Designated as an
American National StandardThe American National Standards Institute or ANSI is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. The organization also coordinates U.S. standards with international...
, the
Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) is a model code developed by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) to govern the installation and inspection of mechanical (HVAC, combustion, exhaust, refrigeration) systems as a means of promoting the public's health, safety and welfare.
The UMC is developed using the American National Standard Institute's consensus development procedures.
Designated as an
American National StandardThe American National Standards Institute or ANSI is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. The organization also coordinates U.S. standards with international...
, the
Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) is a model code developed by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) to govern the installation and inspection of mechanical (HVAC, combustion, exhaust, refrigeration) systems as a means of promoting the public's health, safety and welfare.
The UMC is developed using the American National Standard Institute's consensus development procedures. This process brings together volunteers representing a variety of viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus on mechanical issues.
The UMC is designed to provide consumers with safe heating and mechanical systems while, at the same time, allowing latitude for innovation and new technologies. The public at large is encouraged and invited to participate in IAPMO’s open consensus code development process. This code is updated every three years. A code development timeline and other relevant information are available at IAPMO’s
Website.
History
In 1926, a group of Los Angeles plumbing inspectors recognized that there were no uniform requirements for the installation and maintenance of plumbing systems, and at that point in time heating of businesses and homes was done through boilers and piping to radiators. Efficient air conditioning was not available. Disorder and potential danger in the industry was a result of widely divergent plumbing practices and the use of many different, often conflicting, plumbing codes by local jurisdictions. It was these plumbing inspectors that understood the necessity of developing a model code that could be uniformly applied across jurisdictions.
In 1928, the city adopted the first incarnation of a uniform plumbing and mechanical code developed by the Los Angeles City Plumbing Inspectors Association (LACPIA) and based on the input from a committee of plumbing inspectors, master and journeyman plumbers, and mechanical engineers, assisted by public utility companies and the plumbing industry.
The ultimate product of this effort, the first
Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), was published by IAPMO (the name was changed from LACPIA in 1966 when the scope of their work was enlarged and air conditioning became more readily available in residential applications) in 1967.
The 2003 edition of the UMC was developed through a consensus process. The 2009 edition represents the most current approaches in the mechanical field and is the third edition developed under the ANSI consensus process and to earn the designation of American National Standard.
Contributions to the content of the code were made by every segment of the built industry, including such diverse interests as consumers, enforcing authorities, installers/maintainers, insurance, labor, manufacturers, research/standards/testing laboratories, special experts, and users.
Industry support
The
2009 Uniform Mechanical Code is supported by the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (
MCAA), the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (
PHCC-NA), the United Association (
UA), the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (
ASSE),and the World Plumbing Council (
WPC).
Content
Chapter 1 - Administration
Part 2 - Organization and Enforcement
Part 3 - Permits and Inspections
Chapter 2 - Definitions
Chapter 3 - General Requirements
Chapter 4 - Ventilation Air Supply
Chapter 5 - Exhaust Systems
Part 1 - Environmental Air Ducts (Duct HVAC) and Product Conveying Systems
Part 2 - Commercial Hoods and Kitchen Ventilation (Extractor hoodAn extractor hood or range hood , also known as a kitchen hood, stove hood, exhaust hood, cooker hood, extraction hood, cooking canopy, ventilation hood, extractor fan, fume extractor or electric chimney, is a device containing a fan that hangs above the stove or cooktop in the kitchen...
)
Chapter 6 - Duct Systems
Chapter 7 - Combustion Air
Chapter 8 - Chimneys and Vents (
Heat and smoke ventHeat and Smoke Vents are installed in buildings as an active fire protection measure. They are openings in the roof which are intended to vent the heat and smoke developed by a fire inside the building by the action of buoyancy, such that they are known as "gravity vents".-Regulatory...
)
Chapter 9 - Installation of Specific Equipment
Chapter 10 - Steam and Hot Water Boilers (
Condensing boilerA condensing boiler or Co Boiler is a water heating device designed to recover energy normally discharged to the atmosphere through the flue. It can do this through the use of a secondary heat exchanger which most commonly uses residual heat in the flue gas to heat the cooler returning water stream...
)
Chapter 11 - Refrigeration
Part 1 - Refrigeration Systems (HVACHVAC is an acronym that stands for the closely related functions of "Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning"-the technology of indoor environmental comfort...
)
Part 2 - Cooling TowersCooling towers are heat removal devices used to transfer process waste heat to the atmosphere. Cooling towers may either use the evaporation of water to remove process heat and cool the working fluid to near the wet-bulb air temperature or rely solely on air to cool the working fluid to near the ...
Chapter 12 -
HydronicsHydronics is the name for the use of water as the heat-transfer medium in heating and cooling systems.Some of the oldest and most common examples are steam and hot-water radiators...
Part 1 - Steam and Water (PipingWithin industry, piping is a system of pipes used to convey fluids from one location to another. The engineering discipline of piping design studies the efficient transport of fluid....
)
Part 2 Hydronic Panel Heating Systems
Chapter 13 - Fuel Gas Piping
Part 1 - Fuel Piping
Part 2 - Fuel Supply: Manufactured / Mobile Home Parks and Recreational Vehicle Parks
Chapter 14 - Process Piping
Chapter 15 - Solar Systems (Solar energy, Solar thermal,
Solar hot waterSolar water heating or a solar hot water system is water heated by the use of solar energy. Solar heating systems are generally composed of solar thermal collectors, a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to its point of usage. The system may use electricity for pumping the fluid, and...
,
Solar combisystemA solar combisystem is a solar heating system that provides renewable heat, both space heating and cooling and hot water from a common array of solar thermal collectors, normally linked to an auxiliary non-solar heat source....
)
Chapter 16 -
Stationary Fuel Cell Power PlantsStationary fuel cell applications are stationary fuel cell applications that are either connected to the electric grid to provide supplemental power and as emergency power system for critical areas, or installed as a grid-independent generator for on-site service.-Codes and standards:Stationary...
(
Energy developmentEnergy development is the effort to provide sufficient primary energy sources and secondary energy forms to fulfill civilization's needs. It involves both installation of established technologies and research and development to create new energy-related technologies...
)
Chapter 17 - Standards
Appendices include: Procedures to Be Followed to Place Gas Equipment in Operation and Installation and Testing of Oil (Liquid) Fuel-Fired Equipment
See also
- IAPMO
- Uniform Plumbing Code
Designated as an American National Standard, the Uniform Plumbing Code is a model code developed by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials to govern the installation and inspection of plumbing systems as a means of promoting the public's health, safety and welfare.The...
- Uniform Solar Energy Code
The Uniform Solar Energy Code is a model code developed by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials to govern the installation and inspection of solar energy systems as a means of promoting the public's health, safety and welfare.-History:The advantages of a Uniform...
- Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code
The Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code is a model code developed by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials to govern the installation and inspection of plumbing systems associated with swimming pools, spas and hot tubs as a means of promoting the public's...