HomeMy WebLinkAbout027 - 04/05/2022 - AMENDING CITY CODE FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPEALING THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE AND ADOPTINGORDINANCE NO.027, 2022
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING CHAPTER 5, ARTICLE IV OF THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF FORT COLLINS FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPEALING THE
2018 INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE AND ADOPTING THE
2021 INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE, WITH AMENDMENTS
WHEREAS, since 1924, the City has reviewed, amended and adopted the latest nationally
recognized building standards available for the times; and
WHEREAS, upon recommendation of City staff, the City Council has determined that it is
in the best interests of the City to align nine interconnected basic construction codes under one
publication year; and
WHEREAS, the nine interconnected basic construction codes are the International
Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, International
Fuel Gas Code, International Energy Conservation Code, International Property Maintenance
Code, International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, International Existing Building Code, and the
International Plumbing Code to the extent adopted by the Colorado Plumbing Code; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the 2021 publication year of the nine
interconnected basic construction codes should be adopted and that any counterpart International
codes previously adopted should be repealed, both in order to align the publication years of the
codes and because the 2021 publications contain improvements in construction code regulation;
and
WHEREAS, City staff has conducted a significant public outreach program, working with
the regulated construction industry and building professionals; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of the nine interconnected basic construction codes has been
presented to community groups and feedback has been received from the Water Commission,
Energy Board, Commission on Disability, Natural Resource Advisory Board, Poudre Fire
Authority Board, Building Review Commission, Affordable Housing Board, and Air Quality
Advisory Board; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the health,
safety and welfare of the City and its residents that the 2021 International Mechanical Code be
adopted, with local amendments as set forth in this Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the City Charter, Article II, Section 7, City Council may enact
any ordinance which adopts a code by reference in whole or in part provided that before adoption
of such ordinance the Council hold a public hearing thereon and that notice of the hearing shall be
published twice in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City, with one of such
publications occurring at least eight (8) days preceding the hearing and the other publication
occurring at least fifteen (15) days preceding the hearing; and
WHEREAS, in compliance with City Charter, Article II, Section 7, the City Clerk
published in the Fort Collins Coloradoan such notice of hearing concerning adoption of the 2021
International Codes on January 30, 2022, and February 6, 2022; and
WHEREAS, attached as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by reference is the Notice of
Public Hearing dated January 24, 2022, that was so published and which the Council hereby finds
meets the requirements of Article II, Section 7 of the City Charter.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. The City Council hereby repeals the 2018 International Mechanical Code
("IMC") and hereby adopts 2021 IMC as amended by this Ordinance.
Section 3. That Section 5-106 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 5-106. — Adoption of standards.
Pursuant to the power and authority conferred on the City Council by C.R.S. § 31-16-202
and Article II, Section 7 of the Charter, the City Council has adopted the 2021
International Mechanical Code, published by the International Code Council, as amended
by the City, which shall have the same force and effect as though set forth in full herein.
The subject matter of the 2021 International Mechanical Code adopted herein includes
comprehensive provisions and standards regulating and controlling the design,
construction, installation, quality of materials, location, operation and maintenance of
heating, ventilating, cooling and refrigeration systems, incinerators, miscellaneous heat -
producing appliances for the purposes of protecting public health, safety and general
welfare. None of the 2021 International Mechanical Code Appendices are adopted.
Section 4. That Section 5-107 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby repealed
and re-enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 5-107. - Amendments and deletions to the 2021 International Mechanical Code.
The 2021 International Mechanical Code adopted in § 5-106 is hereby amended to
read as follows:
1. Section 101.1 Title is hereby amended to read as follows:
101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Mechanical Code of the City of
Fort Collins, hereinafter referred to as "this code."
2. Section 102.8 Referenced codes and standards is amended to read asfollows:
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Section 102.8 reference codes and standards. The codes and standards referenced
herein shall be those that are listed in Section 101.4 of the adopted International
Building Code, entitled "Referenced Codes," and shall be considered as part of the
requirements of this code to the prescribed extent of each such reference and as further
regulated in Sections 102.8.1 and 102.8.2.
Exception: Where enforcement of a code provision would violate the conditions
of the listing of the equipment or appliance, the conditions of the listing and the
manufacturer's installation instructions shall apply.
