Article VII: Mechanical Codes.

§ 6-16 Incorporation by Reference.

§ 6-16.1 International Mechanical Code 2018. 

The International Mechanical Code 2018 with the modifications found in §6-16.2 of this article, is incorporated by reference. (Ordinance 739 effective September 25, 2019, historical reference 604 and 657)

§ 6-16.2 International Mechanical Code Amendments. 

Amendments for the International Mechanical Code are as follows: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

§ 6-16.2.1 Chapter 1. Scope and Administration. Delete Section 101.1 Title and replace with the following: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

101.1    Title. The International Mechanical Code shall be known and may be cited as the Town of Easton, Mechanical Code.  It is referenced within as this code.

§ 6-16.2.2 Chapter 1. Scope and Administration. Delete Section 101.2 Scope and replace with the following: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

101.2    Scope.  This code shall regulate the design, installation, maintenance, alteration and inspection of mechanical systems that are permanently installed and utilized to provide control of environmental conditions and related processes within buildings. This code shall also regulate those mechanical systems, system components, equipment and appliances specifically addressed herein. The installation of fuel gas distribution piping and equipment, fuel gas-fired appliances and fuel gas-fired appliance venting systems shall be regulated by the International Fuel Gas Code.

Exceptions: The requirements herein do not apply to work areas subject to the Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code as adopted by the Department of Housing and Community Development under Public Safety Article, §12-1004, Annotated Code of Maryland, except as provided by that Code.

§ 6-16.2.3 Chapter 1. Scope and Administration. Delete Section 101.2.1 Appendices and replace with the following: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

101.2.1 Appendices. Provisions in the Appendices shall not apply unless specifically adopted. Provisions in the Appendices A are incorporated herein.

§ 6-16.2.4 Chapter 1. Scope and Administration. Delete Section 101.3 Intent and replace with the following: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

101.3 Intent. The purpose of this code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, installation, quality of materials, location, operation and maintenance or use of mechanical systems. If a conflict arises as to methods of installation, maintenance, and repair under this Code, the manufacture’s operation and installation manual shall govern.

§ 6-16.2.5 Chapter 1. Scope and Administration. Delete, Part 2 Administration and Enforcement and replace with the following: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

103.1    Administration. The Mechanical Code is regulated by the Building Codes Administration under Article I of Chapter 6.

103.2    Requirements for Plans and Specifications. Plans and specifications for the installation of all heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration systems shall;

1. Be approved by a and have affixed to them the name, signature and license number of the Maryland; HVACR Master, Master Restricted, or Engineer.
2. Provide adequate details of mechanical and electrical work, including computations, diagrams, and other essential technical data, shall be filed.
3. Plans shall indicate how required structural and fire resistance rating integrity will be maintained, and where penetrations will be made for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and communication conducts, pipes, and systems.

Exceptions:

1. For one-family and two-family dwellings, a residential heat gain and loss load calculation, for example, Manual J or its equivalent, shall be filed for new installations.
2. For one-family and two-family dwellings, for the replacement of a condensing unit, air-handling unit, furnace, or boiler in an existing HVACR system documentation shall provide the calculations by which the sizing of the equipment installed was determined. A signed and dated copy of this document shall be retained by the contractor and a copy shall be left with the homeowner upon completion of the work.

§ 6-16.2.6 Chapter 2. Definitions. Add definition to Section 202 for Repair to read as follows: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

REPAIR. To put back in good condition, fix, to renew parts, to make existing systems function. Anything that can be made to work is repairable. The replacement of a system or a condenser unit, air- handling unit, furnace, or boiler, which make up a system shall constitute altering or remodeling, not repair.

§ 6-16.2.7 Chapter 2. Definitions. Amend the definition of Self Contained Equipment under Section 202 to read as follows: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

SELF-CONTAINED EQUIPMENT. A heating, ventilation, air conditioning or refrigeration device that is designed and manufactured:

1. with its component parts housed within a single chassis;
2. with a standard factory-installed electrical line cord that requires a plug-in device;
3. with no additional external fuel source; and
4. independent of an air-distribution system.

