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Home My WebLink AboutLetter (HVAC permit) - 06/02/2010 City of Oshkosh Division of Inspection Services 215 Church Avenue PO Box 1130 ^ H I , ^ „ Oshkosh WI 54903 -1130 �,� WATER �--) ON THE ATERR June 2, 2010 Dave Kind Kurt Zentner & Sons, Inc 2860 Oregon St Oshkosh, WI 54902 RE: 1013 Minnesota St. First English Church. On April 1 of this year you made application for a HVAC permit for the installation of an air conditioning system for this address. At that time you indicated that the previous Director of inspection services Allyn Dannhofftold you last fall that a permit could be obtained for this work without the need for a plan review. I explained to you that I did not know how he came to that conclusion and would look for any documentation of this, or how this could be done without the need for plans to be submitted. I checked with the State of Wisconsin Department of Commerce Division of Safety and Buildings which regulates HVAC installation in commercial buildings and was provided with a letter titled "HVAC Contractor Information Letter ". I then provided you a copy of this letter on April 14 I have enclosed a copy of this letter with this letter for your reference. Please note that the requirement for plan review is a State of Wisconsin requirement, and as an agent of the State we can not allow anything less than required by the State. At the time we discussed the need for plans to be submitted, we also discussed the need to meet energy code requirements for the proposed installation. You indicated that last fall Allyn Dannhoff had indicated he felt there was an exemption for this as well. As I explained I had reviewed this issue with the State, and there did not appear to be an exemption to this requirement. On May 11 you submitted plans and followed up with the required plan review application on May 19 The plans that were submitted included notes, one of which specifically note 2 that read — "Per IECC 503.3.1 economizers are required for systems where the aggregate capacity of those systems is over 55,000 BTUH unless an exception is met. This system meets exception # 1 by exceeding the minimum efficiency rating of 13 SEER. This system is a 15.9 SEER system which exceeds the minimum by 18.2%."1 have enclosed a copy of the referenced code section with this letter. In reviewing this section of the IECC and the exception cited by the designer who submitted the plans the exception does not apply. When you follow this code section to table 503.3.1(2) please note that the exception only applies to climate zones 2B, 3B, and 4B. The only climate zones in the State of Wisconsin are zones 6 and 7. This is shown in Figure 301.1 of the IECC — a copy of which is enclosed with this letter. This results in there being no exception in the State of Wisconsin. Since this plan was submitted by a licensed heating designer I also called the State on May 21 and Spoke with Randy Dahmen at Safety and Buildings to confirm my reading of this section of the code, and was instructed that the exception cited by the designer does not apply to the climate zones in Wisconsin. I then called the designer Jeffry Oleniczak from Monroe Equipment who signed the plans that were submitted and reviewed these code issues with him, and explained I would place the plans on Hold until I was provided with plans I could approve, rather than collect a plan review and deny the plans as submitted. I then contacted you and explained the same issues to you. On May 24 you called and indicated the project had been abandon and asked that we return the plans that were submitted to you. They were mailed back to you and the plan review fees were refunded. On May 26 you called and asked if I could provide a document that explains all this so you could better explain this to the church members. Hopefully this letter and the attached documents will do that. If you wish to have a meeting with some of the church members and yourself with me, please let me know and I will work with you to arrange such a meeting. If you have any questions or wish to discuss this further feel free to contact me. Resp , rian oe Building Systems Consultant Pc: Property File HVAC CONTRACTOR INFORMATION LETTER TO: HVAC CONTRACTORS FROM: STATE OF WISCONSIN, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, SAFETY AND BUILDINGS SUBJECT: MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT REGISTRATION & REVIEW REQUIREMENTS DATE: 4/14/2010 The Division of Safety & Buildings would like to remind all heating, ventilation, and air conditioning designers and contractors of their obligations when installing or replacing HVAC equipment and appliances. Additionally, for buildings incorporating boilers, pressure vessels, and refrigeration equipment for either ventilation or processing should be aware of requirements which must be met prior to installation and operation of equipment. BOILERS & PRESSURE VESSELS If boilers or pressure vessels are associated with either building heating or processing in a commercial building, then the equipment must be registered prior to installing and operating in the field based on Comm 41.41. One and two family dwellings under the UDC chs. Comm 20 -25 are exempt from the registration requirements, not the installation requirements per Comm 41. Registration is required to be in writing on Form SBD -6314. The form may be obtained from the Division of Safety & Buildings, Inspection Support, PO Box 7302, 53707 -7302, at the Safety & Buildings web site at http: / /www.commerce. state. wi.us /SB /SB- DivForms.html #Boilers or telephone 608/261 -7730, 608/264- 8777 (TTY). MECHANICAL REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS If mechanical refrigeration equipment is associated with either building cooling or processing, and the system uses a Group Al or B1 refrigerant having a capacity rated at or greater than 50 horsepower, 50 tons or 50,000 volt- amperes; OR the system uses a Group A2, B2, A3 or B3 refrigerant, having a capacity rated at or greater than 10 horsepower, 10 tons or 10,000 volt - amperes, then the equipment must be registered prior to installing and operating in the field per Comm 45.07. Registration is required to be in writing on Form SBD -34. The form may be obtained from the Division of Safety & Buildings, Inspection Support, PO Box 7302, 53707 -7302, at the Safety & Buildings web site at http:// www.commerce.state.wi.us /SB /SB- DivForms.html #MechRefrig or telephone 608/261 -7730, 608/264 -8777 (TTY). The Refrigeration Code, Comm 45, or the Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, Comm 41, may be viewed or downloaded for free from the internet at the following web site: http://commerce.wi.gov /SB /SB- DivCodesListing.html NEW HVAC EQUIPMENT INSTALLATIONS IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS If the Heating, Ventilation, Air - Conditioning (HVAC) equipment is associated with a new commercial building, a commercial building addition or an alteration to an existing commercial building, and the equipment is used, in any way, for ventilation purposes, HVAC plans may be required to be submitted for plan review and approval. The need for submittal is dependent on the volume of the building (not just the alteration or addition). If the building (not just the volume of the alteration, and inclusive of both the existing building and the proposed addition) is over 50,000 cubic ft, a Wisconsin registered Professional Engineer, Architect, or HVAC Designer is required to prepare the plans. In all cases, the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code requirements are to be met. Below are references as to when submittals are not required, or when registration can be used in place of HVAC plan submittal. Table 61.30 -1 Buildings Exempt from Plan Review Building Type or Occupancy Building Description Assembly Group A -2, A -3 Business Group B Factory Group F Containing less than 25,000 cubic feet in volume Mercantile Group M Storage Group S Utility and Miscellaneous Group U Table 61.30 -2 Buildings Exempt from Plan Review If Registered * Building Type or Occupancy Building Description Assembly Group A -2, A -3 Business Group B Factory Group F Buildings containing 25,000 to less than 50,000 Mercantile Group M cubic feet in volume Storage Group S Utility and Miscellaneous Group U Assembly Group A -1, A -4, A -5 Educational Group E Buildings containing less than 25,000 cubic feet in High Hazard Group H volume Residential Group R Form SBD -10689 for use in registering a commercial building in lieu of plan review, and Form SBD- 118 for use in submitting HVAC plans may be obtained at the following web site: http://commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-DivForms.html#commercial Note: Buildings Exempt from HVAC Plan Review are not exempt from Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Mechanical Refrigeration installation registration requirements as stated above. * A Wisconsin Registered Professional Engineer, Architect, or HVAC Designer is required to be obtained. A separate registration is required for building plans, HVAC plans, etc. 1. Building must be designed by WI registered Architect or Professional Engineer; HVAC, may be designed by a WI registered designer. 2. A Supervising Professional must be retained, and identified as a customer on this form. [Comm 61.50] 3. Upon completion of the work, a compliance statement must be filed with the Department. [Comm 61.50] 4. Send Registration Form & Fee to: Safety & Buildings Division, 3824 N. Creekside Ln, Holmen, WI 54636 Note that failure to obtain plan approval or registration prior to equipment installation could result in double fees. HVAC EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENTS IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS: Equipment replacement implies the removal of existing, and the installation of new heating ventilating or air conditioning equipment including, but not limited to, furnaces, air handling units, central air conditioners, refrigeration equipment, as well as boilers and pressure vessels. Replacement of equipment means no changes to existing ductwork or piping are permitted other than those necessary to fit the new equipment to the existing system. If changes to the ductwork and piping go beyond this, HVAC alteration plans must be submitted in accordance with COMM 61.30(1) if the equipment is used for ventilation purposes. Replacement does not include changing equipment sizes or capacities to accommodate building 2 alterations or additions. When HVAC equipment sizes or output capacities are changed due to a building addition or alteration, HVAC alteration plans must be submitted in accordance with COMM 61.30(1). Although submission