Are There Any Laws That Govern Heating and Cooling of Buildings?

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You know about building codes that affect how parts of the building are constructed. So you may wonder if any laws exist that affect the ways that you heat and cool a building. Every industry has official standards that their professionals abide by. In the area of heating and air conditioning, there are important standards that the installers and technicians follow, as well.

Design Standards

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is an international U.S.-based organization that mandates how HVAC systems are designed. The design standards are based on information provided by the ASHRAE.

Legislation

The Uniform Mechanical Code or International Mechanical Code is the official rule that governs HVAC design standards. The codes are enforced and changed by local and state governments. The employees at building permit departments are required to enforce these codes in order to issue permits to building owners.

Codes

The Uniform Mechanical Code has rules for how various heating and cooling systems are created. These provisions include:

  • Ventilation
  • Ductwork
  • Exhaust system
  • Piping

The codes are designed to ensure that building planners, plumbers and technicians do not create their own system of installing machinery. They must ensure that the designs are safe, effective and long-lasting. After the installation, they learn the importance of maintaining the systems properly. Safety is the most important factor of law.

A plumber should not use a material just because it’s easier to install because the material may leach a chemical that gets into the building’s water supply. Likewise, an installer cannot install any sized air conditioner because a size that’s too big is a fire hazard. The machine should be designed to conserve energy and not use too much of the building’s electricity.

Recent Updates

Recently in 2018, major changes were made in the design of mechanical and evaporative cooling units. New changes are expected every few years. Building owners and permit departments are required to remain up to date with these changes.

Know the Laws, Find the Right Professional

It’s important that you follow the Uniform Mechanical Code or International Mechanical Code if you install heating and cooling units in buildings located in the U.S. Once you are well informed about these codes, find the right qualified provider of HVAC installations, repairs, and maintenance. When you’re ready to make the call, call us today at 408-295-2182.

Hiring a mechanical engineer for building retrofits, rebuilds, additions, or enhancements is the quickest and surest way to obtain the ideal facilities for supporting your operations. Are you ready to make your workplace more modern, efficient, or compliant? If so, we can help.

Call us today at 408-295-2182.

SERVING THE GREATER SILICON VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

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