RESIDENTIAL PLAN REVIEW MAY 8 th DOHERTY INN CLARE, MICHIGAN

MISCONCEPTION: Construction documents are not required for the following: 1. One-and two-family dwellings when the heating system input rating is 375,000 Btu’s or less. 2. When alterations and repair work are determined by the mechanical official to be of a minor nature. 3. Business, mercantile and storage buildings having HVAC equipment only, with one fire area and not more than 3,500 square feet. 4. Work completed by a governmental subdivision or state agency costing less than $15,000.

LAWSUIT WAS AGAINST BCC A lawsuit was filed in Ingham County Circuit Court against the Bureau and other State defendants over the threshold requirement imposed for the submission of plans. Discussions between the parties led to a settlement of the lawsuit and modifications in the threshold requirement. The new provision includes a base line in Btu input rating of mechanical heating equipment, rather than building size. This new criteria provides a better representation of the complexity of the heating system, based on equipment size rather than building area. This new development provides for a threshold of more than 375,000 Btu input rating before plans would be required for one-and two-family dwellings

If you copy BCC mechanical permit application this automatically happens: The Bureau of Construction Codes has established, based on the requirements of section of the Code and the State Construction Code Act, a threshold for one- and two- family dwellings at 3,500 square feet in area. This threshold has been in place for several years. Permit applications used by the Bureau will reflect this modification as follows:

So what does the code say? M Sizing. Heating and cooling equipment shall be sized in accordance with ACCA Manual S based on building loads calculated in accordance with ACCA Manual J or other approved heating and cooling calculation methodologies.

DUCT DESIGN FOR RESIDENTIAL M Duct design. Duct systems serving heating, cooling and ventilation equipment shall be fabricated in accordance with the provisions of this section and ACCA Manual D or other approved methods.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE So let’s say you abide by State parameter. So section M & M does not apply? So we can undersize duct & oversize or undersize HVAC equipment? The only thing the statement says no plans are required to obtain a permit. What happens when you get on a job you find some serious design problems?

What do look for in a residential plan review? Manual “J” Perform a room by room heat gain and heat loss calculated for each space based upon its orientation, exposed surfaces and building assembly U-values, appliance loads, occupancy, ventilation requirements, duct loss, and the activity and function of the room.

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