July 16, 2007 minutes
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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Jim Sparkes, Bryan Wyatt, Gary Mohr, Kevin Chaney |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Mark Jarboe |
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GUEST PRESENT: |
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Bill Schweitzer, IAPMO |
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STAFF PRESENT:
EX-OFFICIO: |
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Barry Walthall, Building Safety Manager
Patrick O’Brien, Mechanical Inspector |
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Meeting called to order at 6:35 p.m.
After review, Mohr made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Seconded by Wyatt, pass 4-0.
Discuss the review of chapters 7-14 of the 2006 IMC
Chaney began the discussion by distributing correspondence he had received regarding the Boards regulation of the equipment sizing and duct sizing. One letter was from a contractor that expressed his opposition to requiring extra provisions that he didn’t perceive as necessary. Chaney also stated he had received an invitation from the LHBA to a meeting to discuss the new equipment sizing regulations and impacts those regulations would have on the building and mechanical contractors. He stated he was invited because he was a member of the LHBA. Chaney also stated that he felt the Board had been asked to review the International codes and there has been enough concern about equipment and airflow performance problems to warrant an amendment requiring stricter, more performance based standards. Chaney asked staff if the City was going to back the board on this decision or were the homebuilders going to be able to overturn the Board’s decisions.
Staff responded to his knowledge the City would support the decision of the board.
Walthall responded the Building Safety Division would encourage the Board to continue on with the decision; the Board had identified issues they feel need to be addressed and have provided appropriate recommendations. The Board’s justification for their proposed changes appear solid, and inline with staff perception of City Commission direction such as improved energy efficiency and conservation of natural resources and energy costs over the life of these structures and systems. He also stated there may be opposition to the requirement for additional construction details for equipment and duct sizing and could not assess what the final disposition might be.
Chaney also stated there is already sizing for plumbing and electrical systems and there should be sizing for the mechanical systems.
Mohr stated he could understand the contractor’s issues because several people could size a mechanical system several different ways.
Wyatt stated there has needed to be better regulation of the sizing requirements but in previous codes the provisions that were needed were not enforceable. Having the more prescriptive provisions would help level the playing field and also help a homeowner that may have a poor performing mechanical system to more easily get the contractor to get the system working right.
Chaney also handed out information he received from Bill Schweitzer of IAPMO that pointed out differences between the IMC and the IRC, he asked Schweitzer to elaborate on the memo.
Schweitzer stated he had Bob Shepherd prepared the comparison and said Bob does not like the I-codes. He also stated the IMC and UMC are comparable codes but the UMC is more complete and would not need any additional books for a mechanical installation. In addition to a complete book the I-codes do not have any medical gas provisions even though they refer to a standard, the UPC has the medical gas regulations in the book. He stated the IRC is good for one and two family buildings and would just need the one book.
Mohr stated the board has been directed by the Commission the review and adopt the I-codes and talking about the differences between the I-codes and the U-codes was a waste of time and asked to continue on the path of adopting the I-codes as directed by the Commission. He asked Schweitzer if he saw something in the IMC that should be addressed to bring it to the Board’s attention.
Staff distributed the list of questions discussed at the previous meeting along with the responses and code references.
Staff also distributed a draft ordinance with the changes from the last meeting.
Chaney mentioned he thought the accessible requirement for duct board was worded 100% accessible.
Staff responded the existing ordinance did not include “100%”.
Mohr stated he would like to see duct board removed from the code.
Chaney stated the Board had tried to remove duct board from the code but after protest from a duct board manufacturer, decided instead to require the duct board to be accessible. Chaney stated he would entertain a motion.
Mohr made a motion to prohibit duct board in commercial applications. Seconded by Chaney. Pass 4-0.
Chapter 7, no issues.
Chapter 8, no issues. Staff reminded the Board chapter 8 of the IMC regulated chimneys and vents for appliances other than gas-fired appliances. Gas-fired appliances were regulated by the IFGC.
Chapter 9, Sparkes mentioned he would like to see where factory-built wood burning fireplaces were installed, the base the unit rests on and the chase should be fire resistant.
Staff responded a very small percentage of fireplace installations were of the wood burning type.
Chapter 10, Chaney mentioned for boilers, he thought boilers that were over 200,000 btu required an emergency shutoff switch located outside the boiler room. He also stated the state inspects boilers and it might be a state regulation and would like to add it to the IMC as an amendment.
Staff responded he would verify the provision was not located elsewhere in the City Code.
Chaney stated if there is not a regulation, they could copy the state regulation and find a place for it in chapter 10.
Schweitzer mentioned in section 1003.3, the code requires approved welders, approved by whom.
Mohr moved to replace “approved” with “certified” in section 1003.3. Seconded by Chaney. Pass 4-0.
Chapter 11, no issues.
Chapter 12, no issues.
Wyatt asked if the City was planning to inform the contractors of the significant changes to the different codes.
Walthall responded there would be code update sessions in upcoming months to help with all the changes. He also stated the City was working with the LHBA and Johnson County to try to arrange at least one training session in Lawrence to reduce the number of people that needed to travel to Johnson County for their continuing education. The proposed training would be based upon transition from the 1997 UBC to 2006 IRC, and may include some trades codes provisions as well.
Miscellaneous
The board moved the next meeting to July 30th, 2007.
Motion to adjourn made by Chaney, seconded by Mohr, passed 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m.