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CONSTRUCTION CODESnew codes for a changing world

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Types of Codes

• Private Sector Codes– States– Local Jurisdiction

• Federal Sector Code– Federal building codes and standards– Occupational Safety & Health Administration

• International Code– International Code Council– IECC [International Energy Conservation Code]

• NFPA [National Fire Protection Association]– Fire Prevention Codes & Standards

• Equipment Standards– Appliances and Commercial Equipment– American Gas Association– Canadian Standards Association

• International Fuel Code

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International Code Council

• Was a merger of three building organizations– International Council of Building Officials [ICBO]– Building Officials and Code Administrators [BOCA]

• BOCA National Building Code

– Southern Building Code Congress International [SBCCI]• Standard Building Code

The new ICC was intended to provide consistent standards for safe construction and eliminate differences between the three different predecessor codes. Primarily used in North America

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NATIONAL CODES

• UNIFORM BUILDING CODE– California Building Code

• UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE• UNIFORM MECHANICAL CODE

– California Mechanical Code

• NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE– California Electrical Code

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Uniform Building Code

• First published in 1927 by the International Council of Building Officials– Originally intended to promote public safety and provide

standardized requirements for safe construction.– Updated editions of the code were published

approximately every three years until 1997.– Was replaced in 2000 by the International Building Code

published by the International Code Council– Local jurisdictions omit or modify some sections as their

own requirements

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Uniform Plumbing Code

• Designated as an American National Standard– Developed by International Association of Plumbing

and Mechanical Officials [IAPMO]– Means of promoting the public’s health, safety and

welfare• Developed using the American National Standards Institute’s

consensus on plumbing practices• In 1926 a group of Los Angeles plumbing inspectors

developed a model code that could be uniformly applied across many local jurisdictions.

• In 1928, Los Angeles adopted the first incarnation of a uniform plumbing code developed by the Los Angeles City Plumbing inspectors Association (LACPIA)

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Uniform Plumbing Code

• The current edition of the UPC [Uniform Plumbing Code] is developed under the ANSI [American National Standard Institute] consensus process and is supported by the

– American Society of Sanitary Engineering [ASSE] – Mechanical Contractors Association of America [MCAA]– Plumbing – Heating – Cooling – Contractors National Association

[PHCC-NA]– United Association [UA] and the World Plumbing Council [WPC]

• These associations support IAPMO’s open consensus process being used to develop IAPMO’s codes and standards.

– Local jurisdictions omit or modify some sections as their own requirements

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Uniform Mechanical Code

• Published by the Internal Code Council [ICC]– International Mechanical Code

• Updated on a three year cycle• Protects public health and safety for all

building heating, cooling and ventilation related design, installation and inspection by providing a minimum safeguard for people at homes, schools and workplaces.

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Uniform Mechanical Code

• Fuel Burning Appliances– Heating Systems– Heating System venting

• Cooling System installation & design– Locations– Protection– Safety

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National Electrical Code or NFPA 70

• Is a part of the National Fire Codes series– Published by the National Fire Protection

Association [NFPA]– Is not a “US Law” [federal] but is commonly

mandated by state or local law.

• The “authority having jurisdiction” inspects for compliance with these minimum standards

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National Electrical Code or NFPA 70

• Developed by NFPA’s Committee on the National Electrical Code– 19 Code making panels [committees]– And a technical correlating committee– Approved as an American National Standard by

ANSI [Formerly identified as ANSI / NFPA 70]– First published in 1897– Updated every three years– Local jurisdictions omit or modify some sections

as their own requirements

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National Fire Protection Association

• Regulations Governing the Development of NFPA Standards– National Electrical Code [NFPA 70]– National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code [NFPA 72]– Fire Sprinkler systems [NFPA 13]– Water based fire protection system standards [NFPA 25]– Fire Safety and Protection

• CO Detection [NFPA 101]

