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Goto www.iccsafe.org/CodesPlustoday! !3 2009 InternationalMechanical Code ® FirstPrinting:February2009 ISBN: 978-1-58001-731-2 (soft-coveredition) ISBN: 978-1-58001-730-5 (loose-leafedition) COPYRIGHT© 2009 by INTERNATIONALCODECOUNCIL,INC. ALLRIGHTS RESERVED. This2009InternationalMechanical Code®isacopyrightedworkownedbytheInternationalCode Council,Inc.Withoutadvancewrittenpermissionfromthecopyright owner,nopartofthisbookmaybereproduced,distributed,or transmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,including,withoutlimitation,electronic,opticalormechanicalmeans(bywayofexample, andnotlimitation,photocopying,orrecordingbyorinaninformationstorageretrievalsystem).Forinformationonpermissionto copymaterialexceedingfairuse,pleasecontact:Publications,4051 WestFlossmoorRoad,CountryClubHills,IL60478.Phone 1-888-ICC-SAFE(422-7233). Trademarks: "InternationalCodeCouncil,"the"InternationalCodeCouncil"logo andthe "InternationalMechanicalCode" are trademarksoftheInternationalCodeCouncil,Inc. PRINTEDINTHEU.S.A. PREFACE Introduction Internationally,codeofficialsrecognizetheneedforamodern,up-to-datemechanicalcodeaddressingthedesignandinstallationof mechanicalsystemsthroughrequirementsemphasizingperformance.TheInternationalMechanicalCode®,inthis2009edition,is designedtomeettheseneedsthroughmodelcoderegulationsthatsafeguardthepublichealthandsafetyinallcommunities,large andsmall. Thiscomprehensivemechanicalcodeestablishesminimumregulationsfor mechanicalsystemsusingprescriptiveandperfor mance-relatedprovisions.Itisfoundedonbroad-basedprinciplesthatmakepossibletheuseofnewmaterialsandnewmechanical designs. This 2009 editionisfully compatiblewithalltheInternational Codes ("I-Codes")publishedbytheInternationalCode Council (ICC), including the International Building Code®, International Energy Conservation Code®, International Existing Building Code®, International Fire Code®, International Fuel Gas Code®, International Plumbing Code®, ICC Peiformance Code®, International Private Sewage Disposal Code®, International Property Maintenance Code®, International Residential Code®, International Urban-WildlandInteiface Code™ andInternationalZoning Code®. TheInternationalMechanicalCodeprovisionsprovidemanybenefits,amongwhichisthemodelcodedevelopmentprocessthat offersaninternationalforumformechanicalprofessionalstodiscussperformanceandprescriptivecoderequirements.Thisforum providesanexcellentarenatodebateproposedrevisions.Thismodelcodealsoencouragesinternationalconsistencyintheapplica tionofprovisions. Development ThefirsteditionoftheInternationalMechanicalCode(1996)wastheculminationofaneffortinitiatedin1994byadevelopment committeeappointedbytheICCandconsistingofrepresentativesofthethreestatutorymembersoftheInternationalCodeCouncil atthattime,including:BuildingOfficialsandCodeAdministratorsInternational,Inc.(BOCA),InternationalConferenceofBuild ingOfficials(ICBO)andSouthernBuildingCodeCongressInternational(SBCCI).Theintentwastodraftacomprehensivesetof regulationsformechanicalsystemsconsistentwithandinclusiveofthescopeoftheexistingmodelcodes.Technicalcontentofthe latestmodelcodespromulgatedbyBOCA,ICBOandSBCCIwasutilizedasthebasisforthedevelopment.This2009editionpres entsthecodeasoriginallyissued,withchangesapprovedthroughtheICCCodeDevelopmentProcessthrough2008.Anewedition suchasthisispromulgatedevery3years. Thiscodeisfoundedonprinciplesintendedtoestablishprovisionsconsistentwiththescopeofamechanicalcodethatadequately protectspublichealth,safetyandwelfare;provisionsthatdonotunnecessarilyincreaseconstructioncosts;provisionsthatdonot