Proposed Building Codes and Amendments under Utah Uniform Building Standards Act

Part 1
Proposed Building Codes and Amendments under
Utah Uniform Building Standard Act

 

15A-2-103 Specific editions adopted of construction code of a nationally recognized code authority.

(1) Subject to the other provisions of this part, the following construction codes are incorporated by reference, and together with the amendments specified in Chapter 3, Statewide Amendments to International Plumbing Code, and Chapter 4, Local Amendments Incorporated as Part of State Construction Code, are the construction standards to be applied to building construction, alteration, remodeling, and repair, and in the regulation of building construction, alteration, remodeling, and repair in the state:

(a) the 2012 edition of the International Building Code, including Appendix J, issued by the International Code Council;

(b) the 2012 edition of the International Residential Code, issued by the International Code Council;

(c) the 2012 edition of the International Plumbing Code, issued by the International Code Council;

(d) the 2012 edition of the International Mechanical Code, issued by the International Code Council;

(e) the 2012 edition of the International Fuel Gas Code, issued by the International Code Council;

(f) the [2011]2014 edition of the National Electrical Code, issued by the National Fire Protection Association;

(g) the 2012 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code, issued by the International Code Council;

(h) subject to Subsection 15A-2-104(2), the HUD Code;

(i) subject to Subsection 15A-2-104(1), Appendix E of the 2012 edition of the International Residential Code, issued by the International Code Council; and

(j) subject to Subsection 15A-2-104(1), the 2005 edition of the NFPA 225 Model Manufactured Home Installation Standard, issued by the National Fire Protection Association.

 

15A-3-303. Amendments to Chapter 3 of IPC.

(4) In IPC, Section 312.3, the following is added at the end of the paragraph:

"Where water is not available at the construction site or where freezing conditions limit the use of water on the construction site, plastic drainage and vent pipe may be permitted to be tested with air. The following procedures shall be followed:

1. Contractor shall recognize that plastic is extremely brittle at lower temperatures and can explode, causing serious injury or death.

2. Contractor assumes all liability for injury or death to persons or damage to property or for claims for labor and/or material arising from any alleged failure of the system during testing with air or compressed gasses.

3. Proper personal protective equipment, including safety eyewear and protective headgear, should be worn by all individuals in any area where an air or gas test is being conducted.

4. Contractor shall take all precautions necessary to limit the pressure within the plastic piping.

5. No [water supply]drain and vent system shall be pressurized in excess of 6 psi as measured by accurate gauges graduated to no more than three times the test pressure.

6. The pressure gauge shall be monitored during the test period, which should not exceed 15 minutes.

7. At the conclusion of the test, the system shall be depressurized gradually, all trapped air or gases should be vented, and test balls and plugs should be removed with caution."

 

15A-3-601. General provision.

The following are adopted as amendments to the NEC to be applicable

statewide:

(1) The IRC provisions are adopted as the residential electrical standards applicable to installations applicable under the IRC. All other installations shall com ply with the adopted NEC.

[(2) In NEC, Section 310.15(B)(7), the second sentence is deleted and replaced with the following: "For application of this section, the main power feeder shall be the feeder(s) between the main disconnect and the panelboard(s)."]

(2) NEC Section 240.87(B) is modified to add the following as an additional approved equivalent means:

6. An instantaneous trip function set at or below the available fault current.

 

15A-4-103. Amendments to IBC applicable to City of Farmington.

The following amendments are adopted as amendments to the IBC for the City of Farmington:

(1) A new IBC, Section (F) 903.2.13, is added as follows: "(F) 903.2.13 Group R, Division 3 Occupancies. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout every dwelling in accordance with NFPA 13D, when any of the following conditions are present:

1. The structure is over two stories high, as defined by the building code;

2. The nearest point of structure is more than 150 feet from the public way;

3. The total floor area of all stories is over 5,000 square feet (excluding from the

4. The structure is located on a street constructed after March 1, 2000, that has a gradient over 12% and, during fire department response, access to the structure will be gained by using such street. (If the access is intended to be from a direction where the steep gradient is not used, as determined by the Chief, this criteria shall not apply).

Such sprinkler system shall be installed in basements, but need not be installed in garages, under eves or in enclosed attic spaces, unless required by the Chief."

(2) A new IBC, Section 907.9, is added as follows: "907.9 Alarm Circuit Supervision. Alarm circuits in alarm systems provided for commercial uses (defined as other than one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses) shall have Class "A" type of supervision. Specifically, Type "B" or End-of-line resistor and horn supervised systems are not allowed."

(3) In NFPA Section 13-07, new sections are added as follows: "6.8.6 FDC Security Locks Required. All Fire Department connections installed for fire sprinkler and standpipe systems shall have approved security locks.

