Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Park Board of Appeals 2015-06-04RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Board of Appeals 1 June 4, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall Commission: Brad Klein, John Spooner, Joe Calvin, Don Darling, Tony Schiaffo Attending: Chair Spooner, Members Klein, Calvin, and Schiaffo Also Attending: Chief Building Official Will Birchfield, Building Inspector Claude Traufield, Senior Permit Technician Charlie Phillips, Recording Secretary Karen Thompson Absent: Member Darling The following minutes reflect the order of the agenda and not necessarily the chronological sequence. There were two people in the audience (Fire Marshall Marc Robinson, one citizen). Chair Spooner opened the meeting, stating this meeting would be a review of the International Mechanical Code (IMC) Significant Changes for 2012 and 2015. He explained the reasoning behind reviewing two years: the Town adopted the 2009 codes, and is planning to skip the 2012 and adopt the 2015 codes. However, in order to do this, the 2012 changes still apply. CONSENT AGENDA Minutes from May 7, 2015 Board of Appeals meeting. It was moved and seconded (Schiaffo/Calvin) to approve the minutes as presented and the motion passed unanimously. REPORTS Chief Building Official (CBO) Will Birchfield stated he attended a Structural Engineers Association of Colorado (SEAC) webinar and received information concerning snow loads. It appears the previous design criteria was too low along the Front Range and a little high in the mountains. Some mountain communities may see a little decrease in snow loads. SEAC is developing a formula for snow loads based on evaluation. CBO Birchfield stated the Town currently uses the ground snow load from the 2007 SEAC study, which recommended 45 pounds per square foot for Estes Park. Snow loads are currently increased for higher elevations. He stated having a formula will be a positive change and will remove the need for estimation. Larimer County CBO Eric Fried also attended the webinar. He and CBO Birchfield will discuss aligning the County and Town snow loads in order to maintain consistency within the Estes Valley. 2012 SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE (IMC) CBO Birchfield stated portions of the IMC are also in the International Residential Code (IRC). He reminded the Board that all the ICC codes are written as minimum standards. These regulations are a target to aim past, not a target to shoot for. The significant changes being discussed today are part of the publications from the ICC. CBO Birchfield reviewed the changes and will focus on the changes significant to the Estes Park community. The ICC publications are available for check out through the Division of Building Safety. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Board of Appeals 2 June 4, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall Equipment and Appliances on Roofs or Elevated Structures. If equipment is more than 16 feet above the surface, you must have a permanent ladder to reach it. In most cases, these stairs/ladders would be locked. Labeled Assemblies. The listing on the appliance will indicate how far away it has to be from combustible materials. There is a way to reduce some of those clearances based on construction. The change states allowable clearance reductions must now be based on listed and labeled reduced- clearance protective assemblies in accordance with UL 1618. Concrete board and other similar materials are no longer acceptable without a listing. Intake Opening Location. The minimum clearance between an air intake opening and any public way is now measured from the opening to the lot line, not to the centerline of the public way. Vertically, the minimum clearance is now 25 vertical feet. Minimum Ventilation Rates for Nail Salons. The significant changes now requires each nail station in nail salons to have a dedicated exhaust system. CBO Birchfield stated there must be added concern for the toxicity of the chemicals used. This has been addressed one time in Estes Park. Domestic Kitchen Exhaust Systems. Exhaust ducts are now required to be independent from all other exhaust systems. Builders in Estes Park are already doing this. Grease Reservoirs. CBO Birchfield stated this is an addition to the IMC. It states criteria are now provided for the construction of a grease reservoir in a grease duct system where the reservoir is not a manufactured product. This pertains to large buildings with long grease runs, and will most likely not apply to any structures in Estes Park. Grease Duct Cleanouts and Other Openings. This modification states that, in addition to the reformatting of the previous criteria for grease duct cleanouts, gasket and sealing materials on grease duct cleanout doors must now be rated at a minimum of 1500°F. Grease Duct Horizontal Cleanouts. CBO Birchfield stated this change is a modification stating criteria for cleanouts serving horizontal grease ducts have been rearranged for ease of use and clarification, and several technical provisions have been added or modified. He stated this is not an issue in Estes Park because we do not have long grease duct runs. All the grease provisions are to eliminate grease, which lessens the risk of fire. Field-Applied Grease Duct Enclosures. Duct wrap or one-hour shaft enclosure systems are now specifically prohibited from being used to reduce clearance to combustibles. CBO Birchfield stated this concerns the practice that some have used where the entire duct is not covered. The change now requires covering the entire duct. Estes Park is already practicing this, so it will not be an issue. