HB 399: "An Act relating to the Uniform Mechanical Code and other safety codes; annulling certain regulations adopted by the Department of Community and Economic Development relating to the mechanical code that applies to certain construction contractors and mechanical administrators; and providing for an effective date."
00 HOUSE BILL NO. 399 01 "An Act relating to the Uniform Mechanical Code and other safety codes; annulling 02 certain regulations adopted by the Department of Community and Economic 03 Development relating to the mechanical code that applies to certain construction 04 contractors and mechanical administrators; and providing for an effective date." 05 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 06 * Section 1. AS 08.18.171(7) is amended to read: 07 (7) "mechanical contractor" means a contractor whose business 08 operations involve plumbing, pipe fitting, sheet metal, heating, air conditioning, 09 ventilating, or sprinkler and dry chemical fire protection trades in order to install or 10 modify mechanical piping and systems, devices, fixtures, and equipment or other 11 mechanical materials subject to the edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code 12 adopted under AS 18.70.080(c) and to the following codes as published by the 13 International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials [OR THE
01 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BUILDING OFFICIALS]: 02 (A) Uniform Plumbing Code; 03 (B) Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Code; and 04 (C) Uniform Solar Energy Code; [AND 05 (D) UNIFORM MECHANICAL CODE;] 06 * Sec. 2. AS 08.40.270(a) is amended to read: 07 (a) Each applicant shall be examined to determine the applicant's 08 (1) ability to understand plans, design specifications, and engineering 09 terms commonly used in the mechanical field; 10 (2) knowledge of mechanical installations and piping; 11 (3) familiarity with the requirements of the Uniform Plumbing Code, 12 Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Code, and Uniform Solar Energy Code 13 currently in effect in the state, and the edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code 14 adopted under AS 18.70.080(c) [CURRENTLY IN EFFECT IN THE STATE]; 15 (4) [REPEALED 16 (5)] personal skill and ability. 17 * Sec. 3. AS 08.40.490(3) is amended to read: 18 (3) "mechanical administrator" means a person who is responsible for 19 (A) installing or modifying mechanical piping and systems, 20 devices, fixtures, equipment, or other mechanical materials subject to the 21 Uniform Plumbing Code, Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Code, 22 and Uniform Solar Energy Code, [AND THE UNIFORM MECHANICAL 23 CODE] as published by the International Association of Plumbing and 24 Mechanical Officials, and the edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code 25 adopted under AS 18.70.080(c) [INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF 26 BUILDING OFFICIALS]; or 27 (B) certifying that an installation or modification described in 28 (A) of this paragraph complies with the applicable codes; 29 * Sec. 4. AS 18.56.300(e)(3) is amended to read: 30 (3) "state building code" means 31 (A) for building standards, the standards set out in the version
01 of the Uniform Building Code adopted by the Department of Public Safety 02 under AS 18.70.080, including the provisions of that code applicable to 03 buildings used for residential purposes containing fewer than four dwelling 04 units, notwithstanding the exclusion of those buildings from the Department of 05 Public Safety's jurisdiction made by AS 18.70.080(a)(2); 06 (B) for mechanical standards, the standards set out in the 07 edition [VERSION] of the Uniform Mechanical Code adopted [BY THE 08 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY] under AS 18.70.080(c) 09 [AS 18.70.080], including the provisions of that code applicable to buildings 10 used for residential purposes containing fewer than four dwelling units, 11 notwithstanding the exclusion of those buildings from the Department of 12 Public Safety's jurisdiction made by AS 18.70.080(a)(2); 13 (C) for plumbing standards, the minimum plumbing code 14 adopted for the state under AS 18.60.705; and 15 (D) for electrical standards, the minimum electrical standards 16 prescribed by AS 18.60.580. 17 * Sec. 5. AS 18.70.080(a) is amended to read: 18 (a) Subject to (c) of this section, the [THE] Department of Public Safety 19 shall adopt regulations for the purpose of protecting life and property from fire and 20 explosion by establishing minimum standards for 21 (1) fire detection and suppression equipment; 22 (2) fire and life safety criteria in commercial, industrial, business, 23 institutional, or other public buildings, and buildings used for residential purposes 24 containing four or more dwelling units; 25 (3) any activity in which combustible or explosive materials are stored 26 or handled in commercial quantities; 27 (4) conditions or activities carried on outside a building described in 28 (2) or (3) of this subsection [SECTION] likely to cause injury to persons or property. 29 * Sec. 6. AS 18.70.080 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 30 (c) The 2000 edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code published by the 31 International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials is adopted for use in
01 the state. As a subsequent version of the Uniform Mechanical Code is published from 02 time to time, the Department of Public Safety shall adopt a subsequent version of the 03 Uniform Mechanical Code published by the International Association of Plumbing 04 and Mechanical Officials when the Department of Public Safety determines that the 05 subsequent version meets the state's needs better than the preceding adopted version. 06 * Sec. 7. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 07 read: 08 ANNULMENT OF REGULATIONS. The following regulations adopted by the 09 Department of Community and Economic Development establishing the mechanical code that 10 applies to certain construction contractors and mechanical administrators are annulled: 12 11 AAC 21.990(7) and 12 AAC 39.992(b). 12 * Sec. 8. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).