July 28, 2004 minutes
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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Tom Patchen, Bryan Wyatt, Lynn Barrington, Jim Sparkes |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Frank Estrada |
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GUEST PRESENT: |
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Ken Christianson, IAPMO; John White, Cloud Heating & A/C |
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EX-OFFICIO: |
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Patrick O’Brien |
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Meeting called to order at 6:45 p.m.
Section 5-1103.8.1 Location in Article 11 Mechanical Code is being appealed. Mr. John White of Cloud Heating & A/C addressed the board and presented pictures of the installation at 1003 Jana Dr. The pictures illustrated the installation of a furnace in a room off of a garage with the furnace placed on the floor. Barrington stated that the appeal was filed because the furnace by code must be 18” above the floor. Sparkes asked if the room was a mechanical room, Mr. White stated that it was a utility room and he understood the concept of the
furnace needing to be raised in a garage but since it was in a room separate from the garage that the requirement was not the same. Wyatt asked staff if the findings were that the room was actually part of the garage. Staff replied that the code specifies any room that is entered through the garage falls under the requirements of the furnace needing raised. Sparkes stated that he is more concerned about the clearance in front of the furnace. Wyatt stated that the issue at hand was not the clearance and that there was no denial or appeal on that issue even though it was a good topic of discussion. Mr. White stated that the water heater will probably be changed in the near future and will be moved to gain the clearance needed. Sparkes stated that he did not have a concern about the height, but more with the clearance in front of the furnace. Wyatt stated that he agreed with Sparkes but also would need combustion air into the room. Wyatt stated that when had a question about the code he will call the inspector and discuss it to see what will be required. Wyatt stated that he sees it as a separate room and Sparkes stated he also sees it as a separate room. Wyatt made a motion to grant the appeal with the condition of installing combustion air and a door sweep on the door between the garage and furnace room. Seconded by Patchen. Pass 3-0. Barrington abstained because he is an employee of the appellant.
Barrington initiated the comments by saying that in the first chapter the IMC begins by making reference to other international codes such as the International Fuel Gas Code and International Existing Building Code. Barrington stated that the make up of the board of appeals in the IMC is totally different than what is in place today and is scared that anything like that would be implemented. Staff replied that there were no plans to change the make up of the board and that the make up of the board would be taken from the original ordinance. Wyatt stated that there has been talk in the Code Review Committee that another board could be created. Wyatt agrees with Barrington’s concerns that the International code is not one book but has many books that are referred to. Wyatt stated that with the Uniform code there is just one book to refer to and that the International just being one book is a myth. He stated that as far as mechanical there is already one book and that the Uniform code is more prescriptive. Wyatt also stated that the International’s voting members are made up of only code officials. The board referred to a comparison between the 2003 UMC and IMC that was handed out by the publishers of the UMC book. Sparkes stated that the comparison was not necessarily a “stacked deck”. Patchen stated that he thought the UMC was more strict than the IMC, Sparkes agreed.
Barrington stated that the IMC chapter 2 had more definitions that the UMC but said that chapter was not as critical as other chapters. Wyatt agreed with Barrington and that the definition chapter was not that critical.
Barrington stated that Chapter 3 refers to energy utilization refers to another code, and along with that will raise the cost to the consumer. Wyatt agreed but stated that another code has been referred to again. Patchen stated that the International refers to a lot of different books. Barrington stated that in Chapter 3, the International goes into great detail about the structure of the building.
Chapter 4 had no major differences. Barrington stated that the International again refers to another code book, the International Building Code. Barrington stated that the IMC gets into formulas for figuring ventilation sizing and he would rather have a qualified engineer be the one making ventilation size calculations. Wyatt had a concern that is the City requires plans, that the installation be per the plans. He stated that as of now, the City does not inspect per plans.
Staff stated that Chapter 5 of the UMC is taken directly from NFPA 96. Patchen stated that the UMC is quite detailed in chapter 5. Wyatt stated that the UMC is more restrictive on dryer vent lengths. Staff stated that the length is about the same when elbows are considered.
The board decided to review Chapters 6-10 for the next meeting.
At the request of the chairman, Jim Sparkes, the meeting day has been changed to the third Wednesday of every month until further notice.
Barrington had a concern about the open permit letter that the homeowner is receiving, he stated that the letter being sent to the homeowner is wrong and would like for the letter to go to the contractor first and then the homeowner to give the contractor time to take care of the open permit first. Barrington also asked that the letter to the homeowner be reevaluated. Staff stated that the concern of the board will be addressed to his office.
Motion to adjourn made by Barrington, seconded by Patchen, pass 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m.