Title 13 . Public Safety

Chapter 50 . General Provisions for 13 AAC 50 - 13 AAC 55

Section 23. Mechanical code

13 AAC 50.023. Mechanical code

The International Mechanical Code (I.M.C.) Chapters 1 - 15 and Appendix A (2003 Edition) are adopted by reference to regulate all occupancies and buildings with the following revisions:

(1) Chapter 1 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting Sections 103, 104, and 106 - 109;

(2) Chapter 1, Subsection 101.2 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the reference " International Fuel Gas Code" and replacing it with "Plumbing Code as adopted by 8 AAC 63.010, as amended as of December 6, 2003 and as amended from time to time" and by deleting Exceptions 1 and 2;

(3) Chapter 2, Subsection 201.3 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the reference " ICC Electrical Code " and replacing it with "Electrical Code as adopted by 8 AAC 70.025, as amended as of September 25, 2002 and as amended from time to time";

(4) Chapter 2, Subsection 201.3 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting 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 December 6, 2003 and as amended from time to time";

(5) Chapter 3, Subsection 301.2, first sentence of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the words "in accordance with the International Energy Conservation Code";

(6) Chapter 3, Subsection 301.3 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the reference " International Fuel Gas Code" and replacing it with "Plumbing Code as adopted by 8 AAC 63.010, as amended as of December 6, 2003 and as amended from time to time";

(7) Chapter 3, Subsection 301.7 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the reference " ICC Electrical Code " and replacing it with "Electrical Code as adopted by 8 AAC 70.025, as amended as of September 25, 2002 and as amended from time to time";

(8) Chapter 3, Subsection 301.8 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the reference " International Plumbing Code " and replacing it with "Plumbing Code as adopted by 8 AAC 63.010, as amended as of December 6, 2003 and as amended from time to time";

(9) Chapter 3, Subsection 303.3 Exception 3 second sentence of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the words "of the International Energy Conservation Code";

(10) Chapter 3, Subsection 304.7 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.";

(11) Chapter 3, Subsection 304.7 of the I.M.C. , is revised by adding Table 304.7 and 304.8 to read:

"Table 304.7 STANDARD INSTALLATION CLEARANCES, IN INCHES FOR CERTAIN UNLISTED HEAT-PRODUCING APPLIANCES

CLICK TO VIEW TABLE

CLICK TO VIEW TABLE

(12) Chapter 3, Section 312.1, third sentence 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";

(13) Chapter 4, Subsection 403.3, first sentence of the I.M.C. , 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 (2001 Edition) as adopted by reference.";

(14) Chapter 5, Section 513 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the references " ICC Electrical Code " and replacing them with, "Electrical Code as adopted by 8 AAC 70.025, as amended as of September 25, 2002 and as amended from time to time";

(15) Chapter 5, Section 514.1, 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.";

(16) Chapter 6, Subsection 603.9, second sentence of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the words "in accordance with the International Energy Conservation Code";

(17) Chapter 6, Subsection 604.1, first sentence of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the words "and the International Energy Conservation Code";

(18) Chapter 7, Subsection 701.1, second sentence of the I.M.C. , is revised to read: "The requirements for combustion and dilution air for gas-fired appliances shall be in accordance with the International Fuel Gas Code , 2003 Edition, Section 304 of which is adopted by reference.";

(19) Chapter 7, Subsection 709.1 of the I.M.C. , is revised by adding a sentence immediately following the first sentence to read: "Combustion-air openings must be covered with corrosion-resistant screen of no greater than one inch (13 mm) mesh.";

(20) Chapter 8, Subsection 801.1 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the reference " International Fuel Gas Code " and replacing it with "Plumbing Code as adopted by 8 AAC 63.010, as amended as of December 6, 2003 and as amended from time to time";

(21) Chapter 9, Subsections 901.1 and 906.1 of the I.M.C. , are revised by deleting the reference " International Fuel Gas Code" and replacing it with "Plumbing Code as adopted by 8 AAC 63.010, as amended as of December 6, 2003 and as amended from time to time";

(22) Chapter 9, Subsection 908.5 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the reference " International Plumbing Code" and replacing it with "Plumbing Code as adopted by 8 AAC 63.010, as amended as of December 6, 2003 and as amended from time to time";

(23) Chapter 9 of the I.M.C. , is revised by the addition of Section 926 to read:

"SECTION 926 UNVENTED ROOM HEATERS

926.1 General. Unvented room heaters shall be tested in accordance with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z21.11.2 (1996 Edition), adopted by reference and may be installed in accordance with the conditions of the listing and the manufacturer's installation instructions.

926.2 Prohibited use. One or more unvented room heaters may not be used as the sole source of comfort heating in a dwelling unit.

926.3 Input rating. Unvented room heaters may not have an input rating in excess of 40,000 Btu/h (11.7 kW).

926.4 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 6000 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.

926.5 Room or space volume. The aggregate input rating of all unvented appliances installed in a room or space may not exceed 20 Btu/h 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.

926.6 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.

926.7 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.";

(24) Chapter 10, Subsection 1001.1 of the I.M.C. , is revised 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.";

(25) Chapter 10 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the references " International Plumbing Code" and replacing them with the references "Plumbing Code as adopted by 8 AAC 63.010, as amended as of December 6, 2003 and as amended from time to time";

(26) Chapter 10 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting Section 1011;

(27) Chapter 11, Subsection 1101.4 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the reference " International Plumbing Code" and replacing it with "Plumbing Code as adopted by 8 AAC 63.010, as amended as of December 6, 2003 and as amended from time to time";

(28) Chapter 11, Subsections 1101.5 of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the references " International Fuel Gas Code " and replacing them with "Plumbing Code as adopted by 8 AAC 63.010, as amended as of December 6, 2003 and as amended from time to time";

(29) Chapter 12, Subsections 1201.1, 1206.2 and 1206.3 of the I.M.C. , are revised by deleting the reference " International Plumbing Code" and replacing them with "Plumbing Code as adopted by 8 AAC 63.010, as amended as of December 6, 2003 and as amended from time to time";

(30) Chapter 12, Subsection 1204.1, first sentence of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the words "shall conform to the requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code";

(31) Chapter 12, Subsection 1204.2, first sentence of the I.M.C. , is revised by deleting the words "to the thickness required by the International Energy Conservation Code";

(32) Chapter 14 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";

(33) Chapter 15, 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. 13-2002 Installation of Sprinkler Systems;

N.F.P.A. 72-2002 National Fire Alarm Code;

N.F.P.A. 96-2001 Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations.

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

Authority: AS 18.70.080

Editor's note: Copies of the International Mechanical Code, 2003 Edition (I.M.C.) may be obtained from the International Code Council, 5360 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, California 90601-2298; phone: (800) 284-4406; (562) 699-0541 or at www.iccsafe.org.