Chapter 15.50
MECHANICAL CODE
Sections:
15.50.040 Amendments, additions, or exceptions.
15.50.201.5 IMC Section 201.5 added – References.
15.50.010 Adoption.
The following codes, as amended, added to, or excepted in this chapter, are adopted by reference thereto and by this reference fully incorporated herein, and shall be applicable within the city of Edgewood:
A. International Mechanical Code (IMC). The 2021 Edition of the IMC and Standards published by the International Code Council, as amended by the Washington State Building Code Council and published in Chapter 51-52 WAC, provided:
1. Chapter 15.10 EMC shall be used in place of IMC Chapter 1, Administration.
B. International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC). The 2021 Edition of the IFGC and Standards published by the International Code Council, as amended by the Washington State Building Code Council and published in Chapter 51-52 WAC, provided:
1. Chapter 15.10 EMC shall be used in place of IFGC Chapter 1, Administration.
C. Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code (NFPA 58). The 2020 Edition of NFPA 58: Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
D. National Fuel Gas Code (ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54). The 2021 Edition of ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54: National Fuel Gas Code published by the NFPA. (Ord. 24-660 § 1 (Exh. A)).
15.50.020 Applicability.
A. The provisions of this chapter and EMC 15.50.010(A) shall apply to the design, installation, maintenance, alteration, repair and inspection of mechanical systems that are permanently installed, including equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and appurtenances, ventilating, heating, cooling, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems, incinerators and other energy-related systems, and be utilized to provide control of environmental conditions and related processes within buildings. This chapter shall also regulate those mechanical systems, system components, equipment and appliances specifically addressed in the IMC, except:
1. Detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) three stories or less in height above grade plane with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures shall comply with Chapter 15.30 EMC; and
2. The standards for liquefied petroleum gas installations shall be NFPA 58 and ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54 as adopted by EMC 15.50.010(C) and (D).
B. The provisions of this chapter and EMC 15.50.010(B) shall apply to the installation of fuel gas piping systems from the point of delivery, fuel gas utilization equipment, gaseous hydrogen systems, gas appliances and regulated accessories addressed in the IFGC. These requirements apply to gas piping systems extending from the point of delivery to the inlet connections of appliances and the installation and operation of residential and commercial gas appliances and related accessories.
1. Detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) three stories or less in height above grade plane with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures shall comply with Chapter 15.30 EMC.
2. The standards for liquefied petroleum gas installations shall be NFPA 58 and ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54 as adopted by EMC 15.50.010(C) and (D).
3. Gaseous hydrogen systems shall be regulated by Chapter 7 IFCG.
4. These regulations cover piping systems for natural gas with an operating pressure of 125 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) (862 kPa gauge) or less, and for LP-gas with an operating pressure of 20 psig (140 kPa gauge) or less, except as provided in IFGC Section 402.7. Coverage shall extend from the point of delivery to the outlet of the appliance shutoff valves. Piping system requirements shall include design, materials, components, fabrication, assembly, installation, testing, inspection, operation, and maintenance.
5. Requirements for gas appliances and related accessories shall include installation, combustion and ventilation air and venting and connections to piping systems.
C. Requirements Not Covered by the Technical Codes. Requirements necessary for the strength, stability, or proper operation of an existing or proposed building service installation, or for the public safety, health, and general welfare, not specifically covered by the technical codes adopted under EMC 15.50.010, shall be determined by the code official. (Ord. 24-660 § 1 (Exh. A)).
15.50.030 Exemptions.
A. Certain work is exempt from the building permit requirements of this chapter and the technical codes; provided, that:
1. Exemption from permit requirements shall not be deemed to exempt the development or its use from other applicable requirements nor grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this title, the technical codes, or any other applicable federal, state, and local regulations; and
2. Exemption from the building permit requirements of one technical code does not exempt work from the building permit requirements of other technical codes.
