2000 UMC CheckList

A. General Requirements   top

____ Provide information on the listing of the equipment installed. (Section 302.1)

____ Provide the manufacturer's installation instructions for the ___________.

____ Unvented or direct fired fuel-burning equipment are only permitted in Group F, S or U Occupancies. (Section 303.1.1)

____ Equipment that is installed in Group S, Division 3, 4 or 5 and Group U, Division 1 Occupancies, and has a flame, generates a spark or uses a glowing ignition source open to the space in which it is installed, shall be elevated so the source of ignition is at least 18 inches (457 mm) above the floor. (Section 308)

____ Appliances installed in garages where they may be subjected to mechanical damage shall be suitably guarded against such damage by being installed behind protective barriers or by being elevated or located out of the normal path of vehicles.
(Section 308)

____ Boilers not listed for closet or alcove installation shall be installed in a room having a volume at least 16 times the total volume of the boiler. Note: When computing the room volume, a maximum height of 8 feet (2438 mm) is allowed. (Section 304.2)

____ The equipment installed outside the building shall be listed for outdoor installations or be in an approved weatherproof enclosure. (Section 304.3)

____ The mechanical plan review and approval cannot be completed until the approved architectural plans showing all of the fire-rated corridor walls, occupancy separation walls and division walls, shaft walls, horizontal exit walls, etc., are submitted for reference use.

____ Show condensate lines on plans and where they will terminate. (Section 310.1)

____ Overflow drains from air-conditioning units should discharge to conspicuous locations as required by Sections 310.2 and 1106.12.

____ Show location of heating, cooling and ventilating equipment.

____ Furnish the mechanical equipment schedule identifying the equipment manufacturer's name, model number, capacity, etc.

____ Provide duct layout showing size, duct gage (if metal) and grill (register) locations.

____ All mechanical equipment shall be listed and labeled by an approved agency. If not, complete information on the equipment, including manufacturer's data sheets, test reports, etc., shall be provided to allow for evaluation. Testing by an approved agency will be required before approval is granted.

B. Heating Equipment    top

____ Listed heat-producing equipment shall maintain the required clearances to combustible construction specified in the listing. Devices such as doorstops or limits, closers, drapery ties or guards shall not be used to provide the required clearances. (Section 304.1)

____ A warm-air furnace shall not be located in a room used or designed to be used as a bedroom, bathroom, closet or in any enclosed space with access only through such room or space. (Section 904.5)

____ Vented Wall Furnaces: Shall not be installed closer than 6 inches from an inside corner and located so a door cannot swing to within 12 inches perpendicular to the air inlet or outlet opening. (Section 314.1)

____ Provide a door at least 24 inches (610 mm) wide and large enough to remove the largest appliance in the closet, alcove or basement. (Section 903)

____ Provide a service space of not less than 30 inches (762 mm) deep and the height of the furnace, but not less than 30 inches (762 mm), at the front or service side of the appliance with the door open. (Section 903)

____ Provide a 120-volt receptacle within 25 feet (7620 mm) of and on the same level as the equipment. (Section 309)

____ Provide lighting to all equipment required by the Uniform Mechanical Code to be accessible or readily accessible.

____ Equipment designed to be fixed in position shall be securely fastened in place as required by Section 304.4.

____ Liquefied petroleum gas-burning appliances shall not be installed in a pit or basement. (Section 304.6)

____ Fuel-burning condensing appliances should be provided with condensate drains in compliance with Section 310.

____ Detail of furnace enclosure and blower-type furnace should be shown on the plans. The following provisions should be considered (Section 904):

____ Details of equipment installed in attic shall be shown on the plans. The following provisions should be considered (Section 908):

____ Access to equipment on roof should be shown on the plans. When a ladder is provided, the following features should be indicated (Section 910):

C. Ventilation Air Supply    top

____ Provide makeup air for the ventilation system. (Section 505.3)

____ The makeup air system shall be electrically interlocked with the exhaust system. (Section 509.9)

____ Outside air shall not be obtained from the following locations (Section 906.6):

____ Return air shall not be obtained from a corridor, exit passageway or exit enclosure required by the Building Code to be of fire-resistive construction.

____ Return air shall not be obtained from a dwelling unit, guest room or patient room other than the room in which the air originates.

