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HVAC CODES IN TEXAS

HVAC CODES IN TEXAS

New postby cdvcgv85 on Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:17 pm

I read on your answer to thmzenell on 8/6/09 that if a county has not adopted any codes, the our county seat city's codes are in effect. Is this correct.

We live in a rural area and our county only has one code and it is for septic systems. They have no other building codes. Does this mean that we have to use our county seat city's codes?

Also, does the supposed EPA code 308-f-98-020 apply to us? Can't we dispose of the unit ourselves since the freon will have been evacuated?

Other codes that concern us are regarding conduit for high voltage and low voltage wiring. These codes are 904.10.2.3 and 903.4. The only codes like this that I can find are for fire alarms.

The one that really gets me is the slab code. (405.3). Our current unit sits on our patio which is connected to our house. If the house slab is good, why wouldn't the patio slab be just as good?

Thanks for your help.
cdvcgv85
 
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Re: HVAC CODES IN TEXAS

New postby Nolan Kienitz on Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:30 pm

That is a "depends" sort of answer. Some county seats have a certain reach of jurisdiction over all construction that (in some cases) may reach beyond their city limits.

The State of Texas (State Legislature) has adopted a minimum building standard the covers the "entire state". The current adopted code cycles for that minimum state-wide building standard goes back to the ~ 2000 IRC and ~ 1999 NEC. The precise code cycle dates are approximate ... but they are 'old'.

The State Legislature had on their agenda to pass the 2006 IRC and the 2008 NEC ... however the bill never made it to the discussion floor for movement through the house/senate and due to a bunch of other politics they never got around to adopting the newer code cycles. Ergo ... the "entire state" minimums are still back with the late '90s and early '00s code cycles of the IRC and NEC.

Many local AHJs (IE: municipalities) can and do adopt the newer code cycles and they take precedent in their span of control. Many of the AHJs in Texas have now adopted both the newer IRC and NEC and they are being enforced with new home construction.

Typically in "rural" or "out in the county" areas builders and tradespeople do pretty much what they feel like doing. Some are extremely careful about doing what is required to maintain their respective license. The fines for not "doing the right thing" are substantial and can include loss of license.

It is always best to "do the right" thing.
Nolan E. Kienitz - ICC R5 Residential Combination Inspector, TREC #7095
Nolan's Inspections, LLC
http://www.NolansInspections.com
Nolan Kienitz
 
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