§ 14-41. Amendments to the administrative section of the 2000 International Building Code.

The following amendments apply to the administrative section of the 2000 International Building Code, which has been adopted for the proper administration and enforcement of the various standard codes listed in § 14-38 and § 14-39 of the Fulton County Code of Laws:

101.1 Title. Delete and replace as follows:

These regulations shall be known as the Building Codes of Fulton County.

101.2 Scope. Delete and replace as follows:

The provisions of the Construction codes as adopted by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs shall apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition of every building, structure or appurtenance connected or attached to such buildings and to those systems within said structures.

101.2 Exception.

Delete the term International Residential Code, and replace with "applicable codes as adopted by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs."

101.4 Add the following:

All references to the International Building Code, International Mechanical Code, International Gas Code and International Plumbing Code shall be substituted with Standard Building Code, Standard Mechanical Code, Standard Gas Code and Standard Plumbing Code respectively as adopted by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. All references to the ICC Electrical code shall be substituted with National Electrical Code.

101.4.7 Delete in its entirety.

102.6 Existing Structures. Delete.

SECTION 103 DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING SAFETY: Delete "Department of Building Safety" and substitute with "Department of Environment and Community Development."

103.1 Creation of Enforcement Agency. Delete in its entirety and insert as follows:

The department of Environment and Community Development is hereby created and the official in charge thereof shall be known as the building official.

103.3 Deputies. Delete the following sentence:

For the maintenance of existing properties, see the International Property Maintenance Code.

104.9.1 Used materials and equipment. Add the following sentence:

Used equipment shall not be allowed when prohibited by any code adopted by any State agency.

105.2 Work Exempt from Permit.

Amend item 1 as follows:

One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the under roof area does not exceed 150 square feet.

Delete item 2.

Amend item 11 to read as follows:

Swings and other playground equipment.

Add the following:

14.

Roof repair or replacement of roofing material.

15.

Retaining walls less than 4' above grade on all sides along the entire length when located more than 6' from other retaining walls or load bearing structures.

105.3 Application for Permit. Delete the first sentence and in lieu thereof add the following:

To obtain a permit, the owner or his agent shall file an application therefore in writing on a form furnished by the Department of Environment and Community Development for that purpose.

105.5 Expiration. Add the following:

Construction that has been suspended or abandoned shall be that which does not receive approval of an entire inspection as required by section 109.3.

106.1 Submittal Documents. Delete and add the following:

Construction documents, special instructions and structural observation programs, and other data shall be submitted in one or more sets with each application for permit. The construction documents shall be prepared by an architect or engineer legally registered under the laws of this state regulating the practice of architecture or engineering and shall affix his official seal to said drawings and accompanying data for the following:

1.

All Group A, E and I occupancies.

2.

Buildings or structures, except one and two family dwellings three stories or more in height.

3.

Buildings or structures 5,000 sq. ft or more in area.

4.

Mercantile occupancies having a gross floor area of 25,000 sq. ft. or more on any single floor.

106.1.1.1 Fire Protection System Shop Drawings. Delete in its entirety and add the following:

Shop drawings for fire protection system(s) shall be submitted to the Fulton County Fire Marshal's office. They shall indicate conformance with this code and the construction documents shall be approved prior to the installation of the system. Shop drawings shall contain all information required by the referenced installation standards in Chapter 9.

106.3.1 Approval of Construction Documents. In the first sentence delete the following: "as Reviewed for Code Compliance."

108.3 Building Permit Valuations. Delete in its entirety and add the following:

The applicant for a permit shall provide an estimated value at the time of application. Valuations shall include total value of work, including materials and labor, for which the permit is being issued, such as electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing equipment and permanent systems. Final building permit valuation shall be set by the building official.

109.3.7 Energy Efficiency Inspection. Delete in its entirety.

Add Section 109.3.11 to read as follows:

109.3.11 Mechanical and Plumbing Inspections. The holder of the permit shall be responsible for scheduling of such inspection as follows:

1.

Underground inspection shall be made after trenches or ditches are excavated and bedded, piping installed, and before backfill is put in place. When excavated soil contains rocks, broken concrete, frozen chunks and other rubble that would damage or break the piping or cause corrosive action, clean backfill shall be on the job site and shall be used in lieu of the excavated soil.

2.

Rough-in inspection shall be made after the roof; framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place. For a mechanical inspection all ducting and other components to be concealed shall be complete. For a plumbing inspection all sanitary, storm and water distribution pipes shall be roughed-in. Wall and ceiling membranes are not to be installed until these inspections has been approved.

3.