____ Return air shall not be obtained where it will pick up objectionable odors, fumes or flammable vapors. (Section 906.6.2)

____ Return air shall not be taken from (Section 906.6):

D. Combustion Air    top

____ Combustion air provisions should be shown on the plans for the fuel-burning equipment. Sizes of openings and/or ducts and their points of termination should be indicated in compliance with Chapter 7.

____ An upper combustion air opening or duct should be provided and located within the upper 12 inches (305 mm) of the enclosure. In addition, a lower combustion air opening or duct should be provided and located within the lower 12 inches (305 mm) of the enclosure. (Section 702)

____ One combustion air opening sized at 1 square inch per 4,000 Btu/h input of the appliance or appliances, but not smaller than the vent flow area, shall be allowed within the upper 12 inches (305 mm) of the enclosure. When this is done, all of the combustion air shall be taken from the outdoors and the appliance shall have a minimum clearance of 1 inch (25 mm) on the sides and back, and 6 inches (152 mm) on the front. (Table 7-1)

____ Upper and lower combustion air ducts should not be joined as shown on the plans, but should be completely separated as required by Section 704.1.6.

____ Upper combustion air ducts should extend horizontally or upward to the outside or to the attic as required by Section 703.1.2.

____ Fire dampers or volume dampers should not be installed in combustion air ducts. (Section 702.2)

____ If an attic is used as a source of combustion air, the following provisions should be indicated on the plans (Section 703.1.2):

____ If an under-floor crawl space is utilized to provide for the combustion air, compliance with the following requirements should be verified (Section 703.2):

____ Combustion air for blower-type furnaces should not be obtained from the same area as the return air (within the building) unless complete compliance with all of the provisions of Section 906.6.5(3) is clearly demonstrated.

____ Combustion air openings or ducts should be at least 1 square inch per 1,000 Btu/h (2.20 mm²/W) per opening or duct, since combustion air is obtained from the inside of the building, as required by Table 7-1. Note: Minimum of 100 square inches (0.064 m²) for each opening or duct.

E. Vents and Chimneys    top

____ The factory-built chimney shall be installed in accordance with the terms of its listing and the manufacturer's installation instructions. (Section 812.1)

____ Provide the manufacturer's installation instructions for the factory-built chimney.

____ Terminate the vent at least 4 feet (1219 mm) from a property line except a public way. (Section 806.6)

____ Terminate the vent on the direct vent appliance, with an input less than 50,000 Btu/h (19 kW), at least 2 feet (610 mm) from a property line except a public way. (Section 806.6, exception)

____ Portions of venting systems that extend through occupied and storage spaces shall be enclosed. (Section 804)

____ A combustion products vent, vent connector, chimney or chimney connector shall not extend into or through an air duct or plenum. (Section 804)

____ Gravity flue vents should not slope more than 60 degrees from the vertical. In addition, the total horizontal run of the vent (less than 45 degrees from horizontal) and the connector should not exceed 75 percent of the vertical height of the vent, as required by Section 805.

____ The gravity flue vent connector should not slope less than ¹/₄ inch per foot [¹/₄ unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (2% slope)] as required by Section 805.

____ Gravity flue vent sizes should not be less than the size of the vent collar on the appliance or less than 7 square inches (4516 mm²) [3-inch (76 mm) diameter] as required by Sections 808.

____ Detail of the chimney or vent roof penetration should be provided to ensure compliance with the provisions of Chapter 8.

____ Show the termination of the appliance vents above the roof.

____ Factory-built chimneys for residential fireplaces should terminate at least 3 feet (914 mm) above the roof and 2 feet (610 mm) above any part of the building that is within 10 feet (3048 mm) of the chimney, as required by Table 8-4.

____ The vent for the wall furnace should be a Type BW gas vent. The first ceiling plate above the furnace in a stud cavity enclosing the vent should be ventilated. Each subsequent ceiling plate should be fire stopped by the fire-stop spacers furnished with the vent.

____ When the BW vent extends through an attic in a single-story building, a metal sleeve not less than No. 26 manufacturer's standard gage steel, having the same area as the opening through the ceiling plate, should be extended to a point at least 12 inches (305 mm) above the top of the ceiling plate or 2 inches (51 mm) below the roof sheathing, whichever is the lesser.

____ Type BW gas vents should extend from the header plate to a point above the highest ceiling plate without any offsets or crossovers.

____ A sheet metal barrier should be installed between a Type BW gas vent located in a stud space and wall covering constructed of perforated lath, metal lath or building paper.