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Board of Appeals 3 June 4, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall Type I or Type II Hood Required. A Type I or II commercial kitchen hood is not required for appliances with listed integral downdraft exhaust systems. Any time there is grease or smoke, a Type I hood is required. Type II hoods are for odors, steam, etc. The downdraft exhaust systems must be listed and labeled for the application. An example of this type of system is used in Asian grills. Type I Hoods. CBO Birchfield stated Type I hoods must be properly listed and installed to contain a fire when it occurs. The significant change states Type I hoods are no longer required to be installed where complying electric cooking appliances are being used. He emphasized the equipment must be listed and labeled. If the equipment is listed and labeled and electric, it can be installed without a Type I hood. Member Schiaffo stated it depends on what type of food is being cooked in these types of units, and he requested additional discussion on this change. CBO Birchfield stated this change aligns the IMC with the NFPA Standard 96. Fire Marshall Robinson stated typically the electric ones are smaller and meant for heating sandwiches, as they have lower BTUs and less heat. Larger units are common for pizza. All units are still required to be listed, and would be non-compliant if the user changes the product for which it was designed. Pizza restaurants are continually adding additional non-pizza products, and it will be important to keep an eye on them to see what type of grease is coming off of them. Building and Fire inspectors will control it the best they can. Member Schiaffo was concerned that users would install them correctly and possibly change them after the final inspection/sign off without the knowledge of the building or fire departments. Operation of Type I Hoods. A method is now required to keep the pilot burner on a gas cooking appliance from being extinguished when the kitchen exhaust fan interlock shuts off appliances. CBO Birchfield stated the fan is supposed to be on any time the cooking operation is taking place. If you turn the exhaust fan off, it should not kill the pilots. A method of interlock between an exhaust hood system and cooking appliances shall not involve or depend upon any component of a fire extinguishing system. This is different than what we have been doing. Exhaust Flow Rate Label for Type I Hoods. In order to move the grease under the hood, a certain amount of air has to be moved. Manufacturers of listed Type I commercial cooking hoods are now required to provide information on a label attached to the hood specifying the listed minimum exhaust air flow in cubic feet per minute per linear foot of hood based upon the cooking appliance duty classification. Type II Hoods. Fire suppression systems are not required. A Type II hood is now required to be installed above all appliances that produce products of combustion but do not produce grease or smoke. CBO Birchfield stated this will probably not apply much in Estes Park, as this procedure is already being done. Hoods Penetrating a Ceiling. Field-applied grease duct enclosure systems are now specifically prohibited from being used as enclosures over the top of Type I hoods. CBO Birchfield stated grease ducts that attach the top of the hood to the fan are supposed to be enclosed in a minimum one-hour enclosure. This is frequently seen in Estes Park. The entire area of the hood above the ceiling is to be protected in a one-hour shaft. Member Schiaffo stated an option could be to have a zero clearance RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Board of Appeals 4 June 4, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall hood. This portion of the code could also become a health department issue. CBO Birchfield stated there is currently a local amendment to delete 506.3.10.4 Duct enclosure not required. This was removed from the code because all of the buildings in downtown are constructed of wood. By deleting this code language, all ducts are required to be wrapped. There was discussion concerning the significant change, with comments being: possibly revise the code to state the duct has to be enclosed, but if the hood is at least 18 inches away from combustibles you don’t have to protect the hood; possibly add a statement requiring 5/8 X gypsum board; it will be a problem if we don’t arrive at a solution; one solution would be a zero clearance hood; drywall is combustible in the IMC; there is difficulty in Estes park to keep all combustibles at least 18 inches away from the hood and duct. There was general consensus among the Board to continue this discussion after CBO Birchfield completes some additional research. Contamination Prevention in Plenums. CBO Birchfield would like to see a local amendment to the building codes prohibiting plenums in commercial buildings. He stated plenums create a lot of problems, including but not limited to moving dirty air, creating issues with the energy code requirements, etc. Comments included: possibly allow plenums in residential buildings and prohibit them in commercial buildings; plenums could be in a stud base or concealed above the ceiling; everything in a plenum has to be rated differently; in some cases, smoke detectors are required in plenums; it was recommended to have additional discussion about changes that