3. Section 103 Code Compliance Agency is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced
with the following:
SECTION 103 — CODE ADMINISTRATION
103.1 Entity charged with code administration shall be as determined in accordance
with Section 103 of the adopted International Building Code, entitled "CODE
ADMINISTRATION."
4. Section 106.1.1 Annual permit and Section 106.1.2 Annual permit records are
deleted in theirentirety.
5. Section 108.3 Testing is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
108.3 Testing. Installed heating, cooling and ventilation systems shall be performance -
tested by an approved agency and adjusted to operate within design specifications, in
accordance with ANSI/ACCA QI 5-2010 HVAC Quality Installation Specification.
Documentation of results shall be submitted to the building official prior to approval.
Exception: Buildings subject to commissioning requirements in SECTION C408 of
the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, as amended.
6. Section 109 Fees is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
SECTION 109 FEES
109.1 Fees. All items relating to fees shall be as specified in Section 109 of the adopted
International Building Code, entitled "FEES."
7. SECTION 114 MEANS OF APPEAL is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced
with the following:
SECTION 114
MEANS OF APPEALS
114.1 General. Appeals of decisions, determinations and interpretations of this code
shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Section 1 l3 of the adopted
International Building Code, entitled "MEANS OF APPEALS."
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8. Section 115.4 Violation Penalties is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with
the following:
115.4 Violation penalties. All items related to violation penalties shall be made
pursuant to the applicable provisions of Section 114.4 of the adopted International
Building Code.
9. A new Section 115.4.1 Work Commencing before permit issuance is hereby added
to read as follows:
115.4.1 Work commencing before permit issuance. All items related to work
commencing before permit issuance shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions
of Section 109.2 of the adopted International Building Code.
10. SECTION 202 GENERAL DEFINITIONS is hereby amended to add the following
definitions in alphabetical sequence as follows:
MULTIFAMILY. Any building housing group R-1, R-2 or R-4 occupancies.
WHOLE -DWELLING UNIT MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEM, An
exhaust system, supply system, or combination thereof that is designed to mechanically
exchange indoor air for outdoor air when operating continuously or through a
programmed intermittent schedule to satisfy the whole -dwelling ventilation rate.
11. Section 403.3.2 Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 occupancies, three stories and less is
hereby amended to read as follows:
403.3.2 Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 occupancies, three stories and less. The design of
local exhaust systems for outdoor air in Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 occupancies shall
comply with Sections 403.3.2.1 through 403.3.2.7.
12. Section 403.3.2.1 Outdoor air for dwelling units is amended to read as follows:
403.3.2.1 Outdoor air for dwelling units. An outdoor air ventilation system consisting
of a mechanical exhaust system, supply system or combination thereof shall be installed
for each dwelling unit. Local exhaust or supply systems, including outdoor air ducts
connected to the return side of an air handler, are permitted to serve as such system.
The outdoor air ventilation system shall be designed to provide the required rate of
outdoor air continuously during the period the building is occupied, and the system
design documents shall be submitted, as required by the building official, at the time of
application for a building permit. The minimum continuous outdoor airflow rate shall
be determined in accordance with Equation 4-9.
QoA= 0.01Afl,,,,r+ 7.5(Nvr+ 1) (Equation 4-9)
where:
QOA = outdoor airflow rate, cfm
Afloor = floor area, ft2
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Nbr = number of bedrooms; not to be less than one
Exceptions:
1. The outdoor air ventilation system is not required to operate continuously
where the system has controls that enable operation for not less than I
hour of each 4-hour period. The average outdoor airflow rate over the
4-hour period shall be not less than that prescribed by Equation 4-9.
2. The minimum mechanical ventilation rate determined in accordance with
Equation 4-9 shall be reduced by 30 percent provided that both of the
following conditions apply:
2.1. A ducted system supplies ventilation air directly to each bedroom and
to one or more of the following rooms:
2.1.1. Living room.
2.1.2. Dining room.
2.1.3. Kitchen.
2.2. The whole -house ventilation system is a balanced ventilation system.
13. A new Section 403.3.2.6 Sound ratings for fans is added to read as follows:
403.3.2.6 Sound ratings for fans. Whole -dwelling unit ventilation fans shall be rated
for sound at maximum of 1.5 sones, in accordance with the procedures of the Home
Ventilating. Institute (HVI 915, Procedure for Loudness Rating of Residential Fan
Products). Heating, ventilating and air conditioning air handlers and remote -mounted
fans need not meet sound requirements.
