Item 4G Ord 1213 2018 IMC1
2018 International Mechanical Code
ORDINANCE NO. 1213
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE, 2018
EDITION, REGULATING THE DESIGN, INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE,
ALTERATION AND INSPECTION OF PERMANENT MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
EXCEPT ONE- AND TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGS AND MULTIPLE SINGLE-FAMILY
DWELLINGS (TOWNHOUSES), IN THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE; PROVIDING FOR
THE ADOPTION OF LOCAL AMENDMENTS THERETO; PROVIDING FOR
RECORDING OF SUCH CODE AS A PUBLIC RECORD; PROVIDING THAT THIS
ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE OF ALL ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR A
PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS HEREOF; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION IN PAMPHLET
FORM; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake, Texas is a home rule city acting under its
charter adopted by the electorate pursuant to Article XI, Section 5 of the Texas
Constitution and Chapter 9 of the Local Government Code; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Southlake deems it necessary to
adopt this ordinance governing requirements for the installation and maintenance of
Heating, Air Conditioning and other Mechanical systems including requirements for
materials, in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of
Southlake.
WHEREAS, beginning in the spring of 2018, NCTCOG’s Regional Codes
Coordinating Committee (RCCC) and its five advisory boards conducted open review
meetings over a one-year period to review the 2018 editions of the International Codes
and to develop regional amendments. Their review and recommendations were
completed and endorsed by NCTCOG’s Executive Board on September 27, 2018. Now
NCTCOG encourages jurisdictions in North Central Texas to adopt the 2018
International Building Code along with its respective regional amendments.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS:
Section 1
Adoption
That the International Mechanical Code, 2018 Edition, published by the
International Code Council, is hereby adopted as the Mechanical Code of the City of
Southlake, except for mechanical systems otherwise regulated under the International
Residential Code for One- and Two- Family Dwellings as adopted. A True and correct
copy of this document is referenced in Exhibit "A."
Section 2
Amendments
That the 2018 International Mechanical Code, as adopted herein, is hereby
amended as provided in Exhibit “B” incorporated herein and attached hereto for all
purposes of this ordinance. The City of Southlake may from time to time determine that
additional local modifications to the 2018 International Mechanical Code are necessary
and appropriate to meet the unique construction needs of the City of Southlake. To
effectuate these modifications, the City council shall enact individual ordinances
amending this ordinance fully setting forth the change to be made in the code. The
amendments shall be consolidated as Exhibit "B" to this ordinance.
Section 3
Recording
The material contained in Exhibits "A" and “B” to this ordinance shall not be
included in the formal municipal codification of ordinances, but shall be maintained as a
public record in the office of the City Secretary and/or the office of Building Inspections
and will be available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours.
Section 4
Cumulative Clause
This ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of ordinances of the City of
Southlake, Texas, except where the provisions of this ordinance are in direct conflict
with the provisions of such ordinances, in which event the conflicting provisions of such
ordinances are hereby repealed.
Section 5
Penalty
Any person, firm or corporation who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or refuses
to comply with or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this ordinance
shall be fined not more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) all violations involving
zoning, fire safety or public health and sanitation, including dumping or refuse, and shall
be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) for all other violations of this
ordinance each day that a violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate
offense.
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Section 6
Severability
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the phrases,
clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this ordinance are severable, and if any
phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared
unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction,
such unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses,
sentences, paragraphs and sections of this ordinance, since the same would have been
enacted by the City council without the incorporation in this o rdinance of any such
unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section.
Section 7
Saving Clause
All rights and remedies of the City of Southlake are expressly saved as to any
and all violations of the provisions of any ordinances affe cting the installation and
maintenance of heating, air conditioning and other mechanical systems which have
accrued at the time of the effective date of this ordinance; and, as to such accrued
violations and all pending litigation, both civil and criminal, whether pending in court or
not, under such ordinances, same shall not be affected by this ordinance buy may be
prosecuted until final disposition by the courts.
Section 8
Publication
The City Secretary of the City of Southlake is hereby authorized to pu blish this
ordinance in book or pamphlet form for general distribution among the public, and the
operative provisions of this ordinance as so published shall be admissible in evidence in
all courts without further proof than the production thereof.
The City Secretary of the City of Southlake is hereby directed to publish in the
official newspaper the City of Southlake, the caption, penalty clause, publication clause
and effective date of this ordinance one time within ten days after passage of this
ordinance, as required by Section 3.13 of the Charter of the City of Southlake.
Section 10
Effective Date
This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication
as required by law but not before May 1, 2019.
