Mecklenburg County Engineering & Building Standards
Mechanical Q & A 2001
Attention: √ Denotes a new question!
General:
1)
2)
March 2001
(Q) When may “web” type strapping be used for support?
(A) Web strapping is allowed on flex and fibrous duct only!
Q) The fire stopping is primarily the responsibility of the Building inspector.
However, the Mechanical inspector may elect to assist the Building
inspector with assuring code compliance.
Mecklenburg County Engineering & Building Standards
Mechanical Q & A 2001
Equipment
1)
(Q) Do coil housings on horizontal units require a catwalk for accessibility
when they face a direction different than the air handler?
(A) Yes! There must be a catwalk or the coil must be reversed so
that it faces the same control side as the air handler.
Mecklenburg County Engineering & Building Standards
Mechanical Q & A 2001
Gas Piping:
1)
(Q) Do plowed “plastic” gas lines require tracing?
(A) Yes! Plowed “plastic” gas lines will require a trace line/tape to
assist in locating.
2)√
(Q) May CSST pipe be directly buried in earth or concrete?
(A) No! CSST piping must be installed in a non metallic conduit.
3)√
(Q) What type of protection is required on copper gas tubing installed in
partitions or walls?
(A) Copper gas piping installed in partitions must be protected in a
continuous sleeve per 308.6.
4)√
(Q) Are cat-walks required to for access to gas regulators?
(A) No! Cat-walks to gas regulators are not required per NCDOI.
5)√
(Q) Is protection required for CSST pipe installed outside a structure?
(A) Yes! All gas pipe material except steel is required to be
protected with a sleeve when installed between 3” below grade to
36” above grade.
6)√
(Q) Do gas regulators installed outside require weather protection
(covers)?
(A) No! Unless so noted in the installation instructions.
7)√
(Q) How far above and below the top plate in a wall must a sleeve (steel)
extend for vertically run copper gas pipe?
(A) The CABO (residential) code requires a minimum of 5” above
and below the plate. Volume VI (commercial) requires a minimum of
4” above and below the plate.
Note: We will utilize the International Code volume VI for both
residential and commercial effective 1/1/2002. The International
Code currently requires a minimum of 4” above and below the plate.
8)√
(Q) What type of sleeve is required on a copper gas line where it exits an
exterior wall? Does the code require any vertical protection at this point?
(A) The code requires a steel sleeve (nipple) to shield the pipe from
the siding as it exits the wall. No vertical protection is required
unless required by a manufacturer (i.e. CSST piping).
Mecklenburg County Engineering & Building Standards
Mechanical Q & A 2001
Duct Systems:
1)√
(Q) Do 2X4 studs meet the 2” nominal requirement (i.e. vol. VII sec.
1901.1.1) of the code when fabricating a return box of studs, duct board,
and collars?
(A) Yes!
Mecklenburg County Engineering & Building Standards
Mechanical Q & A 2001
Venting:
1)
N/A