to the State is not required, local ordinances may require HVAC equipment information to be submitted prior to issuing HVAC permits. Any fees associated with the HVAC permit would be defined by the municipality issuing the permit. A Summary of Fees and Submittal Requirements is Listed Below: Replacement of No State fee or submittal required. Boiler /refrigeration replacements are Equipment required to contact the Boiler and Pressure Inspection Unit. New HVAC (Substantially similar in equipment does NOT need to have same fuel as the old equipment (i.e. fuel size) oil, natural gas, etc.) Equipment replacement to be "substantially equivalent ". Replacement of Submittal required; "substantial" means that the output of the new Equipment equipment is less than 85% of the original equipment. The lower cost of (Substantially smaller in either $250 /piece of equipment, or fees based on the area of the room in size) which the equipment is located, plus $100 submittal fee is required. Submittal shall include 1) A completed SBD -118 plan application form; 2) appropriate fees 3) At least four copies of a letter. The letter shall: identify the building by address, occupancy and owner; identify the name and address of the HVAC contractor or designer responsible for making the replacement; give the make model and BTU output of the equipment being replaced; give the make, model and BTU output of the replacement equipment. UL, AGA, PFS or other recognized laboratory approval shall be specified. 4) Since the BTU output of the replacement equipment is substantially less than that of the equipment being replaced, HVAC heat loss calculations must be submitted proving the adequacy and code compliance of the smaller unit(s). 5) If the replacement equipment has a BTU output substantially less than that of the equipment being replaced and the building contains more than 50,000 cubic feet total volume, the letters and heat loss calculations must be signed, sealed, and dated by a Wisconsin registered architect, engineer or HVAC designer. Boiler /refrigeration replacements are also required to contact the Boiler and Pressure Inspection Unit. Heating ONLY equipment is HVAC Plan Submittal required, fee based on area to be served by replaced with equipment equipment, plus $100 submittal fee capable of both heating & Boiler /refrigeration replacements are also required to contact the Boiler and cooling OR cooling is added Pressure Vessel Inspection Unit. to existing equipment Installation of stand alone HVAC Plan Submittal required, $250 /piece of equipment, plus $100 equipment (fireplaces, submittal fee. commercial kitchen hoods, waste oil burners, etc.) In all cases involving new equipment, if the new equipment is such that it will require fire rated isolation from the balance of the building, per IBC Table 508.2, where the old equipment did not require fire rated isolation, evidence of a rated enclosure must be submitted with the plan submittal. 3 INSTALLING OR SERVICING HVAC EQUIPMENT REQUIRES HVAC CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION Comm 5.70 (1) GENERAL. (a) Pursuant to ss. 101.177 (2) and (3) (a) and 101.178 (2), Stats., no person, entity or business may engage or offer to engage in the following activities, unless the person, entity or business holds a registration issued by the department as a registered HVAC contractor, except as provided in par. (b): 1. Installing or servicing heating, ventilating or air conditioning equipment. 2. Installing or servicing refrigeration or air conditioning equipment that would release or may release ozone - depleting refrigerant. 3. Selling for reuse used ozone - depleting refrigerant from refrigeration or air conditioning equipment. (b) 1. A person, entity or business is not required to hold a registration as a registered HVAC contractor to service existing heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or refrigeration equipment within facilities or properties owned by the person, entity or business provided the air conditioning or refrigeration equipment does not involve ozone - depleting refrigerants. Effective November 1, 2006, there were changes implemented involving HVAC Registration requirements. The new requirements for HVAC contractor registration are listed below: 2. A person, entity or business is not required to hold a registration as a registered HVAC contractor to install or service heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or refrigeration equipment within a dwelling owned by the person, entity or business and in which the person, entity or business resides or will reside provided the air conditioning or refrigeration equipment does not involve ozone- depleting refrigerants. 