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APPROVED ON FIRST READING THIS DAY OF , 2019.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED ON SECOND READING THIS DAY OF , 2019.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
_____________________________________
CITY ATTORNEY
PUBLISHED:
EFFECTIVE:
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EXHIBIT A
2018 International Mechanical Code Complete Edition
Located in the Building Inspections Office
1400 Main St., Suite 250
City of Southlake, Texas
76092
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EXHIBIT B
Amendments to the 2018 International Mechanical Code
The following sections, paragraphs, and sentences of the 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) are
hereby amended as follows: Standard type is text from the IMC. Underlined type is text inserted. Lined
through type is deleted text from the IMC. A double asterisk (**) at the beginning of a section identifies an
amendment carried over from the 2015 edition of the code and a triple asterisk (***) identifies a new or
revised amendment with the 2018 code.
**Section 102.8; amend and add to read as follows:
[A]102.8 Referenced codes and standards. The codes and standards referenced in this code shall be
those that are listed in Chapter 15 and such codes, when specifically adopted, and standards shall be
considered as part of the requirements of this code … {Remainder Text unchanged}
[A]102.8.3 Local amendments. Whenever amendments have been adopted to the referenced codes and
standards, each reference to said code and standard shall be considered to reference the adopted
amendments. Any reference to NFPA 70 or the National Electrical Code (NEC) shall mean the Electrical
Code as adopted.
(Reason: Legal wording to recognize locally adopted codes and amendments adopted with referenced
codes.)
**Sections 106.5.2 and 106.5.3; amend to read as follows:
[A]106.5.2 Fee schedule. The fees for all mechanical work shall be as indicated in the following
schedule: (JURISDICTION TO INSERT APPROPRIATE SCHEDULE) adopted by resolution of the
governing body of the jurisdiction.
[A]106.5.3 Fee Refunds. The code official shall establish a policy for authorize authorizing the refunding
of fees as follows. {Delete balance of section}
(Reason: This calls to attention of local jurisdictions considering adoption that they need a fee schedule
and a refund policy.)
**Section 109; delete entire section and insert the following:
SECTION 109
MEANS OF APPEAL
[A]109.1 Application for appeal. Any person shall have the right to appeal a decision of the code official
to the board of appeals established by ordinance. The b oard shall be governed by the enabling
ordinance.
(Reason: Most jurisdictions already have an ordinance establishing and governing an appeals board for
this code. This also calls to the attention of jurisdictions not having such a board that it needs to be
established.)
**Section 306.3; change to read as follows:
306.3 Appliances in Attics. Attics containing appliances shall be provided . . . {bulk of paragraph
unchanged} . . . As a minimum, for access to the attic space, provide one of the following:
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1. A permanent stair.
2. A pull down stair with a minimum 300 lb. (136 kg) capacity.
3. An access door from an upper floor level.
4. Access Panel may be used in lieu of items 1, 2, and 3 with prior approval of the code official due
to building conditions.
(Reason: To provide a safe means of accessibility to appliances in attics and to allow for different types
of construction limitations. Consistent with regional amendment to IFGC 306.3 and IPC 502.3)
**Section 306.5; change to read as follows:
306.5 Equipment and Appliances on Roofs or Elevated Structures. Where equipment requiring
access or appliances are located on an elevated structure or the roof of a building such that personnel will
have to climb higher than 16 feet (4877 mm) above grade to access, an interior or exterior means of
access shall be provided. Exterior ladders providing roof access need not extend closer than 12 feet
(2438 mm) to the finish grade or floor level below and shall extend to the equipment and appliances' level
service space. Such access shall . . . {bulk of section to read the same} on roofs having a slope greater
than four units vertical in 12 units horizontal (33-percent slope). {remainder of text unchanged}.
(Reason: To assure access to roof appliances and provide options to not extend exterior ladders to
grade. Consistent with IFGC amendments.)
**Section 306.5.1; change to read as follows:
306.5.1 Sloped Roofs. Where appliances, equipment, fans or other components that require service are
installed on a roof having a slope of three units vertical in 12 units horizontal (25-percent slope) or greater
and having an edge more than 30 inches (762 mm) above grade at such edge, a catwalk at least 16
inches in width with substantial cleats spaced not more than 16 inches apart sha ll be provided from the
roof access to a level platform at the appliance. The level platform shall be provided on each side of the
appliance to which access is required for service, repair or maintenance. The platform shall be not less
than 30 inches (762 mm) in any dimension and shall be provided with guards. The guards shall extend
not less than 42 inches (1067 mm) above the platform, shall be constructed so as to prevent the passage
of a 21-inch-diameter (533 mm) sphere and shall comply with the loading requirements for guards
specified in the International Building Code…{remainder of text unchanged}.
(Reason: To assure safe access to roof appliances. Consistent with IFGC amendments.)
**Section 306; add Section 306.6 to read as follows:
306.6 Water Heaters above ground or floor. When the mezzanine or platform in which a water heater
is installed is more than eight (8) feet (2438 mm) above the ground or floor level, it shall be made
accessible by a stairway or permanent ladder fastened to the building.