6.10 Fire Pump Disconnect Signs. When installing a fire pump, red plastic laminate signs shall be installed in the electrical service panel, if the pump is wired separately from the main disconnect. These signs shall state: "Fire Pump Disconnect ONLY" and "Main Breaker DOES NOT Shut Off Fire Pump".

22.1.6 Plan Preparation Identification. All plans for fire sprinkler systems, except for manufacturer's cut sheets of equipment shall include the full name of the person who prepared the drawings. When the drawings are prepared by a registered professional engineer, the engineer's signature shall also be included.

22.2.2.3 Verification of Water Supply:

22.2.2.3.1 Fire Flow Tests. Fire flow tests for verification of water supply shall be conducted and witnessed for all applications other than residential unless directed otherwise by the Chief. For residential water supply, verification shall be determined by administrative procedure.

22.2.2.3.2 Accurate and Verifiable Criteria. The design calculations and criteria shall include an accurate and verifiable water supply.

24.2.3.7 Testing and Inspection of Systems. Testing and inspection of sprinkler systems shall include, but are not limited to:

Commercial:

FLUSH-Witness Underground Supply Flush;

ROUGH Inspection-Installation of Riser, System Piping, Head Locations and all Components, Hydrostatic Pressure Test;

FINAL Inspection-Head Installation and Escutcheons, Inspectors Test Location and Flow, Main Drain Flow, FDC Location and Escutcheon, Alarm Function, Spare Parts, Labeling of Components and Signage, System Completeness, Water Supply Pressure Verification, Evaluation of Any Unusual Parameter."

 

15A-4-107. Amendments to IBC applicable to Sandy City.

The following amendments are adopted as amendments to the IBC for Sandy City:

(1) A new IBC, Section (F)903.2.13, is added as follows: "(F)903.2.13 An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 13 throughout buildings containing all occupancies where fire flow exceeds 2,000 gallons per minute, based on Table B105.1 of the [ 2009 ] 2012 International Fire Code. Exempt locations as indicated in Section 903.3.1.1.1 are allowed.

Exception: Automatic fire sprinklers are not required in buildings used solely for worship, Group R Division 3, Group U occupancies and buildings complying with the International Residential Code unless otherwise required by the International Fire Code.

 

 

Part 2
Summary of Recommended Code and Amendment Changes Under Title 15A
State Construction and Fire Codes Act
(Construction Codes)

 

This document is a summary of proposed changes recommended by the advisory committees to the Uniform Building Code Commission for changes in the State Construction Codes, and a request by the City of Farmington to delete its local amendments to the State Construction Codes.

A public hearing will be conducted before the Uniform Building Code Commission to consider these changes.

After the public hearing, the Uniform Building Code Commission will make a recommendation to the Legislature's Business and Labor Interim Committee.

These proposed changes are written with strikethrough and underline as if the changes are being made to existing statute. The changes are shown in this format for easier identification of items that are recommended for change.

Overall Summary of Proposed Changes:

The advisory committees to the Uniform Building Code Commission are recommending proposed amendments be adopted as part of the State Construction Code, and Farmington City has requested to delete its local amendments to the State Construction Codes.

There are 5 areas of changes being considered:

1. Update electrical code from the 2011 National Electrical Code (NEC) to the 2014 National Electrical Code.

2. Deletion of a current amendment to the 2011 National Electrical Code and the addition of a new amendment to the 2014 National Electrical Code.

3. Correct the wording in a current amendment for the International Plumbing Code. This does not change the requirements, it is a correction for clarification.

4. Deletion of local amendments applicable to the City of Farmington.

5. Update local amendment for Sandy City to change the reference from the 2009 International Fire Code to the 2012 International Fire Code.

 

Summary of Individual Amendments:

15A-2-103 Specific editions adopted of construction code of a nationally recognized code authority.

The change in this section is being recommended in order to update the electrical code from the 2011 National Electrical Code to the 2014 National Electrical Code.

 

15A-2-601. Amendments to the NEC

The current amendment is no longer necessary as it has been incorporated as part of the 2014 code. The new amendment will allow an additional equivalent means to reduce clearing time. There could potentially be a significant cost savings by allowing this additional equivalent means.

 

15A-3-303. Amendments to Chapter 3 of IPC.

The change in this section is being recommended to make a clarification in the current amendment. This does not increase the requirement, it is mainly for clarification of requirements.

 

15A-4-103. Amendments to IBC applicable to City of Farmington.

This change is to delete local amendments applicable to the City of Farmington.

 

15A-4-107. Amendments to IBC applicable to Sandy City.

This change is to update a local amendment for Sandy City to change the reference from the 2009 International Fire Code to the 2012 International Fire Code