Loading...
(Amended by Ord. No. 184,692, Eff. 12/30/16.)
95.101.1. Title. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,719, Eff. 1/23/23.) This article is a portion of the Los Angeles Municipal Code and shall be known as the Los Angeles Mechanical Code. Whenever the word Code is used in this article, it shall mean the Los Angeles Mechanical Code.
The Los Angeles Mechanical Code adopts by indicated reference portions of the 2022 California Mechanical Code (CMC) which is Part 4 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR).
95.101.2. Purpose. The purpose of this article is to safeguard life, health, property and public welfare by regulating the design, construction, installation, alteration, repair, quality of materials, location, operation and maintenance of heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment and other miscellaneous heat-producing appliances installed in the City. The provisions of this Code are not intended to apply to equipment installed on railroad cars, motor vehicles, aircraft or on shipboards that are not used as permanent occupancies for longer than six months.
95.101.3. Scope. The provisions of this Code shall apply to the addition to or erection, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement, use, or maintenance of heating, ventilation, cooling, refrigeration systems; incinerators; or other miscellaneous heat-producing appliances within this jurisdiction.
Additions, alterations, repairs to, and replacement of equipment or systems shall be in accordance with the provisions for new equipment and systems, except as otherwise provided in LAMC Section 95.102.0.
95.101.3.1. Conflicts. Where, in a specific case, different sections of this Code or referenced standards specify different materials, methods of construction, or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern as determined by the Authority Having Jurisdiction. Where there is a conflict between a general requirement and a specific requirement, the specific requirement shall prevail. [OSHPD 1, 2, 3 & 4]
95.101.3.1.1. Conflicts Between Codes. Where the requirements within the jurisdiction of this Mechanical Code conflict with the requirements of the Plumbing Code, the Plumbing Code shall prevail.
95.101.3.2. Design and Testing. The design and testing of equipment regulated by this Code shall be subject to the approval of the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
95.101.3.3. Appendices. The provisions in the appendices are intended to supplement the requirements of this Code and shall not be considered part of this Code unless formally adopted as such.
(Amended by Ord. No. 184,692, Eff. 12/30/16.)
Sections 104.0 through 104.4 of Chapter 1, Division II of the CMC are adopted by reference, Section 104.5 of Chapter 1, Division II of the CMC is not adopted, and in lieu thereof, Section 95.102.5 of this Code shall apply.
95.102.1. Additions, alterations, or Repairs. Additions, alterations, or repairs shall be permitted to be made to a mechanical system without requiring the existing mechanical system to be in accordance with the requirements of this Code, provided the addition, alteration, or repair is in accordance with that required for a new mechanical system. Additions, alterations, or repairs shall not cause an existing system to become unsafe or create unhealthy or overloaded conditions.
Minor additions, alterations, and repairs to existing mechanical systems shall be permitted to be installed in accordance with the law in effect at the time the original installation was made, where approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
95.102.2. Existing Installations. Mechanical systems lawfully in existence at the time of the adoption of this Code shall be permitted to have their use, maintenance, or repair continued where the use, maintenance, or repair is in accordance with the original design and location and no hazard to life, health, or property has been created by such mechanical systems.
95.102.3. Changes in Building Occupancy. Mechanical systems that are a part of a building or structure undergoing a change in use or occupancy, as defined in Article 1, Chapter IX of the LAMC, shall be in accordance with the requirements of this Code that are applicable to the new use or occupancy.
95.102.4. Maintenance. Mechanical systems, materials, and appurtenances, both existing and new, and parts thereof, shall be maintained in operating condition in accordance with the original design and in a safe and hazard-free condition. Devices or safeguards that are required by this Code shall be maintained in accordance with the code edition under which installed. The owner or the owner's designated agent shall be responsible for maintenance of mechanical systems and equipment. To determine compliance with this subsection, the Authority Having Jurisdiction shall be permitted to cause mechanical systems or equipment to be reinspected.
95.102.4.1. Commercial HVAC Systems. Commercial HVAC systems both existing and new, and parts thereof shall be inspected and maintained in operating condition in accordance with ASHRAE/ACCA 180. The owner or the owner's designated agent shall be responsible for maintenance of mechanical systems and equipment. To determine compliance with this subsection, the Authority Having Jurisdiction shall be permitted to cause a HVAC system to be reinspected.