§ 6-16.2.8 Chapter 3. General Regulations. Add Table 301.2.1 Design Conditions – Temperature as follows: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

§ 6-16.2.9 Chapter 3. General Regulations. Add Section 301.14.1 Heat Exchangers Repair to read as follows: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

301.14.1 Heat Exchangers.  Temporary repairs may not be made to a damaged heat exchanger.

§ 6-16.2.10 Chapter 3. General Regulations. Delete Section 306.5 Equipment and appliances on roofs or elevated structures, including its exception and replace with the following: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

306.5    Equipment and appliances on roofs or elevated structures. Where equipment and appliances are located on an elevated structure or the roof of a building such that personnel will have to climb higher than 16 feet (4877 mm) above grade to access such equipment or appliance, an interior or exterior means of access shall be provided. Such access shall not require climbing over obstructions greater than 30 inches (762 mm) in height or walking on roofs having a slope greater than 4 units vertical in 12 units horizontal (33-percent slope). Where access involves climbing over parapet walls, the height shall be measured to the top of the parapet wall. Such access shall;

1. Not require the use of portable ladders
2. Be provided with Stairway to Roof installed in accordance with the requirements specified in the International Building Code in the path of travel to and from appliances, fans or equipment requiring service and or,
3. Catwalks installed to provide the required access which are not less than 24” wide and shall have railings as required for service platforms.

§ 6-16.2.11 Chapter 3. General Regulations. Delete Section 306.5.1 Sloped roofs and replace with the following: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

306.5.1 Sloped Roofs. Where appliances, equipment , fans or other components that require service are installed on a roof having a slope of three units vertical in 12 units horizontal (25-percent slope) or greater and having an edge more than 30 inches (762 mm) above grade at such edge, a level platform shall be provided on each side of the appliance or equipment to which access is required for service, repair or maintenance. The platform shall be not less than 30 inches (762 mm) in any dimension and shall be provided with guards. The guards shall extend not less than 42 inches (1067 mm) above the platform, shall be constructed so as to prevent the passage of a 21-inch diameter (533 mm) sphere and shall comply with the loading requirements for guards specified in the International Building Code.

§ 6-16.2.12 Chapter 3. General Regulations. Delete Section 307.2.3 Auxiliary Protection Method #3. (Ordinance 739 effective September 25, 2019, historical reference 604)

§ 6-16.2.13 Chapter 3. General Regulations. Delete Section 309 Temperature Control, including its exception and replace with the following: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

309.1    Space-heating systems. Interior spaces intended for human occupancy shall be provided with active or passive space-heating systems capable of maintaining a minimum indoor temperature of 70°F at a point 3 feet above floor during the period from October 1st to May 15th.  The installation of portable space heaters shall not be used to achieve compliance with this section.

Exceptions:

1. When the outdoor temperature is below the winter outdoor design temperature of 10°F, maintenance of the minimum room temperature shall not be required provided that the heating system is operating at its full design capacity.
2. Interior Spaces where the primary purpose is not associated with human comfort.

§ 6-16.2.14 Chapter 6. Duct Systems. Section 603.6.1.1 Duct length of Chapter 6, § 6-16.2.14 of the Code of the Town of Easton is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:

603.6.1.1 Duct length.  Flexible air ducts shall be limited to 25 feet (7620 mm) in total length from plenum/trunk duct to supply register, including intermediate distribution boxes.

Exception:  Flexible air ducts shall not be limited in length provided that a Manual D has been submitted with the application to analyze the duct system design. (Ordinance 739 effective September 25, 2019)    

§ 6-16.2.14 Chapter 6. Duct Systems. Add Section 603.6.1.2 Duct Limitation to read as follows: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

603.6.1.2    Duct limitation. Flexible air ducts shall not be installed in concealed or non-accessible locations.

§ 6-16.2.15 Chapter 6. Duct Systems. Add Section 603.6.2.3 Connector Limitation to read as follows: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

603.6.2.3 Connector limitation. Flexible air connectors installed in concealed or non-accessible locations shall be limited in length to 5 feet.

§ 6-16.2.16 Chapter 13. Fuel Oil System Installation. Delete Section 1301.4 Fuel Tanks, Piping and Valves and replace with the following: (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)

1301.4 Fuel tanks, piping and valves. The tank, piping and valves for appliances burning oil shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of this chapter. When an oil burner is served by a tank, any part of which is above the level of the burner inlet connection and where the fuel supply line is taken from the top of the tank, an approved anti-siphon valve or other siphon-breaking device shall be installed in lieu of the shutoff valve. Fill and vent piping minimum size shall be: fill piping 2 inches; vent piping 1.25 inches or according to the tank manufacturer's recommendation.  All piping shall be of black steel (Schedule 40)

§ 6-16.2.17 Chapter 15. Referenced Standards. Replace all references to the International Fire Code, IFC-12 with the Maryland Fire Prevention Code. (Ordinance 604 effective July 1st 2012)