____ Type BW wall heater vents should terminate at least 12 feet (3658 mm) above the bottom of the furnace.

F. Comfort Cooling    top

____ Condensate shall be collected and discharged to an approved plumbing fixture or disposal area. (Sections 310.1 and 1106.10)

____ Overflow condensate disposal shall be provided when condensate or defrost liquids are generated in an attic or furred space and damage may result from overflow. (Section 1106.12)

____ The overflow discharge lines shall terminate at an approved location where they can be readily observed. (Section 1106.12)

____ Corridors, required to be of fire-resistive construction by Chapter of the Building Code, shall not be used to convey air to or from rooms. (Section 602.1)

____ Equipment serving different areas of a building other than where it is installed shall be marked in an approved manner to permanently and uniquely identify the piece of equipment and area served. (Section 304.5)

____ Access to equipment on roof should be shown on the plans. When a ladder is provided, the following features should be indicated (Section 910.8):

____ A compressor or condensing unit supported from the ground should rest on a concrete or other approved base extending not less than 3 inches (76 mm) above the adjoining ground level. (Section 1106.2, exception 2)

____ It should be noted on the plans that ceiling spaces used as return-air plenums shall fully comply with all the provisions of Sections 602.1 and 602.2.

G. Ducts    top

____ Factory-made air ducts shall be listed and installed in accordance with the terms of their listing and the requirements of UL 181. (Section 601.6)

____ Provide the installation instructions for the factory-made air ducts.

____ Corridors shall not be used to convey air to or from rooms if the corridor is required to be of fire-resistive construction by Chapter of the Building Code. (Section 601.1.1)

____ Insulation of supply- and return-air ducts shall comply with Section 604 and Table 6-4. The following provisions should be considered:

____ Duct work shall be constructed in accordance with Chapter 6 of the UMC or applicable Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association standards. Please specify what method will be used on the plans.

____ Provide a schedule of the metal gages that the duct work will be constructed of.

____ Provide all duct layouts showing all registers and their types.

____ Show location, type and rating of all required fire and smoke dampers.

____ Fire dampers should be equipped with access doors, with a label reading "FIRE DAMPER," as required by Section 606.5.

____ When a heating or air conditioning system is designed to operate with the fans "on" during a fire, dynamic-type fire dampers should be used. (Section 605.2)

____ It should be noted on the plans that ceiling spaces used as return-air plenums shall fully comply with all the provisions of Sections 602.1 and 602.2.

H. Commercial-Cooking    top

____ Show commercial cooking hood and exhaust duct on the plans and show all dimensions of both items.

____ Show cubic feet per minute (cfm) rating of commercial cooking exhaust blower on plans.

____ Show makeup air unit on plans. Unit shall be interlocked with the exhaust fan.

____ Show cfm rating of makeup air unit on plans.

____ The exhaust air from the Type I hood shall be diverted so that there is no impingement on the roof. Show on plans. (Section 508.4)

____ Show where the cleanouts in the grease duct will be located.

____ Provide a detail of the 1-HR rated shaft around the grease duct that complies with the UMC. If you are using a rated wrap around the duct, instead of the shaft, provide complete listing information on the wrap. (Section 508.4)

____ Show the size of the shaft around the grease duct.

____ Design the grease duct system in a manner to provide an air velocity within the duct of not less than 1,500 feet per minute (7.5 m/s) and not to exceed 2,500 feet per minute (12.7 m/s). (Section 508.6)

____ What type of cooking equipment will be used under the Type I hood?

____ What type of cooking equipment will be used under the Type II hood?

____ Solid-fuel charbroiler should be provided with a separate exhaust system, independent of all other systems serving other cooking appliances, as required by Section 509.7.1.

____ Provide makeup air to the commercial cooking hood as required by Section 509.9.

____ Unless a listed exhaust hood is installed, an exhaust outlet shall be provided for each 12-foot (3658 mm) section of the hood. (Section 509.10)

____ The exhaust outlet for a grease duct serving a Type I hood shall terminate at least 2 feet (610 mm) above the roof surface. (Section 508.9)

I. Refrigeration    top

____ Plans should indicate the type and quantity of refrigerant to be used in the system.

____ A compressor or condensing unit supported from the ground should rest on a concrete or other approved base extending not less than 3 inches (76 mm) above the adjoining ground level. (Section 1106.2)