can be made in buildings that could affect the air circulation in the plenums; this is mostly a commercial issue, and not widely seen in Estes Park; Fire Marshall Robinson supported prohibiting plenums in commercial buildings. Chair Spooner stated it was good to identify all the issues and then have a session or two to work out the details and possible amendments. It was moved and seconded (Schiaffo/Klein) to move forward with a local amendment to prohibit plenums in commercial buildings and the motion passed 4-0 with one absent. Materials within Plenums. Clarifies that material or assembly that encloses a combustible material in a plenum must be noncombustible, gypsum board, or listed and labeled as part of a tested assembly or system. Rigid Duct Penetrations. CBO Birchfield stated this has been a point of confusion for a long time. This is a modification stating ”In relationship to the required garage/dwelling separation, only those ducts that penetrate a wall or ceiling between the dwelling and the adjacent private garage need comply with Section 603.7.” This means the furnace can be located in a garage, and you can hard duct into the house for your supply and return, but you cannot cut holes in the ductwork being used to heat the house. Duct Joints, Seams, and Connections. Unlisted duct tape is no longer permitted as a sealant on nonmetallic ducts. It has never been approved as a connector. There are products specifically for connecting. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Board of Appeals 5 June 4, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall Factory-Built Chimney Offsets. The maximum offset in a factory-built chimney is now specified and the number of offsets has been limited. No part of the chimney shall be at an angle of more than 30 degrees from vertical at any point in the assembly and the chimney assembly shall not include more than 4 elbows. Fireplace Accessories. Solid fuel burning. Fireplace accessories must now comply with UL907, which has been added to Chapter 15. Fireplace accessories include, but may not be limited to glass door assemblies, combustion air vents, smoke chambers, surfacing materials, and termination caps. Evaporative Cooling Equipment. Requirements for the installation of evaporative coolers (swamp coolers) have been introduced into the IMC in the new Section 928. CBO Birchfield stated with this addition, swamp coolers will now require a building permit. That concluded the significant changes to the 2012 International Mechanical Code. 2015 SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE (IMC) Fall-Arresting Restraint Systems. If you have permanent anchors on the roof for fall protection, you do not have to have guards. Guards are still required if you are close to the edge or if the slope is steeper than 4/12 pitch. Access. More than just appliances are now required to have access for inspection, service, replacement and repair. You cannot have permanent construction around HVAC system components. Condensate Drain Line Maintenance. Requires that condensate drains be configured or equipped to allow maintenance of the drain without the drain pipe or tubing being cut. This is an addition to the code to prevent blockages as a result of debris and biological growth in the system. Condensate Pumps in Uninhabitable Spaces. Condensate pumps located in uninhabitable spaces and used with condensing fuel-fired appliances and cooling equipment must be connected to the appliance or equipment served by the pump to prevent water damage in the event of pump failure. Comments on this addition to the code include, but were not limited to: this item was tabled last time; if you are going to do this you have to have a sensor; the county is not allowing equipment pits in crawl spaces; there is concern about condensate and ground water issues; there may be a local amendment with the county that changed this; if this is allowed in the crawl space, you will now have to protect the joists with drywall; this would apply to new construction only; this item needs additional discussion. CBO Birchfield directed Inspector Traufield to take this addition to the next Colorado Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (CAPMO) to get input from members on how other jurisdictions are dealing with this. CBO Birchfield also wanted other opinions about placement of condensate pumps in the crawl space. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Board of Appeals 6 June 4, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall Outdoor Air and Local Exhaust Airflow Rates. New text introduces the basic requirements of ASHRAE 62.2 related to mechanical ventilation for Group R-2, R-3, and R-4 buildings three stories or less in height. This is an addition to the code with requirements for outdoor air and local exhaust, which amounts to a whole building exhaust system. Manicure and Pedicure Station Exhaust Rate. This is a modification to the code, stating the exhaust system must move at least 50 cfm per station. Manicure and Pedicure Station Exhaust System. This is an addition to the code specifically covering manicure and pedicure stations and states exhaust requirements in addition to those in Table 403.3.1.1. Manicure tables and pedicure stations not provided with factory-installed exhaust inlets shall be provided with exhaust inlets located not more than 12 inches horizontally and vertically from the point of chemical application. Dryer Exhaust Duct Power Ventilators. This is an addition to the code, recognizing the use of dryer exhaust duct