3. A person, entity or business is not required to hold a registration as a registered HVAC contractor for electrical or plumbing work associated with the installation or servicing of the HVAC equipment or systems. The HVAC Contractor Registration application form and Comm 5 code is available from our website. http: // commerce. wi .gov /SB /SB- FormCredAppList.html http: / /commerce.wi .gov /SB /SB- DivCodesListing.html SIGN UP TO BE INFORMED OF UPCOMING CODE CHANGES You can now go online to find upcoming classes on the Uniform Dwelling Code, Commercial Building Code, Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code or the Refrigeration Code, or you can sign up for automatic notification. Additionally, information on various committees involving code changes can be sent directly to you by signing up at the Department web page listed below: http: // commerce. wi.gov /SB /SB- DivEmailSignup.html Thank you for your cooperation 12/17/08 4 COMMERCIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY TABLE 503.2.8 ment and distribution systems that provide cooling or cooling MINIMUM PIPE INSULATIONa and heating which are covered by Section 503.4. (thickness in inches) 503.3.1 Economizers. Supply air economizers shall be NOMINAL PIPE DIAMETER provided On each cooling system as shown in Table FLUID <1.5" > 1.5" 503.3.1(1). Steam I 3 Economizers shall be capable of providing 100- percent outdoor air, even if additional mechanical cooling is Hot water 1 2 required to meet the cooling load of the building. Systems shall provide a means to relieve excess outdoor air during Chilled water, brine or refrigerant 1 1 economizer operation to prevent overpressurizing the For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, British thermal unit per inch/h • ft • °F = W per building. The relief air outlet shall be located to avoid 25 mm/K • m recirculation into the building. Where a single room or a. Based on insulation having a conductivity (k) not exceeding 0.27 Btu per space is supplied by multiple air systems, the aggregate inch • ft2 °F. capacity of those systems shall be used in applying this requirement. 503.2.9 HVAC system completion. Prior to the issuance of Exceptions: a certificate of occupancy, the design professional shall pro- vide evidence of system completion in accordance with 1. Where the cooling equipment is covered by the Sections 503.2.9.1 through 503.2.9.3. minimum efficiency requirements of Table 503.2.3(1) or 503.2.3(2) and meets or exceeds the 503.2.9.1 Air system balancing. Each supply air outlet minimum cooling efficiency requirement (EER) and zone terminal device shall be equipped with means by the percentages shown in Table 503.3.1(2). for air balancing in accordance with the requirements of 2. Systems with air or evaporatively cooled Chapter 6 of the International Mechanical Code. Dis condensors and which serve spaces with open case charge dampers are prohibited on constant volume fans refrigeration or that require filtration equipment in and variable volume fans with motors 25 hp (18.6 kW) and larger. order to meet the minimum ventilation require- ments of Chapter 4 of the International Mechani- 503.2.9.2 Hydronic system balancing. Individual cal Code. hydronic heating and cooling coils shall be equipped INN with means for balancing and pressure test connections. TABLE 503.3.1(1) 503.2.9.3 Manuals. The construction documents shall ECONOMIZER REQUIREMENTS require that an operating and maintenance manual be CLIMATE ZONES ECONOMIZER REQUIREMENT provided to the building owner by the mechanical con- tractor. The manual shall include, at least, the following: 1A, 1B, 2A, No requirement 3A, 4A, 7, 8 1. Equipment capacity (input and output) and required maintenance actions. 2B, 3B, 3C, 4B, Economizers on all cooling systems 4C, 5B, 5C, 6B ? 54,000 Btu/h 2. Equipment operation and maintenance manuals. 5A, 6A Economizers on all cooling systems 3. HVAC system control maintenance and calibra- ? 135,000 Btu/h tion information, including wiring diagrams, sche- matics, and control sequence descriptions. tions. For SI: 1 British thermal unit per hour = 0.293 W. Desired or field- determined setpoints shall be per- manently recorded on control drawings, at control TABLE 503.3.1(2) devices or, for digital control systems, in program- EQUIPMENT EFFICIENCY PERFORMANCE minx comments. EXCEPTION FOR ECONOMIZERS 4. A complete written narrative of how each system COOLING EQUIPMENT PERFORMANCE is intended to opeIate. CLIMATE ZONES IMPROVEMENT (EER OR IPLV) 2B 10 % Efficiency Improvement 1 503.3 Simple HVAC systems and equipment. (Prescrip- tive). This section applies to buildings served by unitary or 3B 15% Efficiency Improvement packaged HVAC equipment listed in Tables 503.2.3(1) through 503.2.3(5), each serving one zone and controlled by a 4B 20% Efficiency Improvement single thermostat in the zone served. It also applies to two -pipe heating systems serving one or more zones, where no cooling 503.3.2 Hydronic system controls. Hydronic s stems of at system is installed. Y Y Y Y least 300,000 Btu/h (87,930 W) design output capacity sup - This section does not apply to fan systems serving multiple plying heated and chilled water to comfort conditioning sys- zones, nonunitary or nonpackaged HVAC equipment and sys- tems shall include controls that meet the requirements of tems or hydronic or steam heating and hydronic cooling equip- Section 503.4.3. 44 2006 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE ® CLIMATE ZONES dimg_A_Alkiit a) c ~ f 'O `` J Vim., •r _� leille Mg 3 � O CO s vrs;r 0 I maeam #04.1, i . . 0. �■f fe ■■d■■:.'.H: . of lira 1 CO tn v.�� ■■ ! i r> c ll IrA all •1► ■ r umn k x r-= ° c Ilk II iimAPE• 0 g s , Nxo_ co 4 Ines °l° ■ ■qh iolr,� . �' gI r ■■ f •� i r■ 1► immulniimosin lirlil �grif ilL IP Il mil r fi n ::e g .,- w �� .. / Y ■af111f c O M 1 N�rf 1�` rill /� r �liir� ■f! M N �1. 1� I ��. ` i + W W ��j�I /. . ■ .� �� rr.■ ■f� 1 rs■ 1 ... III I.! ' ..Fiiii nI.I l■ \r n■gm ■ i., ' 0 - . 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