____ An unobstructed, readily accessible opening and passageway not less than 36 inches (914 mm) wide by 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm) high should be provided to compressors, valves and other portions of the system requiring routine maintenance. (Section 1106.3)

____ Permanent lighting fixtures should be installed for all refrigeration equipment required to be accessible or readily accessible. Lighting fixtures should provide illumination to safely perform required tasks for which access is provided. Lighting controls should be provided at the access entrance. (Section 1106.4)

____ Refrigeration systems and portions thereof should not be located in an elevator shaft, dumbwaiter shaft or a shaft having moving objects therein, nor in a location where it will be subject to mechanical damage. (Section 1106.5)

____ The room or space that condensing units are located in should be ventilated by one of the following means:

1. Permanent gravity ventilation openings of not less than 2 square feet (0.19 m²) net free area opening directly to the outside of the building or extending to the outside of the building by continuous ducts.

2. A mechanical exhaust system arranged to provide a complete change of air in such room or space at least every 20 minutes and to discharge to the outside of the building.

____ Refrigeration systems or portions thereof should not be located within a required exit enclosure.

____ Refrigeration compressors exceeding 5 horsepower (17.6 kW) rating should be located at least 10 feet (3048 mm) from an exit opening in a Group A; Group B; Group E; Group I; or Group R, Division 1 Occupancy unless separated by a one-hour fire-resistive occupancy separation. (Section 1106.8)

____ Machinery rooms should be provided for refrigeration systems when:

____ Refrigeration machinery rooms should be of such dimensions that all system parts are readily accessible with adequate space for maintenance and operations, and an unobstructed walking space at least 3 feet (914 mm) in width and 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm) in height should be maintained throughout, allowing free access to at least two sides of all moving machinery and approaching each stop valve.

____ Access to refrigeration machinery rooms should be restricted to authorized personnel and posted with a permanent sign. (Section 1107.2)

____ Exits should comply with Chapter 10 of the Building Code for special hazards. (UMC Section 1107.3)

____ Refrigeration machinery rooms should have approved refrigerant-vapor detectors, located in an area where refrigerant from a leak is likely to concentrate, and should activate visual and audible alarms. Alarms should be activated at a value not greater than one half the immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH), or measurement consistent therewith; the permissible exposure limit (PEL), or measurement consistent therewith; or 25 percent of the lower flammability limit (LFL), whichever is less. (Section 1107.4)

____ Refrigeration machinery rooms should be separated from other portions of the building as required in the special hazards provisions of the Building Code, and penetrations should be sealed to inhibit the passage of refrigerant vapor. (UMC Section 1107.5)

____ Refrigeration machinery rooms should be provided with dedicated mechanical exhaust systems. The exhaust systems should have the capacity to achieve each of the following (Section 1108.2):

____ Exhaust from refrigeration machinery room ventilation systems should be discharged at least 20 feet (6096 mm) from a property line or openings into buildings. Discharges capable of exceeding 25 percent of the LFL or 50 percent of the IDLH should be equipped with approved treatment systems to reduce the discharge concentrations to these values or lower. (Section 1108.7)

____ Makeup air intakes to replace the exhaust air from a refrigeration machinery room should be provided to the room directly from outside the building. Intakes should be fitted with backdraft dampers or similar approved flow-control means to prevent reverse flow. Distribution of makeup air shall be arranged to provide thorough mixing within the refrigeration machinery room to prevent short circuiting of the makeup air directly to the exhaust. (Section 1108.9)

____ Stop valves should be installed in the refrigerant piping of a refrigeration system at the following locations (Section 1112.1):

1. At the inlet and outlet of a positive-displacement-type compressor, compressor unit or condensing unit.

2. At the refrigerant outlet from a liquid receiver.

3. At the refrigerant inlet of a pressure vessel containing liquid refrigerant and having an internal gross volume exceeding 3 cubic feet (85 L). Valves will not be required in:

a. Systems with nonpositive-displacement compressors.

b. Systems having a pump-out receiver for storage of the charge.

c. Systems containing less than 110 pounds (50 kg) of Group A1 refrigerant.

d. Self-contained systems do not require a stop valve at the inlet of the receiver.

____ The size and length of the discharge pipe from the pressure relief device of fusible plug should comply with Section 1118. Show the proper calculations on plans.