power ventilators (DEDPVs) for installations that exceed the allowable exhaust duct length for clothes dryers. It means a booster can be added, as long as it is listed and labeled, to a dryer duct. We were allowing these before, but the fans weren’t listed. There is now a standard to allow for moist air. Dryer Exhaust Duct Installation. Instead of prohibiting all duct fasteners such as screws and rivets, the code now limits the penetration of fasteners where installed. When you put the duct together for a dryer, every edge can catch lint, which is combustible. Appliances overheat when not installed properly. Flexible pipe is not allowed for that reason. The code has been modified to allow screw fasteners as long as they do not protrude more than 1/8 inch into the duct. Comments included: this portion of the code is not enforceable; contractors are currently using clamps and tape; a local amendment should prohibit screws to connect the duct; UL listed duct clamps are very expensive; tape is good for sealing but not connecting; clamps alone are not holding everything in place; tape keeps the air from blowing through the joints but is also helping to keep the joint together. Inspector Traufield has done some research, and thinks the clamp/tape combination, with good support, will reasonably satisfy the concerns he has about mitigating the concerns. There was general consensus for Inspector Traufield to determine what is being done in other jurisdictions concerning this code change. Domestic Range Hoods. Scope of domestic kitchen hoods coverage has been expanded to beyond dwelling units. Domestic hoods are mandated in new Section 505.4. Domestic Kitchen Exhaust Systems in Multi-story Buildings. This addition will not affect Estes Park, as we do not have any buildings like this. Grease Duct Reservoirs. If there is a need, you have to add a reservoir. Not a problem here because there are no long grease duct runs. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Board of Appeals 7 June 4, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall Grease Duct Cleanouts and Openings. The cleanout spacing provisions have been added to be consistent with Section 506.3.9 for horizontal ducts. Cleanout openings shall not be spaced more than 20 feet apart and not more than 10 feet from changes in direction greater than 45 degrees. Grease Duct Enclosures. This modification prohibits the installation of fire and smoke dampers in grease ducts. In-Line Fan Location in Exhaust Ducts Serving Commercial Kitchen Hoods. This is not typical for Estes Park. This is an addition to the code addressing the enclosure requirements for in-line exhaust fans located in kitchen hood exhaust ducts, in effect treating them the same as ducts. If you put a domestic range in a commercial building, you should have a Type I hood. CBO Birchfield stated decisions will need to be made concerning domestic appliances being installed in commercial buildings, e.g. community centers, churches, etc. Hinged Up-Blast Fans for Type I Hoods. The code now requires that hinged exhaust fans be provided with means to limit the travel of the fan assembly to prevent injury to personnel and damage to the building and fan. These fans are on top of the grease duct, are hinged and heavy. They can no longer fall freely. Type I Hood Installation. If someone wants to put in a Type I hood, they have to ensure compliance with all aspects of a Type I exhaust system, whether the Type I hood is required by the code or installed by choice. This is for people that want to put in a Type I hood when only a Type II is required. If a Type I hood is installed, it must have all the bells and whistles, so when the next tenant comes in they can expect to have a complete Type I hood set-up if that is what was installed by the previous tenant. Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Hood System Operation. The requirement for automatic activation of the exhaust system has been revised to provide the intended performance requirements and to clarify that an interlock arrangement is an alternative to automatic hood operation. The Fire Marshall will inspect this during his fire suppression system inspection. Heat Sensors for Multiple Commercial Kitchen Hoods. New text prohibits the use of a single sensor mounted in the common ductwork for commercial kitchen hood systems having multiple hoods manifolded together. Type I Hood Grease Filters. CBO Birchfield stated field-fabricated hoods will no longer be allowed. All must be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 1046. Air Balance for Commercial Kitchen Ventilation Systems. This new section requires that an air balance schedule be submitted with the design plans for commercial kitchen ventilation systems. The Town has been doing this for some time, so this will not be an issue. CBO Birchfield stated this is one place where the health department and the IMC are at odds. The IMC wants a little bit of negative pressure RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Board of Appeals 8 June 4, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall in the kitchen, while the Health Department wants it under positive pressure. His stance is that if the Health and Fire Departments are accepting of the balance, the Division of Building Safety will accept it. Hazardous Exhaust Systems. Text in previous editions of the code that alluded to the recirculation of hazardous exhaust has been deleted. Hazardous exhaust systems are not common in Estes Park. Energy Recovery Ventilation Systems. These ERV systems