– Hazardous Materials• Flammable materials

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Liability

• In the U.S., anyone, including the city issuing building permits, may face a civil liability lawsuit (be sued) for negligently creating a situation that results in loss of life or property. Those who fail to adhere to well known best practices for safety have been held negligent. This means that the city should adopt and enforce building, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical codes that specify standards and practices for safe systems (as well as other departments such as water and fuel-gas systems). This creates a system whereby a city can best avoid lawsuits by adopting a single, standard set of building code laws. This has led to the NEC becoming the de facto standard set of electrical requirements. A licensed tradesman will have spent years of apprenticeship studying and practicing the INTERNATIONAL CODE requirements prior to obtaining his or her state license.

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Equipment Standards

• UL (Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.)– Is an independent product safety certification

organization– Established in 1894– Develops standards and test procedures for

product safety– Evaluates products for environmental

sustainability– Is one of seven companies approved by OSHA

known as a National Recognized Testing Laboratory

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Equipment Standards

• UL Standards– Electrical Enclosures

• Boxes – Junction and Pull (BGUZ)• Cabinets and Cutout Boxes-Sheet Metal (CYIV) • Industrial Control Panel Enclosures (NITW)

– Industrial Control Panels• Industrial Control Panels (NITW)• Flame Control Panels• Power Press Control Panels

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Equipment Standards

– Industrial Control Equipment Auxiliary Devices (NKCR)• Electromechanical• Solid State• Mechanical• Electronic

– Combination Motor Controllers (NKJH)– Float and Pressure-Operated Switches (NKPZ)

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Equipment Standards

• American Gas Association [AGA]– Founded in 1918– American Trade Association representing

• Natural gas supply companies• Gas appliance manufacturer’s

– Has two divisions• Operations and engineering• Public affairs

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Equipment Standards

– 1918 to 1997 AGA laboratories tested the designs of gas appliances and accessories to help ensure their conformity with the national standards for safety.

– Ceased laboratory activities in 1997• Lead to the formation of the CSA International which

continues to run a U.S. certification – type program from the original AGA Cleveland laboratory.

– Now AGA’s primary role is Manufactured Gas & Natural Gas production and distribution

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Equipment Standards

• CSA [Canadian Standards Association]– Provider of product testing and certification

• Electrical• Mechanical• Plumbing• Gas

– CSA International is accredited by• OSHA [Occupational Safety & Health Administration]• ANSI [American National Standards Institute]• NVLAP [National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program]• NES [National Evaluation Service]• Standards Council of Canada

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Equipment Standards

• As World War II ended, Canada experienced a housing boom and CSA was called on to develop additional independent third-party testing and certification programs for areas such as gas and plumbing. To meet the increased demand, in 1954, CSA officially opened its fully equipped laboratories on Rexdale Boulevard in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

• Today CSA International has laboratories across Canada, the U.S., Asia, and Europe, and works closely with approximately 15,000 companies in more than 60 countries.

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International Fuel Gas Code

• Published by the International Code Council

• Updated on a three year cycle• Published in partnership with the AGA and

CSA• Protects the health and safety for all

building systems that use fuel gas– Fuel burning appliances regulations– Chimney, vents regulations– Gas pipe sizing

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Health and Safety Code

• Health and safety law is a body of law that protects the health, safety and welfare of the general public and certain defined sectors of the population such as employees. Most jurisdictions have a framework of health and safety law which will usually be enforced by the state using an inspectorate, regulatory control and the criminal law.

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Health and Safety Code

• Local Health and Safety Regulations• Facility regulations

– Medical [Hospitals, Private, Institutional]– Schools [Private & Public]– Long Term Care– Skilled Nursing Facilities– Day Care [Children and Adult]– Sanitation [Disposal & Remediation]– Graves & Cemeteries [Death and Record keeping]– Fire Services– Housing [for human habitation]– Hazardous Materials– Air Resources & Pollution– Cold Storage [Retail Food, etc.]