restricttheuseofnewmaterials,productsormethodsofconstruction;andprovisionsthatdonotgivepreferentialtreatmenttopar ticulartypesorclassesofmaterials,productsormethodsofconstruction. Adoption TheInternationalMechanicalCodeisavailableforadoptionandusebyjurisdictionsinternationally.Itsusewithinagovernmental jurisdictionisintendedtobeaccomplishedthroughadoptionbyreferenceinaccordancewithproceedingsestablishingthejurisdic tion'slaws. Atthetimeofadoption,jurisdictionsshouldinserttheappropriateinformationinprovisionsrequiringspecificlocal information,suchasthenameoftheadoptingjurisdiction.Theselocationsareshowninbracketedwordsinsmallcapitallettersin thecodeandinthesampleordinance.Thesampleadoptionordinanceonpageixaddressesseveralkeyelementsofacodeadoption ordinance,includingtheinformationrequiredforinsertionintothecodetext. Maintenance TheInternationalMechanicalCodeiskeptuptodatethroughthereviewofproposedchangessubmittedbycodeenforcingoffi cials,industryrepresentatives,designprofessionalsandotherinterestedparties.Proposedchangesarecarefullyconsideredthrough anopencodedevelopmentprocessinwhichallinterestedandaffectedpartiesmayparticipate. Thecontents ofthis workare subjectto changeboththrough the CodeDevelopmentCycles andthe governmentalbody that enactsthecodeintolaw.Formoreinformationregardingthecodedevelopmentprocess,contacttheCodeandStandardDevelop mentDepartmentoftheInternationalCodeCouncil. WhilethedevelopmentprocedureoftheInternationalMechanicalCodeassuresthehighestdegreeofcare,ICCandICC'smem bersandthoseparticipatinginthedevelopmentofthiscodedonotacceptanyliabilityresultingfromcomplianceornoncompliance withtheprovisionsbecauseICCanditsmembersdonothavethepowerorauthoritytopoliceorenforcecompliancewiththecon tentsofthiscode. Onlythegovernmentalbodythatenactsthecodeintolawhas suchauthority. 2009INTERNATIONALMECHANICALCODE® iii Letter Designations in Front ofSection Numbers Ineachcodedevelopmentcycle,proposedchangestothiscodeareconsideredattheCodeDevelopmentHearingbytheInterna tionalMechanicalCodeDevelopmentCommittee,whoseactionconstitutesarecommendationtothevotingmembershipforfinal actionontheproposedchange.Proposedchangestoacodesectionwhosenumberbeginswithaletterinbracketsareconsideredby adifferentcodedevelopmentcommittee. Forinstance, proposedchangesto code sectionswhichhavetheletter[B] infront (for example, [B]309.1),areconsideredbyoneoftheInternationalBuildingCodedevelopmentcommitteesattheCodeDevelopment Hearing.Wherethisdesignationisapplicabletotheentirecontentofamainsectionofthecode,thedesignationappearsatthemain sectionnumberandtitleandisnotrepeatedateverysubsectioninthatsection. Thecontentofsectionsinthiscodewhichbeginwithaletterdesignationaremaintainedbyanothercodedevelopmentcommittee inaccordancewiththefollowing: [B] = InternationalBuildingCodeDevelopmentCommittee; [EC]= InternationalEnergyConservationCodeDevelopmentCommittee; = [F] InternationalFireCodeDevelopmentCommittee;and [FG]= InternationalFuelGasCodeDevelopmentCommittee. Marginal Markings Solidverticallinesinthemarginswithinthebodyofthecodeindicateatechnicalchangefromtherequirementsofthe2006edition. Deletionindicators(• )areprovidedinthemarginwhereanentiresection,paragraph,exceptionortablehasbeendeletedoran iteminalistofitemsorinatablehasbeendeleted. Italicized Terms SelectedtermssetforthinChapter2,Definitions,areitalicizedwheretheyappearincodetext. Suchtermsarenotitalicizedwhere thedefinitionsetforthinChapter2doesnotimparttheintendedmeaningintheuseoftheterm.Thetermsselectedhavedefinitions whichtheusershouldreadcarefullytofacilitatebetterunderstandingofthecode. iv 