B. The exemptions listed herein shall not apply when the proposed work is located in any of the critical areas regulated by:
1. Chapter 14.40 EMC, Wetlands;
2. Chapter 14.50 EMC, Critical Fish and Wildlife Habitat Areas;
3. Chapter 14.70 EMC, Volcanic Hazard Areas;
4. Chapter 14.80 EMC, Flood Hazard Areas;
5. Chapter 14.90 EMC, Landslide Hazard Areas;
6. Chapter 14.100 EMC, Seismic (Earthquake) Hazard Areas; or
7. Chapter 14.110 EMC, Erosion Hazard Areas.
C. To be exempt from the requirement for a permit, the proposed scope of the work, activity, operation, practice, or function to be covered by the building permit must be equal to or smaller than the exemption listed. Building permits shall not be required for the following:
1. The following work otherwise governed by EMC 15.50.010(A):
a. Portable heating, cooking, or clothes drying appliances.
b. Portable ventilation appliances and equipment.
c. Portable cooling unit.
d. Steam, hot or chilled water piping within any heating or cooling equipment regulated by the IMC.
e. The replacement of any minor part that does not alter the approval of equipment or an appliance or make such equipment or appliance unsafe.
f. Portable evaporative cooler.
g. Self-contained refrigeration system containing 10 pounds (4.54 kg) or less of refrigerant and actuated by motors of one horsepower (0.75 kW) or less.
h. Portable fuel cell appliances that are not connected to a fixed piping system and are not interconnected.
i. Temporary growing structures as exempted by WAC 51-52-007, Exceptions.
2. The following work otherwise governed by EMC 15.50.010(B):
a. Portable heating, cooking, or clothes drying appliances.
b. The replacement of any minor part that does not alter the approval of equipment or an appliance or make such equipment or appliance unsafe.
c. Temporary growing structures as exempted by WAC 51-52-007, Exceptions.
d. Portable LP-gas appliances and equipment of all types that is not connected to a fixed fuel piping system.
e. Installation of farm appliances and equipment such as brooders, dehydrators, dryers, and irrigation equipment.
f. Raw material (feedstock) applications except for piping to special atmosphere generators.
g. Oxygen-fuel gas cutting and welding systems.
h. Industrial gas applications using gases such as acetylene and acetylenic compounds, hydrogen, ammonia, carbon monoxide, oxygen, and nitrogen.
i. Petroleum refineries, pipeline compressor or pumping stations, loading terminals, compounding plants, refinery tank farms and natural gas processing plants.
j. Integrated chemical plants or portions of such plants where flammable or combustible liquids or gases are produced by, or used in, chemical reactions.
k. LP-gas installations at utility gas plants.
l. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) installations.
m. Fuel gas piping in power and atomic energy plants.
n. Proprietary items of equipment, apparatus, or instruments such as gas-generating sets, compressors, and calorimeters.
o. LP-gas equipment for vaporization, gas mixing and gas manufacturing.
p. Temporary LP-gas piping for buildings under construction or renovation that is not to become part of the permanent piping system.
q. Installation of LP-gas systems for railroad switch heating.
r. Installation of hydrogen gas, LP-gas and compressed natural gas (CNG) systems on vehicles.
s. Except as provided in IFGC Section 401.1.1, gas piping, meters, gas pressure regulators and other appurtenances used by the serving gas supplier in the distribution of gas, other than undiluted LP-gas.
t. Building design and construction, except as specified herein.
u. Piping systems for mixtures of gas and air within the flammable range with an operating pressure greater than 10 psig (69 kPa gauge).
v. Portable fuel cell appliances that are neither connected to a fixed piping system nor interconnected to a power grid. (Ord. 24-660 § 1 (Exh. A)).
15.50.040 Amendments, additions, or exceptions.
Pursuant to RCW 19.27.060, the following contain amendments, additions, or exceptions to the codes adopted under EMC 15.50.010 applicable and enforceable within the city of Edgewood. (Ord. 24-660 § 1 (Exh. A)).
15.50.201.5 IMC Section 201.5 added – References.
Section 201 of the IMC is hereby amended to add a new subsection 201.5 to read as follows:
201.5 References. References in the IMC to Group R shall include Group I-1, Condition 2 assisted living facilities licensed by Washington state under Chapter 388-78A WAC and Group I-1, Condition 2 residential treatment facilities licensed by Washington State under Chapter 246-337 WAC.
(Ord. 24-660 § 1 (Exh. A)).