14. A new Section 403.3.2.7 Performance verification is hereby added to read as follows:
403.3.2.7 Performance verification. Performance of installed mechanical ventilation
systems shall be verified in accordance with The City of Fort Collins Residential New
Construction Mechanical Systems Testing Guide as part of the Multifamily Residential
Mechanical Systems Performance Report provided to the building official.
15. Section 504.1 Installation is hereby amended to read as follows:
504.1 Installation. Clothes dryers shall be exhausted in accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions. Dryer exhaust systems shall be independent of all other
systems and shall convey the moisture and any products of combustion to the outside
of the building. Dryer exhaust duct terminations shall not be located within 36 inches
(914 mm) of exterior openings into conditioned spaces, crawl spaces, and attic spaces.
16. Section 506.3.11 Grease duct enclosures is hereby amended to read as follows.
506.3.11 Grease duct enclosures. A commercial kitchen grease duct serving a Type I
hood that penetrates a ceiling, wall, floor or any concealed space shall be enclosed from
the point of penetration to the outlet terminal. In -line exhaust fans not located outdoors
shall be enclosed as required for grease ducts. A duct shall penetrate exterior walls only
at locations where unprotected openings are permitted by the International Building
Code. The duct enclosure shall serve a single grease duct and shall not contain other
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ducts, piping or wiring systems. Duct enclosures shall be a shaft enclosure in
accordance with Section 506.3.11.1, a field -applied enclosure assembly in accordance
with Section 506.3.11.2 or a factory -built enclosure assembly in accordance with
Section 506.3.11.3. Duct enclosures shall have a fire -resistance rating of not less than
that of the assembly penetrated and not less than 1 hour. Fire dampers and smoke
dampers shall not be installed in grease ducts.
17. Section 512.1 General is hereby amended to read as follows:
512.1 General. Where a subslab soil exhaust system is provided, the duct for such
system shall conform to the requirements of the 2021 International Residential Code,
Appendix AF, entitled "Radon Control Methods," as adopted.
18. Section 601.5 Return air openings is hereby amended to read as follows:
601.5 Return air openings. Return air openings for heating, ventilation and air-
conditioning systems shall comply with all of the following:
1. Openings shall not be located less than 10 feet (3048 mm) measured in any
direction from an open combustion chamber or draft hood of another appliance
located in the same room or space.
2. Return air shall not be taken from a hazardous or insanitary location or a
refrigeration room as defined in this code.
3. The amount of return air taken from any room or space shall be not greater than
the flow rate of supply air delivered to such room or space.
4. Return and transfer openings shall be sized in accordance with the appliance or
equipment manufacturer's installation instructions, ACCA Manual D or the
design of the registered design professional.
5. Return air taken from one dwelling unit shall not be discharged into another
dwelling unit.
6. Taking return air from a crawl space shall not be accomplished through a direct
connection to the return side of a forced air furnace. Transfer openings in the
crawl space enclosure shall not be prohibited.
7. Return air shall not be taken from a closet, bathroom, toilet room, kitchen,
garage, boiler room, furnace room or unconditioned attic.
8. Return air shall not be taken from indoor swimming pool enclosures and
associated deck areas.
Exceptions:
1. Where the air from such spaces is dehumidified in accordance with
Section 403.2.1, Item 2.
2. Dedicated HVAC systems serving only such spaces.
9. Return air for a dwelling shall be taken from inside the dwelling. Dilution of
return air with outdoor air is permitted. A return air path shall be provided in
all habitable rooms by means of ducts or transfer grills.
Exceptions:
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1. Taking return air from a kitchen is not prohibited where such return air
openings serve the kitchen and are located not less than I0 feet (3048 mm)
from the cooking appliances.
2. Taking return air from a kitchen is not prohibited in a dwelling unit where
the kitchen and living spaces are in a single room and the cooking appliance
is electric and located not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) in any direction from
the return air intake opening.
3. Dedicated forced air systems serving only the garage shall not be prohibited
from obtaining return air from the garage.
19. Section 602.3 Stud cavity and joist space plenums is hereby deleted in its entirety and
replaced with the following:
602.3 Stud cavity and joist space plenums. Building framing cavities shall not be
used as ducts or plenums.