2009INTERNATIONALMECHANICALCODE® Effective Use of the International Mechanical Code TheInternational Mechanical Code® (IMC®)is amodelcode thatregulates the design andinstallationofmechanical systems, appliances, applianceventing,ductandventilationsystems,combustionairprovisions,hydronic systemsandsolarsystems.The purposeofthecodeistoestablishtheminimumacceptablelevelofsafetyandtoprotectlifeandpropertyfromthepotentialdangers associatedwiththeinstallationandoperationofmechanicalsystems.Thecodealsoprotectsthepersonnelthatinstall,maintain,ser viceandreplacethesystems andappliancesaddressedbythiscode. TheIMCisprimarilyaprescriptivecodewithsomeperformancetext.Thecodereliesheavilyonproductspecificationsandlist ingstoprovidemuchoftheapplianceandequipmentinstallationrequirements.ThegeneralSection105.2andtheexceptiontoSec tion403.2 allow designs and installationsto be performed by approvedengineering methods as alternatives to the prescriptive methodsinthecode. TheformatoftheIMCallowseachchaptertobedevotedtoaparticularsubjectwiththeexceptionofChapter3,whichcontains generalsubjectmattersthatarenotextensiveenoughtowarranttheirownindependentchapter. Chapter1ScopeandAdministration.Chapter1establishesthelimitsofapplicabilityofthecodeanddescribeshowthecodeisto beappliedandenforced.Amechanicalcode,likeanyothercode,isintendedtobeadoptedasalegallyenforceabledocumentandit cannotbeeffectivewithoutadequateprovisionsforitsadministrationandenforcement.TheprovisionsofChapter1establishthe authorityanddutiesofthecodeofficialappointedbythejurisdictionhavingauthorityandalsoestablishtherightsandprivilegesof thedesignprofessional,contractorandpropertyowner. Chapter2Definitions.Chapter2istherepositoryofthedefinitionsoftermsusedinthebodyofthecode.Codesaretechnicaldocu mentsandeverywordandtermcanimpactthemeaningofthecodetextandtheintendedresults.Thecodeoftenusestermsthathave auniquemeaninginthecodeandthecodemeaningcandiffersubstantiallyfromtheordinarilyunderstoodmeaningofthetermas usedoutsideofthecode. ThetermsdefinedinChapter2aredeemedtobeofprimeimportanceinestablishingthemeaningandintentofthecodetextthat usestheterms.Theuserofthecodeshouldbefamiliarwithandconsultthischapterbecausethedefinitionsareessentialtothecor rectinterpretationofthecodeandbecausetheusermaynotbeawarethatatermisdefined. Chapter3GeneralRegulations.Chapter3containsbroadlyapplicablerequirementsrelatedtoappliancelocationandinstallation, applianceandsystemsaccess,protectionofstructuralelements,condensatedisposalandclearancestocombustibles,amongothers. Chapter4Ventilation.Chapter4includesmeansforprotectingbuildingoccupanthealthbycontrollingthequalityofindoorair andprotectingpropertyfromtheeffectsofinadequateventilation.Insomecases,ventilationisrequiredtopreventorreduceahealth hazardbyremovingcontaminantsattheirsource. Ventilation is both necessary and desirable for the control of air contaminants, moisture and temperature. Habitable and occupiablespacesareventilatedtopromoteahealthyandcomfortableenvironmentfortheoccupants.Uninhabitedandunoccupied spacesareventilatedtoprotectthebuildingstructurefromtheharmfuleffectsofexcessivehumidityandheat.Ventilationofspecific occupanciesisnecessarytominimizethepotentialfortoxicorotherwiseharmfulsubstancestoreachdangerouslyhighconcentra tionsinair. Chapter5ExhaustSystems.Chapter5providesguidelinesforreasonableprotectionoflife,propertyandhealthfromthehazards associatedwithexhaustsystems,aircontaminantsandsmokedevelopmentintheeventofafire.Inmostcases,thesehazardsinvolve materialsandgasesthatareflammable, explosive,toxicorotherwisehazardous.Wherecontaminantsareknowntobepresentin