of the coil-type heat exchanger (run-around coils) are no longer limited in their application. You can use them anywhere. Plenums Limited to One Fire Area. If we prohibit plenums this will not be an issue. CBO Birchfield stated to his knowledge, only the medical center and the assisted living center were built with more than one fire area. Plenum Construction. This will not be an issue if we prohibit plenums. Discrete Plumbing and Mechanical Products in Plenums. Again, not an issue if plenums are prohibited. Duct Construction Minimum Sheet Metal Thickness for Single Dwelling Units. The table for duct gages for dwelling units has been replaced with thicknesses consistent with the SMACNA sheet metal construction standard. Duct Joints, Seams and Connections. Duct sealant tapes used on sheet-metal ducts must be listed to UL 181B as is required for sealing tapes and mastics for flexible ducts. Dampered Openings. Where dampers are installed on combustion air openings, the code now requires an interlock with the appliance to prevent operation of the appliance when the damper is closed. Manual dampers are prohibited on combustion air openings. Door Clearance to Vent Terminals. To prevent damage to the vent, door or surrounding materials, doors are not permitted to swing within 12 inches of an appliance vent terminal. Gasketed Fireplace Doors. Gasketed (sealed) doors are prohibited on factory-built fireplaces except where the fireplaces are listed for use with such doors. CURRENT LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE (2009) Chapter 1 references items that are included in the Building Code, e.g. appeals process, violations, penalties, etc. Text about fines were removed, since the Town handles those items in court. The Town establishes building permit and other associated fees, but does not determine fines for violations and penalties. Temporary Equipment. During construction, the manufacturer has to say it is appropriate to use the equipment during construction. Otherwise, you cannot use the permanent equipment during construction. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Board of Appeals 9 June 4, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall Heating and Cooling Load Calculations. This will be addressed in the Energy Code. Balancing. If the inspectors have reason to believe the mechanical system is not balanced properly, they will ask for a function test to determine if the air is moving properly. Clothes Dryer Exhaust Installation. Exhaust termination cannot be within 3 feet of an opening to a building. Kitchens with gas ovens. Exhaust system is required. Duct Enclosure. The section stating duct enclosure was not required was removed. Duct enclosure is required in the Town of Estes Park. This portion of the code may be revised pending further discussion. Termination through an exterior wall. Exhaust outlets cannot terminate within five feet horizontally of an area used for public access. Type I Hoods. Clarifies and lists types of equipment that would lead to the requirement of Type I hoods. Griddles, fryers, ranges, ovens. CBO Birchfield stated the list came from the Larimer County Health Department. Plenums. This amendment states what cannot be used as air plenums. Duct sizing. Ducts must be installed in accordance with the Energy Code. Various manuals assist with the calculations. Duct protection during construction. Ducts have to be protected from construction debris during construction so they will be clean when you fire up the equipment. Combustion air ducts and combustion air openings. Shall not penetrate fire rated assemblies where fire dampers, smoke dampers, or fire and smoke dampers are required. Access and Identification. Fire and smoke dampers must be provided with an approved means of access. Fire and smoke dampers are built into the assemblies, so access panels are required. This amendment spells out what the access needs to look like. Multi-story prohibited. Common venting systems for appliances located on more than one floor level shall be prohibited, except engineered systems where all of the appliances served by the common vent are located in rooms or spaces that are accessed only from the outdoors. The Board discussed whether or not to prohibit this all together. For new construction, there was general consensus of the Board to prohibit multi-story venting. Engineered systems are acceptable for existing buildings, but would not be allowed in new construction. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Board of Appeals 10 June 4, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall Log Lighters. Log lighters without an automatic shut-off safety feature are prohibited. There was discussion as to whether to add an amendment stating gas lines to fireboxes are prohibited unless they are connected to a fuel-fired appliance. Based on the discussion, CBO Birchfield will draft an amendment. Unvented gas log heaters. An unvented gas log heater shall not be installed in a factory-built fireplace. CBO Birchfield clarified that a gas log heater is an appliance that is inserted into an existing fireplace. Chair Spooner stated the next meeting will be held Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 4 p.m. The International Plumbing Code will be discussed. He encouraged the Sanitation Districts and Town Water Department be represented at the next meeting. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. ___________________________________ John Spooner, Chair ___________________________________ Karen Thompson, Recording Secretary