20. A new Section 603.18.3 Construction debris and contamination is hereby added to
read as follows:
603.18.3 Construction debris and contamination. Mechanical air -handling systems
and their related ducts shall be protected from the entrance of dirt, debris, and dust
during the construction and installation process. Prior to passing final inspection or
issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, such systems shall be substantially free of
construction -related contaminants.
21. Section 801.19 Multistory prohibited is hereby amended to read as follows:
801.19 Multistory 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 appliance enclosures shall not communicate with
the occupiable areas of the building.
22. A new Section 903.1.1 Solid fuel fireplaces and appliances is added to read as
follows:
903.1.1 Solid fuel fireplaces and appliances. Solid fuel fireplaces, fireplace stoves
and solid -fuel -type room heaters shall comply with Section 5-110 of the City Code.
23. Section 903.3 Unvented gas logs heaters is deleted in itsentirety.
24. A new Section 918.1.2 Total Electric Heating is added to read as follows:
918.1.2 Total Electric Heating. Primary indoor central heating systems utilizing only
electric heat shall utilize a ground source heat pump system(s) or cold climate heat
pump system(s) specifically designed to heat in cold climates and at the Winter
Outdoor, Design Dry -Bulb temp defined in IECC Section C301.5. The heat pump
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system shall not be gas or propane fuel fired. Electric resistance strip heat shall serve
only as emergency backup heat or supplemental heat at outdoor temperatures below
150F as necessary.
Exceptions:
1. Where the heating Ioad is less than or equal to 6.0 Btu/h/ft2 at design
temperature, electric resistance heating shall be permitted.
2. Where conduit wl pull string sized to accommodate future heating electrical
requirements is installed.
Section 5. The City Attorney and the City Clerk are authorized to modify the formatting
and to make such other amendments to this Ordinance as necessary to facilitate publication in the
Fort Collins Municipal Code; provided, however, that such modifications and amendments shall
not change the substance of the Code provisions.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 15th day of
February, A.D. 2022, and to be presented for final passage on the 5th day-pf April, A.D. 2022.
SEAL
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on fin n this 5
SEA
L
ATT
City Clerk
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING EXHIBIT A
NOTICE is hereby given of a public hearing to be held before the Council of the City of
Fort Collins, Colorado, on the 15th day of February, A.D., 2022 at 6:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter
as the matter may come on for hearing, in the Council Chambers at the City Hall, 300 LaPorte
Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado for the purpose of considering the adoption of ordinances that adopt
by reference the 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Residential Code, 2021
International Energy Conservation Code, 2021 International Mechanical Code, 2021
International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 International Existing Building Code, 2021 International
Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2021 International Property Maintenance Code and the
International Plumbing Code, each promulgated by the International Code Council, and the
Colorado Plumbing Code, together with local amendments.
Not less than one (1) copy of said Codes has been, and now is on file in the Office of the
City Clerk of the City of Fort Collins and is available for public inspection.
The purpose of adopting the International Building Code, International Residential Code,
International Energy Conservation Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas
Code, International Existing Building Code, International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, the
International Property Maintenance Code, and the Colorado Plumbing Code, with local
amendments by said ordinances is to provide for protection of public health, safety and welfare of
the City and its residents.
Individuals who wish to address Council via remote public participation can do so through
Zoom at httos://zoom.us/4/98241416497. (The link and instructions are also posted
at www.feeov.com/councilcomments.l Individuals participating in the Zoom session should watch
the meeting through that site, and not via FCTV, due to the streaming delay and possible audio
interference.
The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services,
programs and activities, and will make special communication arrangements for persons with
disabilities. Please call (970) 221-6515 (VPTDD: Dial 711 for Relay Colorado) for assistance.
This notice is given and published by order of the City of Fort Collins, Colorado.
Dated this 24th day of January, A.D. 2022.
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Upon request the City of Fort Collins will provide language access services for individuals who have limited English
proficiency, or auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities, to access City services, programs and
activities. Contact (970) 221-6515 (V/TDD: Dial 7l1 for Relay Colorado) for assistance. Please provide 48 hours
advance notice when possible.
R peticidn, la Ciudad de Fort Collins proporcionard servieios de acceso a idiomas para personas que no dominan el
idioma ingl6s, a ayudas y servicios auxillares para personas con discapacidad, pars que puedan acceder a los servicios
programas y actividades de la Ciudad. Para asistencia, llame al 970.221.6515 (V/TDD: Marque 711 pars Relay
Colorado). Por favor proportion 48 hours de aviso previo cuando sea posible.