quantitiesthatareirritatingorharmfultotheoccupants'healthorarehazardousinafire,bothnaturallyandmechanicallyventilated spacesmustbeequippedwithmechanicalexhaustsystemscapableofcollectingandremovingthecontaminants. Thischaptercontainsrequirementsfortheinstallationofexhaustsystems,withanemphasisonthestructuralintegrityofthesys tems and equipmentinvolved and the overallimpact ofthe systems on the fire safety performance ofthe building. Itincludes requirementsfortheexhaustofcommercialkitchengrease-andsmoke-ladenair,hazardousfumes andtoxicgases,clothesdryer moistureandheatanddust, stockandrefusematerials. Chapter6DuctSystems.Chapter6ofthecoderegulatesthematerialsandmethodsusedforconstructingandinstallingducts,ple nums, systemcontrols, exhaustsystems, fire protectionsystemsandrelatedcomponentsthataffecttheoverallperformanceofa building'sairdistributionsystemandthereasonableprotectionoflifeandpropertyfromthehazards associatedwithair-moving equipmentandsystems.Thischaptercontainsrequirementsfortheinstallationofsupply,returnandexhaustairsystems.Specific exhaustsystemsarealsoaddressedinChapter5.InformationonthedesignofductsystemsislimitedtothatinSection603.2.The codeisverymuchconcernedwiththestructuralintegrityofthesystemsandtheoverallimpactofthesystemsonthefiresafetyand lifesafetyperformanceofthebuilding.Designconsiderationssuchasductsizing,maximumefficiency,costeffectiveness,occu- 2009INTERNATIONALMECHANICALCODE® v pantcomfortandconveniencearetheresponsibilityofthedesignprofessional.Theprovisionsfortheprotectionofductpenetra tionsofwall,floor, ceilingandroofassembliesareextractedfromtheInternationalBuildingCode. Chapter7CombustionAir.Completecombustionofsolidandliquidfuelisessentialfortheproperoperationofappliances,for controlofharmfulemissionsandforachievingmaximumfuelefficiency. Thespecificcombustionairrequirementsprovidedinpreviouseditionsofthecodehavebeendeletedinfavorofasinglesection thatdirectstheusertoNFPA31foroil-firedappliancecombustionairrequirementsandthemanufacturer'sinstallationinstructions forsolid-fuelburningappliances. Forgas-firedappliances,theprovisionsoftheInternationalFuelGas Code areapplicable. Chapter8ChimneysandVents.Chapter8isintendedtoregulatethedesign,construction,installation,maintenance,repairand approvalofchimneys,ventsandtheirconnectionstosolidandliquidfuel-burningappliances.Therequirementsofthischapterare intendedtoachievethecompleteremovaloftheproductsofcombustionfromfuel-burningappliancesandequipment.Thischapter includesregulationsfortheproperselection,design,constructionandinstallationofachimneyorvent,alongwithappropriatemea surestominimizetherelatedpotentialfirehazards.Achimneyorventmustbedesignedforthetypeofapplianceorequipmentit serves.Chimneysandventsaredesignedforspecificapplicationsdependingonthefluegastemperaturesandthetypeoffuelbeing burnedintheappliance. Chimneys andventsforgas-firedappliancesarecoveredintheInternationalFuelGas Code. Chapter9SpecificAppliances,FireplacesandSolidFuel-burningAppliances.Chapter9setsminimumconstructionandper formancecriteriaforfireplaces,appliancesandequipmentandprovidesforthesafeinstallationoftheseitems.Itreflectsthecode's intenttospecificallyaddressallofthetypesofappliancesthatthecodeintendstoregulate.Otherregulationsaffectingtheinstalla tionofsolidfuel-burningfireplaces, appliances andaccessoryappliancesarefoundinChapters3,6,7,8,10,11,12,13 and 14. Chapter10Boilers,WaterHeatersandPressureVessels.Chapter10presentsregulationsfortheproperinstallationofboilers, waterheaters andpressure vesselsto protectlife andpropertyfrom thehazards associatedwiththose appliances andvessels. It appliesto alltypesofboilersandpressurevessels,regardlessofsize,heatinput,operatingpressureoroperatingtemperature. Becausepressurevesselsareclosedcontainersdesignedtocontainliquids,gasesorbothunderpressure,theymustbedesigned andinstalledtopreventstructuralfailuresthatcanresultinextremelyhazardoussituations.Certainsafetyfeaturesarethereforepro videdinChapter 10toreducethepotentialforexplosionhazards. Chapter11Refrigeration.Chapter11containsregulationspertainingtothelifesafetyofbuildingoccupants.Theseregulations establishminimumrequirementsto achievetheproperdesign, construction, installationand operation ofrefrigeration systems. Refrigerationsystemsareacombinationofinterconnectedcomponents andpipingassembledtoformaclosedcircuitinwhicha refrigerantiscirculated.Thesystem'sfunctionistoextractheatfromalocationormedium,andtorejectthatheattoadifferentloca tionormedium.Thischapterestablishesreasonablesafeguardsfortheoccupantsbydefiningandmandatingpracticesthatarecon sistentwiththepracticesandexperienceoftheindustry. Chapter12HydronicPiping.Hydronicpipingincludespiping,fittings andvalvesusedinbuildingspaceconditioningsystems. Applicationsincludehotwater,chilledwater,steam,steamcondensate,brinesandwater/antifreezemixtures.Chapter12contains theprovisionsthatgoverntheconstruction,installation,alterationandrepairofallhydronicpipingsystemsthataffectreliability, serviceability,energyefficiencyandsafety. Chapter13FuelOilPipingandStorage.Chapter13regulatesthedesignandinstallationoffueloilstorageandpipingsystems. Theregulationsincludereferencetoconstructionstandardsforabove-groundandundergroundstoragetanks,materialstandards forpipingsystems(bothabove-groundandunderground)andextensiverequirementsfortheproperassemblyofsystempipingand components.TheInternationalFire Code®(IFC®)coverssubjectsnotaddressedindetailhere.Theprovisionsinthischapterare intendedtopreventfires, leaksandspillsinvolvingfueloilstorageandpipingsystems. Chapter14SolarSystems.Chapter14establishesprovisionsforthesafeinstallation,operationandrepairofsolarenergysystems usedfor spaceheatingorcooling, domestichotwaterheatingorprocessing. Although such systemsusecomponents similarto thoseofconventionalmechanicalequipment,manyoftheseprovisionsareuniqueto solarenergysystems. Chapter15ReferencedStandards. Chapter 15 lists alloftheproductandinstallationstandards andcodesthatarereferenced throughoutChapters1through14.AsstatedinSection102.8,thesestandardsandcodesbecomeanenforceablepartofthecode(to theprescribedextentofthereference)asifprintedinthebodyofthecode.Chapter15providesthefulltitleandeditionyearofthe standardsandcodesinadditiontotheaddressofthepromulgatorsandthesectionnumbersinwhichthestandardsandcodesareref erenced. AppendixACombustionAirOpeningsandChimneyConnectorPass-throughs.AppendixAprovidesfiguresthatillustrate variousrequirementsinthebodyofthecode.FiguresA-I throughA-4illustratetypicalcombustionairrequirements.FigureA-5 illustratesthechimneyconnectorclearancerequirementsofTable803.10.4. vi 2009INTERNATIONALMECHANICALCODE® AppendixBRecommendedPermitFeeSchedule.AppendixBprovidesasamplepermitfee scheduleformechanicalpermits. Thelocaljurisdictioncanadoptthisappendixandfillinthedollaramountsintheblankspacestoestablishtheirofficialpermitfee schedule.TheICCdoesnotestablishpermitfeesbecausethecodeisadoptedthroughoutthecountryandtherearevastdifferences in operatingbudgets between different parts ofthe country, as well as between large and small municipalities withinthe same region. 2009INTERNATIONALMECHANICALCODE® vii