____ Ammonia systems should be provided with an emergency discharge into a tank of water provided exclusively for ammonia absorption. Emergency discharge systems should meet the following (Section 1120):

____ Approved refrigerant-vapor detection and alarm systems complying with Section 1120 should be installed with the refrigeration system. Show the proper details on the plans.

____ Specify on the plans that the refrigeration equipment, valves and switches are properly identified and labeled per UMC Standard 11-2 and Sections 1107.2, 1108.6, 1108.4, 1109.4 and 1112.4.

____ Cooling towers, evaporative condensers and fluid coolers having combustible exterior surfaces should be protected with an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system when such equipment is located on roofs. (Section 1126)

____ Seismic restraints should be provided for cooling towers, evaporative condensers and fluid coolers as required by Chapter 16 of the Building Code. (Section 1127)

____ Water supply and backflow protection provided for cooling towers, evaporative condensers and fluid coolers should be as required by the Plumbing Code. (Section 1128)

____ Drains, overflows and blowdowns provided for cooling towers, evaporative condensers and fluid coolers should have indirect connection to an approved disposal location. (Section 1129)

____ Cooling towers, evaporative condensers and fluid coolers should be located where their plumes cannot enter occupied spaces. Plume discharge should be 5 feet (1524 mm) above or 20 feet (6096 mm) away from any ventilation inlet to a building. (Section 1131)

____ Chemical treatment systems provided for cooling towers, evaporative condensers and fluid coolers should comply with the Fire Code. (Section 1130)

____ Cooling towers, evaporative condensers and fluid coolers should be provided with a vibration switch to shut off fans operating with excessive vibration. In climates commonly subject to electrical storms, lightning protection should be provided on roof-mounted equipment. (Section 1132)

J. Product Conveying Systems    top

____ Dust- or flammable-vapor-collection systems shown on the plans should fully comply with the requirements of Chapter 5. The following comments could be used as a guide for the information that should be submitted:

____ The garage ventilation system is to terminate not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from a property line; 2 feet (610 mm) from an exterior wall or roof; 10 feet (3048 mm) from openings into the building; 10 feet (3048) above the adjoining grade. Show on plans. (Section 508.9)

____ The product-conveying exhaust duct is to terminate per Section 508.9 of the UMC. Show on plans.

____ What is being ventilated through the fume hood?

K. Boilers    top

____ Provide two exits or exit-access doors to the boiler room that is over 500 square feet (46.45 m²) and the largest piece of fuel-fired equipment is over 400,000 Btu/h (117 228 W). (UBC Section 1007.7.1)

____ Provide a floor drain in the boiler room. (Section 1019)

L. Water Heaters    top

____ Fuel-burning water heaters shall not be installed in bathrooms or bedrooms or in a closet with the only access through a bathroom or bedroom unless:

____ The pressure-temperature relief valve on the water heater shall not terminate to the plumbing drainage system. (Section 1004.2)

____ Terminate the pressure-temperature relief valve on the water heater where it will not cause personal injury or property damage and where it is readily observed by the building occupants. (Section 1004.2.1)

____ Water heaters or hot water storage tanks that are installed in locations where leakage will cause damage shall be installed in a metal pan (Sections 1004.3 and 1004.3.1). Note the following:

____ Terminate the water heater pan drain to an indirect waste receptor, floor drain or to the outside of the building between 6 and 24 inches (152 and 610 mm) from the adjacent ground surface. (Section 1004.3.2)

M. Fuel-gas Piping    top

____ Provide distance from gas meter to outlets with Btu rating of each outlet and all gas pipe sizes. (Section 1318)

____ What type of material will be used for gas piping?

____ Show the location of all the building shut-off valves in the gas piping system. (Section 1312.10)

____ Show the location of the pressure regulators in the medium- or high-pressure gas piping system. (Section 1319.3)

____ Show the vents to the outside of the building on the gas regulators. (Section 1319.3)

N. Miscellaneous    top

____ A residential open-top broiler unit should be provided with a hood and an exhaust fan having a minimum capacity of 100 cubic feet per minute per square foot [508 L/(s•m²)] of hood intake area as required by Section 918.

____ Domestic Clothes Dryer:

____ If gas logs are to be installed in a solid-fuel-burning fireplace, the fireplace should have its flue damper blocked open to prevent spillage of combustion products into the room, with a minimum of 1 square inch per 2,000 Btu/h (1.09 mm²/W) input of the gas log. (Section 912.1)

____ Show bathroom ventilation on plans (either by use of openable windows or exhaust fans).