1     
BUILDING CODE AMENDMENTS

2     
2015 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Fred C. Cox

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies provisions of the State Construction Code.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     adopts the 2014 National Electrical Code;
13          ▸     adds an amendment to the 2014 National Electrical Code that relates to certain
14     circuit breakers;
15          ▸     updates a reference to the International Fire Code from the 2009 edition to the 2012
16     edition;
17          ▸     repeals provisions relating to amendments to the International Building Code and
18     the International Residential Code that apply to the City of Farmington; and
19          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
20     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21          None
22     Other Special Clauses:
23          None
24     Utah Code Sections Affected:
25     AMENDS:
26          15A-2-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapters 279 and 297
27          15A-3-303, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 297

28          15A-3-601, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 297
29          15A-4-107, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 14
30     REPEALS:
31          15A-4-103, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 14
32          15A-4-203, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 14
33     

34     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
35          Section 1. Section 15A-2-103 is amended to read:
36          15A-2-103. Specific editions adopted of construction code of a nationally
37     recognized code authority.
38          (1) Subject to the other provisions of this part, the following construction codes are
39     incorporated by reference, and together with the amendments specified in Chapter 3, Part 3,
40     Statewide Amendments to International Plumbing Code, and Chapter 4, Local Amendments
41     Incorporated as Part of State Construction Code, are the construction standards to be applied to
42     building construction, alteration, remodeling, and repair, and in the regulation of building
43     construction, alteration, remodeling, and repair in the state:
44          (a) the 2012 edition of the International Building Code, including Appendix J, issued
45     by the International Code Council;
46          (b) the 2012 edition of the International Residential Code, issued by the International
47     Code Council;
48          (c) the 2012 edition of the International Plumbing Code, issued by the International
49     Code Council;
50          (d) the 2012 edition of the International Mechanical Code, issued by the International
51     Code Council;
52          (e) the 2012 edition of the International Fuel Gas Code, issued by the International
53     Code Council;
54          (f) the [2011] 2014 edition of the National Electrical Code, issued by the National Fire
55     Protection Association;
56          (g) the 2012 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code, issued by the
57     International Code Council;
58          (h) subject to Subsection 15A-2-104(2), the HUD Code;

59          (i) subject to Subsection 15A-2-104(1), Appendix E of the 2012 edition of the
60     International Residential Code, issued by the International Code Council; and
61          (j) subject to Subsection 15A-2-104(1), the 2005 edition of the NFPA 225 Model
62     Manufactured Home Installation Standard, issued by the National Fire Protection Association.
63          (2) Consistent with Title 65A, Chapter 8, Management of Forest Lands and Fire
64     Control, the Legislature adopts the 2006 edition of the Utah Wildland Urban Interface Code,
65     issued by the International Code Council, with the alternatives or amendments approved by the
66     Utah Division of Forestry, as a construction code that may be adopted by a local compliance
67     agency by local ordinance or other similar action as a local amendment to the codes listed in
68     this section.
69          Section 2. Section 15A-3-303 is amended to read:
70          15A-3-303. Amendments to Chapter 3 of IPC.
71          (1) In IPC, Section 303.4, the following exception is added:
72     "Exception: Third-party certification for backflow prevention assemblies will consist of any
73     combination of two certifications, laboratory or field. Acceptable third party laboratory
74     certifying agencies are ASSE, IAPMO, and USC-FCCCHR. USC-FCCCHR currently
75     provides the only field testing of backflow protection assemblies. Also see
76     www.drinkingwater.utah.gov and Division of Drinking Water Rule, Utah Administrative Code,
77     R309-305-6."
78          (2) IPC, Section 304.3, Meter Boxes, is deleted.
79          (3) IPC, Section 311.1, is deleted.
80          (4) In IPC, Section 312.3, the following is added at the end of the paragraph:
81          "Where water is not available at the construction site or where freezing conditions limit
82     the use of water on the construction site, plastic drainage and vent pipe may be permitted to be
83     tested with air. The following procedures shall be followed:
84     1. Contractor shall recognize that plastic is extremely brittle at lower temperatures and can
85     explode, causing serious injury or death.
86     2. Contractor assumes all liability for injury or death to persons or damage to property or for
87     claims for labor and/or material arising from any alleged failure of the system during testing
88     with air or compressed gasses.
89     3. Proper personal protective equipment, including safety eyewear and protective headgear,