Exception: A maximum 10 gallon water heater (or larger with approval) is capable of being accessed
through a lay-in ceiling and the water heater installed is not more than ten (10) feet (3048 mm) above
the ground or floor level and may be reached with a portable ladder.
(Reason: To provide safe access to water heaters and to provide lighting and receptacle for maintenance
of equipment. Consistent with regional amendments to IFGC 306.7 and International Plumbing Code
(IPC) 502.6.)
**Section 307.2.1; change to read as follows:
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307.2.1 Condensate disposal. Condensate from all cooling coils and evaporators shall be conveyed
from the drain pan outlet to an approved place of disposal. ... {text unchanged} ... Condensate shall not
discharge into a street, alley, sidewalk, rooftop, or other areas so as to cause a nuisance.
(Reason: Greater specificity in prohibited locations for condensate discharge. It is the intent of this
amendment to send condensate discharge into a sanitary sewer drain. Consistent with regional
amendment to IPC 314.2.1.)
**Section 307.2.3; Auxiliary and secondary drain systems. Amend to read as follows:
2. A separate overflow drain line shall be connected to the drain pan provided with the equipment. Such
overflow drain shall discharge to a conspicuous point of disposal to alert occupants in the event of a
stoppage of the primary drain. The overflow drain line shall connect to the drain pan at a higher level
than the primary drain connection. However, the conspicuous point shall not create a hazard such as
dripping over a walking surface or other areas so as to create a nuisance.
(Reason: Greater specificity in prohibited locations for condensate discharge. Consistent with regional
amendment to IPC 314.2.1.)
**Section 403.2.1; add item 5 to read as follows:
5. Toilet rooms within private dwellings that contain only a water closet, lavatory, or combination
thereof may be ventilated with an approved mechanical recirculating fan or similar device
designed to remove odors from the air.
(Reason: Consistent with common regional practice. Consistent with regional amendment to International
Residential Code (IRC) R303.3.)
**Section 501.3; add exception to read as follows:
501.3 Exhaust Discharge. The air removed by every mechanical exhaust system shall be discharged
outdoors at a point where it will not cause a public nuisance and not less than the distances specified in
Section 501.3.1. The air shall be discharged to a location from which it cannot again be readily drawn in
by a ventilating system. Air shall not be exhausted into an attic , crawl space, or be directed onto
walkways.
Exceptions:
1. Whole-house ventilation-type attic fans shall be permitted to discharge into the attic space of
dwelling units having private attics.
2. Commercial cooking recirculating systems.
3. Where installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and where mechanical or
natural ventilation is otherwise provided in accordance with Chapter 4, listed and labeled
domestic ductless range hoods shall not be required to discharge to the outdoors.
4. Toilet room exhaust ducts may terminate in a warehouse or shop area when infiltration of
outside air is present.
(Reason: Provide a reasonable alternative in areas where a large volume of outside air is present.)
***Section 505.4; amend to read as follows and add exception as follows:
505.4 Makeup air required. Where one or more gas, liquid or solid fuel-burning appliance that is neither
direct-vent nor uses a mechanical draft venting system is located within a dwelling unit’s air barrier, each
exhaust system capable of exhausting in excess of 400 cubic feet per minute (0.19 m 3/s) shall be
mechanically or passively provided with makeup air at a rate approximate ly equal to the difference
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between exhaust air rate and 400 cubic feet per minute. Such makeup air systems shall be equipped
with not fewer than one damper complying with Section M1503.6.2.
Exception: Makeup air is not required for exhaust systems installed for the exclusive purpose of space
cooling and intended to be operated only when windows or other air inlets are open . Where all appliances
in the house are of sealed combustion, power-vent, unvented, or electric, the exhaust hood system shall
be permitted to exhaust up to 600 cubic feet per minute (0.28 m3/s) without providing makeup air.
Exhaust hood systems capable of exhausting in excess of 600 cubic feet per minute (0.28 m3/s) shall be
provided with a makeup air at a rate approximately to the difference between the exhaust air rate and 600
cubic feet per minute.
(Reason: Exception requires makeup air equaling the amount above and beyond 400 cfm for larger fan
which will address concerns related to “fresh” air from the outdoors in hot humid climates creating a
burden on HVAC equipment and negative efficiency impacts from back -drafting and wasted energy.
Consistent with IRC M1503.6 )
**Section 607.5.1; amend to read as follows:
[BF]607.5.1 Fire Walls. Ducts and air transfer openings permitted in fire walls in accordance with
Section 706.11 of the International Building Code shall be protected with listed fire dampers installed in
accordance with their listing. For hazardous exhaust systems see Section 510.1-510.9 IMC.
(Reason: Correspond with un-amended IBC 710.8.)
END