UNLISTED HEAT-PRODUCING APPLIANCES  
CLICK TO VIEW  TABLE
TABLE 304.9 - CLEARANCES, IN INCHES, WITH SPECIFIED FORMS OF PROTECTION 1,2   
CLICK TO VIEW  TABLE
		(6) Chapter 3, Section 312.1, (Load calculations) of the I.M.C., is revised by deleting the words "using the design parameters specified in Chapter 3 of the International Energy Conservation Code" from the third sentence;  
		(7) Chapter 4, Section 403.3 (Ventilation rate) of the I.M.C., the first sentence is revised to read: "Ventilation systems must be designed to have the capacity to supply the minimum outdoor airflow rate required in Table 403.3 based on the occupancy of the space and the occupant load or other parameter as stated herein, or in accordance with the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62 (2010 Edition) as adopted by reference.";  
		(8) Chapter 5, Section 514.1 (General) of the I.M.C., is revised by deleting the second sentence and replacing it with "Energy recovery ventilation systems must be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions and specifications.";  
		(9) Chapter 8, Section 804.1 (Direct-Vent Termination) of the I.M.C., is revised by adding a second sentence to read: "Combustion vents for direct-vent chambers are at least three foot high or provide snowdrift prevention.";  
		(10) Chapter 9, Section 907.1 (General) of the I.M.C, is revised by adding a second sentence to read "Commercial standard UL 2790 may be accepted as an alternative to UL 791 and residential standard UL 508 and UL 698 may not be acceptable as an alternative to UL 791.";  
		(11) Chapter 9 (Specific Appliances, Fireplaces and Solid Fuel-Burning Equipment) of the I.M.C., is revised by adding a new Section 928 to read:  
"SECTION 928 UNVENTED ROOM HEATERS  
928.1 General. Unvented room heaters shall be tested in accordance with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z21.11.2 (2011 Edition), adopted by reference, and may be installed in accordance with the conditions of the listing and the manufacturer's installation instructions.  
928.2 Prohibited use. One or more unvented room heaters may not be used as the sole source of comfort heating in a dwelling unit.  
928.3 Input rating. Unvented room heaters may not have an input rating in excess of 40,000 Btu per hour (11.7 kW).  
928.4 Prohibited locations. Unvented room heaters may not be installed within Group A, E, or I Occupancies. These appliances may not be located in, or obtain combustion air from, any of the following rooms or spaces:  
1. Sleeping rooms;  
2. Bathrooms;  
3. Toilet rooms;  
4. Storage closets;  
5. Surgical rooms.  
Exceptions:  
1. A single wall-mounted unvented room heater equipped with an oxygen depletion safety shutoff system and installed in a bathroom provided the input rating does not exceed 6,000 Btu per hour (1.76 kW) and the bathroom is not a confined space.  
2. A single wall-mounted unvented room heater equipped with an oxygen depletion safety shutoff system and installed in a bedroom if the input rating does not exceed 10,000 Btu per hour (2.93 kW) and the bedroom is not a confined space.  
928.5 Room or space volume. The aggregate input rating of all unvented appliances installed in a room or space may not exceed 20 Btu per hour per cubic foot of volume of the room or space. Where the room or space in which the equipment is installed is directly connected to another room or space by a doorway, archway, or other opening of comparable size that cannot be closed, the volume of such adjacent room or space may be permitted to be included in the calculations.  
928.6 Oxygen-depletion safety system. Unvented room heaters shall be equipped with an oxygen-depletion-sensitive safety shutoff system. The system shall shut off the gas supply to the main and pilot burners when the oxygen in the surrounding atmosphere is depleted to the percent concentration specified by the manufacturer, but not lower than 18 percent. The system may not incorporate field adjustment means capable of changing the set point at which the system acts to shut off the gas supply to room heater.  
928.7 Unvented log heaters. An unvented log heater may not be installed in a factory-built fireplace unless the fireplace system has been specifically tested, listed, and labeled for the use in accordance with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 127.";  
		(12) Chapter 10, Section 1001.1 (Scope) of the I.M.C., is revised, with the exceptions remaining, to read: "Scope. This chapter governs the installation, alteration, and repair of boilers, water heaters, and pressure vessels not subject to the provisions of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development under AS 18.60.180 - 18.60.395.";  
		(13) Chapter 10 of the I.M.C.is revised by deleting Section 1011;  
		(14) Chapter 14 (Solar Systems) of the I.M.C., is revised by deleting the body of the chapter and inserting a new Section 1401 to read: "General. Solar energy equipment and appliances must be installed in compliance with the Solar Energy Code as adopted by 8 AAC 63.010, as amended as of December 6, 2003 and as amended from time to time.";  
		(15) Chapter 15 (Referenced Standards) of the I.M.C., is revised by adding or changing the referenced standards from the publication date listed to the following edition, and these standards are adopted by reference:  
N.F.P.A. 13-2010 Installation of Sprinkler Systems ;  
N.F.P.A. 72-2010 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code;  
N.F.P.A. 96-2011 Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations. 

Authorities

18.70.080

Notes

Reference

12 AAC 39.992
4 AAC 31.014
7 AAC 12.900

Authority

AS 18.70.080 Editor's note: Copies of the International Mechanical Code, 2009 Edition (I.M.C.) may be obtained from the International Code Council, 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478; telephone: [phone]; or at www.iccsafe.org.

History

Eff. 8/31/96, Register 139; am 3/27/99, Register 149; am 9/15/2001, Register 159; am 8/27/2004, Register 171; am 9/12/2007, Register 183; am 11/16/2012, Register 204