90     should be worn by all individuals in any area where an air or gas test is being conducted.
91     4. Contractor shall take all precautions necessary to limit the pressure within the plastic piping.
92     5. No [water supply] drain and vent system shall be pressurized in excess of 6 psi as measured
93     by accurate gauges graduated to no more than three times the test pressure.
94     6. The pressure gauge shall be monitored during the test period, which should not exceed 15
95     minutes.
96     7. At the conclusion of the test, the system shall be depressurized gradually, all trapped air or
97     gases should be vented, and test balls and plugs should be removed with caution."
98          (5) In IPC, Section 312.5, the following is added at the end of the paragraph:
99          "Where water is not available at the construction site or where freezing conditions limit
100     the use of water on the construction site, plastic water pipes may be permitted to be tested with
101     air. The following procedures shall be followed:
102     1. Contractor shall recognize that plastic is extremely brittle at lower temperatures and can
103     explode, causing serious injury or death.
104     2. Contractor assumes all liability for injury or death to persons or damage to property or for
105     claims for labor and/or material arising from any alleged failure of the system during testing
106     with air or compressed gasses.
107     3. Proper personal protective equipment, including safety eyewear and protective headgear,
108     should be worn by all individuals in any area where an air or gas test is being conducted.
109     4. Contractor shall take all precautions necessary to limit the pressure within the plastic piping.
110     5. Water supply systems shall be pressure tested to a minimum of 50 psi but not more than 80
111     psi as measured by accurate gauges graduated to no more than three times the test pressure.
112     6. The pressure gauge shall be monitored during the test period, which should not exceed 15
113     minutes.
114     7. At the conclusion of the test, the system shall be depressurized gradually, all trapped air or
115     gases should be vented, and test balls and plugs should be removed with caution."
116          (6) A new IPC, Section 312.10.3, is added as follows: "312.10.3 Tester Qualifications.
117     Testing shall be performed by a Utah Certified Backflow Preventer Assembly Tester in
118     accordance with Utah Administrative Code, R309-305."
119          Section 3. Section 15A-3-601 is amended to read:
120          15A-3-601. General provision.

121          The following are adopted as amendments to the NEC to be applicable statewide:
122          (1) The IRC provisions are adopted as the residential electrical standards applicable to
123     installations applicable under the IRC. All other installations shall comply with the adopted
124     NEC.
125          [(2) In NEC, Section 310.15(B)(7), the second sentence is deleted and replaced with
126     the following: "For application of this section, the main power feeder shall be the feeder(s)
127     between the main disconnect and the panelboard(s)."]
128          (2) In NEC, Section 240.87(B), the following is added as an additional approved
129     equivalent means:
130          "6. An instantaneous trip function set at or below the available fault current."
131          Section 4. Section 15A-4-107 is amended to read:
132          15A-4-107. Amendments to IBC applicable to Sandy City.
133          The following amendments are adopted as amendments to the IBC for Sandy City:
134          (1) A new IBC, Section (F)903.2.13, is added as follows: "(F)903.2.13 An automatic
135     sprinkler system shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 13 throughout buildings
136     containing all occupancies where fire flow exceeds 2,000 gallons per minute, based on Table
137     B105.1 of the [2009] 2012 International Fire Code. Exempt locations as indicated in Section
138     903.3.1.1.1 are allowed.
139     Exception: Automatic fire sprinklers are not required in buildings used solely for worship,
140     Group R Division 3, Group U occupancies and buildings complying with the International
141     Residential Code unless otherwise required by the International Fire Code.
142          (2) A new IBC, Appendix L, is added and adopted as follows: "Appendix L
143     BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES CONSTRUCTED IN AREAS DESIGNATED AS
144     WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREAS
145     AL 101.1 General. Buildings and structures constructed in areas designated as Wildland-Urban
146     Interface Areas by Sandy City shall be constructed using ignition resistant construction as
147     determined by the Fire Marshal. Section 502 of the 2006 International Wildland-Urban
148     Interface Code (IWUIC), as promulgated by the International Code Council, shall be used to
149     determine Fire Hazard Severity. The provisions listed in Chapter 5 of the 2006 International
150     Wwildland-Urban Interface Code, as modified herein, shall be used to determine the
151     requirements for Ignition Resistant Construction.

152     (i) In Section 504 of the IWUIC Class I IGNITION-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION a new
153     Section 504.1.1 is added as follows: "504.1.1 General. Subsections 504.5, 504.6, and 504.7
154     shall only be required on the exposure side of the structure, as determined by the Fire Marshal,
155     where defensible space is less than 50 feet as defined in Section 603 of the 2006 International
156     Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
157     (ii) In Section 505 of the IWUIC Class 2 IGNITION-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
158     Subsections 505.5 and 505.7 are deleted."
159          Section 5. Repealer.
160          This bill repeals:
161          Section 15A-4-103, Amendments to IBC applicable to City of Farmington.
162          Section 15A-4-203, Amendments to IRC applicable to City of Farmington.






Legislative Review Note
     as of 2-6-15 10:33 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel