Florida Building Commission

Plumbing TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC)

CONCURRENT WITH

Swimming Pool Subcomittee

MINUTES

 June 1, 2012

10 a.m. -11:33 A.M.

 

Teleconference Meeting from Tallahassee, Florida

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Meeting Agenda

Objective

Review of objectives will include the following:  Description of issue, discussion by TAC and Subcommittee, public comment, TAC action

1)

 

PLUMBING TAC  MEMBERS PRESENT:  Mike Robbins, Gary Kozan, Gary Duren, Robert Trumbower, Ken Gregory and Jim Bickford. Swimming Pool Subcommittee Members present: Tom Allen, Tony Caruso, Joe Crum, Bill Dumbaugh, Dan Johnson, Gordon Shepardson and Ken Gregory

Approved Meeting Agenda

2)

The TAC reviewed and provided recommendations on DEC statement request DS 2012-038 by Karen McLead on behalf of Pinch A Penny, Inc. as follows:

Questions:

Question 1:

To the question, using the Work Area Compliance method, is the replacement of a 1 horsepower  residential swimming pool motor with a new 1 horsepower motor a “repair” as defined in Chapter 2, or is it a “Level 1 Alteration” as outlined in Chapter 4? 

 

Answer:   According to Section 402 of the FBC, Existing Building, the level of work in question falls under classification of work “repair” and level of work as per Chapter 5 of the FBC, Existing Building.

 

 

Question 2:

To the question, using the Work Area Compliance method, as it stated in Section 502.2, like materials shall be permitted for repairs and alterations, provided no dangerous or unsafe condition is created. Does the replacement of a swimming pool motor of the same horsepower or lesser horsepower created a dangerous or unsafe condition?

 

Answer:  According to Section 502.2 of the FBC, Existing Building “the Code”, only like materials are permitted for repair and thus for the project in question, only swimming pool motor of the same horsepower is permitted.  Replacement of motor with a comparable product in accordance with the approved manufacturer installation instruction and the applicable codes would not create a dangerous or unsafe condition as defined in Section 202 of the Code.               

 

 

Question 4:

 

To the question, using the Prescriptive Compliance method under Chapter 3, is the replacement of a 1 horsepower motor with a new 1 horsepower motor on an existing residential swimming pool a “repair” to the swimming pool or is it an “Alteration” as defined in Chapter 2?

 

Answer:   According to Section 301.2.2 of the FBC, Existing Building, the level of work in question is permitted under both “repair” and “alteration”, provided no hazard to life, health or property is created. 

 

Issue #2

Question 3:

(Part a)To the question, using the Work Area Compliance method, is the replacement of a 1 horsepower pump valued at $2,000 on a residential swimming pool with an assessed value of $10,000 deemed a minor replacement of materials as defined by Section 202?

 

Answer:  No.  According to Section 403.1 of the FBC, Existing Building “the Code”, the classification of work for the project in question is “Alteration – Level 1” which also falls within the scope of Section 613.1, Exception #4 of the Code.

 

(Part b) If no, then what numerical percentage should be used when trying to determine if the replacement of materials (pump) is minor?

 

Answer: A numerical percentage approach is not addressed within the Code for the determination of whether replacement of materials (pump) is minor.

 

(Part c) Or, is replacing a residential swimming pool pump not deemed a repair of the swimming pool and therefore must be considered a Level 1 Alteration without exception?

 

Answer:  See answer to (Part a) above. 

 

Question 5:

 

To the question, using the Prescriptive Compliance method under Chapter 3, is the replacement of a 1 horsepower pump with a new 1 horsepower pump on an existing residential swimming pool a “repair” to the swimming pool or is it an “Alteration” as defined in Chapter 2?

 

Answer:  As per Section 301.2.2 of the FBC, Existing Building, the level of work in question is permitted under both “repair” and “alteration”, provided no hazard to life, health or property is created. 

 

Issues 1 and 2

Question 6:

To the question, using the Prescriptive Compliance method, is the replacement of a pump or pump-motor on an existing residential swimming pool an ordinary repair as defined by section 304.1 exempt from permit in accordance with Section 105.2?

 

Answer:

 

Option #1:  No.  See answers to the above stated questions with regard to the applicable classification of work to the issues of concern.

 

Option #2:  According to Sections 105.2 of the Florida Building Code, Building, ordinary repairs may be made with the approval of the building official without a permit as long as replacement of the pump motor does not alter the pump approval or make the pump unsafe.  With regard to replacement of the pump, see answers to the applicable questions as stated above.  

 

Question 7:

To the question, using the Prescriptive Compliance method, when repairing the swimming pool by replacing a 1 horsepower motor or pump with a new 1 horsepower motor or pump (like for like), and with no other changes or repairs being made, is a “dangerous condition” being created?

 

Answer:  Replacement of 1 horsepower motor or pump with comparable products in accordance with the approved manufacturer installation instruction and the applicable codes would not create a dangerous or unsafe condition as defined in Section 202 of the Code. 

3)

Adjourned at 11:33 AM

 

Staff Contacts: Chip Sellers, chip.sellers@dbpr.state.fl.us, (850) 410-1568; Mo Madani, Manager