Final inspection for mechanical shall be made upon completion of the mechanical system. Final inspection for plumbing shall be made after the building is completed, all plumbing fixtures are in place and properly connected, and the structure is ready for occupancy.

Exception: Ground-source heat pump loop systems tested in accordance with Section 1208.1.1 shall be permitted to be backfilled prior to inspection.

The requirements of this section shall not be considered to prohibit the operation of any heating equipment or appliances installed to replace existing heating equipment or appliances serving an occupied portion of a structure provided that a request for inspection of such heating equipment or appliances has been filed with the department not more than 48 hours after such replacement work is completed, and before any portion of such equipment or appliance(s) is concealed by any permanent portion of the structure.

Add section 109.3.11.1.

109.3.11.1 Evaluation and follow-up inspection services.

Prior to the approval of a prefabricated construction assembly having concealed mechanical or plumbing work and the issuance of a mechanical or plumbing permit, the code official shall require the submittal of an evaluation report on each prefabricated construction assembly, indicating the complete details of the system, including a description of the system and its components, the basis upon which the system is being evaluated, test results and similar information, and other data as necessary for the code official to determine conformance to this code.

Add section 109.3.11.1.2.

109.3.11.1.2 Evaluation service. The code official shall designate the evaluation service of the approved agency as the evaluation agency and review such agency's evaluation report for adequacy and conformance to this code.

Add section 109.3.11.1.3.

109.3.11.1.3 Follow-up inspection. Except where ready access is provided to mechanical or plumbing systems, service equipment and accessories for complete inspection at the site without disassembly or dismantling, the code official shall conduct the in-plant inspections as frequently as necessary to ensure conformance to the approved evaluation report or shall designate an independent, approved inspection agency to conduct such inspections. The inspection agency shall furnish the code official with the follow-up inspection manual and a report of inspections upon request, and the mechanical system shall have an identifying label permanently affixed to the system indicating the factory inspections have been performed.

Add section 109.3.11.1.4.

109.3.11.1.4 Test and inspection records. Required test and inspection records (or other such records as the code official designates) shall be available to the code official at all times during the fabrication of the mechanical, plumbing or gas system and the erection of the building.

Add section 112.1.

112.1 General. Delete the words "Board of Appeals" and insert instead the "Fulton County Board of Zoning Appeals".

Add section 109.3.11.1.5.

109.3.11.1.5 Testing. Mechanical or plumbing systems shall be tested as required in the Mechanical, Plumbing or Gas Code and in accordance with Sections 903.11.1.1 through 903.11.1.3. Tests shall be made by the permit holder and observed by the code official.

Add section 109.3.11.1.6.

109.3.11.1.6 New, altered, extended or repaired systems. New mechanical, plumbing or gas systems and parts of existing systems, which have been altered, extended, renovated or repaired, shall be tested as prescribed herein to disclose leaks and defects.

Add section 109.3.11.1.7.

109.3.11.1.7 Apparatuses, material and labor for tests. Apparatus, material and labor required for testing a mechanical or plumbing system or part thereof shall be furnished by the permit holder.

Add section 109.3.11.1.8.

109.3.11.1.8 Reinspection and testing. Where any work or installation does not pass any initial test or inspection, the necessary corrections shall be made to comply with this code. The work or installation shall then be resubmitted to the code official for inspection and testing.

Add section 109.3.11.1.9.

109.3.11.1.9 Approval. After the prescribed tests and inspections indicate that the work complies in all respects with this code, a notice of approval shall be issued by the code official.

Add section 109.3.11.1.10.

109.3.11.1.10 Temporary Connection. The code official shall have the authority to authorize the temporary connection of a mechanical, plumbing or gas system to the sources of energy for the purpose of testing mechanical or plumbing systems of for use under a temporary certificate of occupancy.

112.3 Qualifications. Delete in its entirety.

Add section 103.1.1.

103.1.1-Mandatory License Requirements. Only a person or entity engaged in the business of conditioned air contracting, installation and repair, plumbing contracting, installation and repair or electrical installation and repair shall be entitled to a permit under this Code.

Only a person or entity engaged in the business of Electrical Contracting, Conditioned Air Contracting or Plumbing Contracting, Installation and repairing shall be entitled to receive a permit under this Code for such business activities where such person holds a valid Electrical License, Conditioned Air Contracting License or a Master Plumbers License issued by the State of Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board.

All work requiring a permit under this Code shall be performed by a person or entity holding a valid business license in the State of Georgia.

Exemption: Homeowners performing work in their homes that they occupy or will occupy shall be entitled to receive a permit under this code.

(Res. No. 02-1048, 9-18-02)