95.102.4.2. Residential HVAC Systems. Residential HVAC systems both existing and new, and parts thereof shall be inspected in accordance with ACCA 4 QM. The owner or the owner's designated agent shall be responsible for maintenance of mechanical systems and equipment. To determine compliance with this subsection, the Authority having Jurisdiction shall be permitted to cause a HVAC system to be reinspected.
95.102.5. Moved Buildings. Apartment houses and dwellings moved into or within the City and all other buildings moved within the City, may retain the existing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment and other miscellaneous heat-producing appliances, provided the building does not become or continue to be a substandard residential building or a residential building subject to repair. However, existing mechanical equipment, including vents, which is not in good and safe condition and not working properly shall be corrected.
Existing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment and other miscellaneous heat-producing appliances in any building, other than an apartment house or dwelling, moved from outside the City to inside the City shall comply with all the requirements of this Code.
New heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment and miscellaneous heat-producing appliances that are installed in any building relocated into or within the City shall conform to the provisions of this Code.
95.102.6. Existing Buildings. In existing buildings or premises in which mechanical systems are to be altered, repaired, replaced, or renovated, the Authority Having Jurisdiction has discretionary powers to permit deviation from the provisions of this Code, provided that such proposal to deviate is first submitted for determination in order that health and safety requirements, as they pertain to mechanical, shall be observed.
(Title and Section Amended by Ord. No. 184,692, Eff. 12/30/16.)
95.103.1. General. Nothing in this Code is intended to prevent the use of systems, methods, or devices of equivalent or superior quality, strength, fire resistance, effectiveness, durability, and safety over those prescribed by this Code. Technical documentation shall be submitted to the Authority Having Jurisdiction to demonstrate equivalency. The Authority Having Jurisdiction shall have the authority to approve or disapprove the system, method or device for the intended purpose.
(Title and Section Amended by Ord. No. 184,692, Eff. 12/30/16.)
(Amended by Ord. No. 184,692, Eff. 12/30/16.)
95.106.1. General. The powers of the Department and the Board are enumerated in Section 98.0403.1 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.
1. If two or more pertinent limitations are not identical, those limitations shall prevail that provide the greater safety to persons, property or public welfare.
2. The Superintendent of Building or a duly authorized representative is empowered to make all interpretations concerning the provisions of this Code.
95.106.4. Stop Orders. Where work is being done contrary to the provisions of this Code, the Authority Having Jurisdiction shall have the authority to order the work stopped by notice in writing served on persons engaged in doing or causing such work to be done, and such persons shall forthwith stop work until authorized by the Authority Having Jurisdiction to proceed with the work.
95.106.5. Authority to Disconnect Utilities in Emergencies. The Authority Having Jurisdiction or authorized representative shall be permitted to disconnect fuel gas utility service or energy supplies to a building, structure, premises, or equipment regulated by this Code in case of emergency where necessary to eliminate an immediate hazard to life or property. The Authority Having Jurisdiction shall, wherever possible, notify the serving utility, the owner, and the occupant of the building, structure, or premises of the decision to disconnect prior to taking such action, and shall notify such serving utility, owner, and occupant of the building, structure, or premises in writing of such disconnection immediately thereafter.
95.106.6. Authority to Condemn Equipment. Where the Authority Having Jurisdiction ascertains that an equipment, or portion thereof, regulated by this Code has become hazardous to life, health, or property, it shall order in writing that the equipment either be removed or restored to a safe or sanitary condition. The written notice shall contain a fixed time limit for compliance with such order. Persons shall not use or maintain defective equipment after receiving a notice.
Where equipment or an installation is to be disconnected, written notice of the disconnection and causes therefore shall be given within 24 hours to the serving utility, owner, and occupant of the building, structure, or premises. Where equipment is maintained in violation of this Code, and in violation of a notice issued pursuant to the provisions of this section, the Authority Having Jurisdiction shall institute an action to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate the violation.
95.106.7. Connection after Order to Disconnect. Persons shall not make connections from an energy, fuel, or power supply nor supply energy or fuel to any equipment regulated by this Code that has been disconnected or ordered to be disconnected by the Authority Having Jurisdiction until it has authorized the reconnection and use of such equipment.
(Amended by Ord. No. 184,692, Eff. 12/30/16.)
95.107.1. General. Equipment regulated by this Code that is unsafe or that constitutes a fire or health hazard or is otherwise dangerous to human life is, for the purpose of this section, unsafe. Use of equipment regulated by this Code constituting a hazard to safety, health, or public welfare by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence, fire hazard, disaster, damage, or abandonment is, for the purpose of this section, an unsafe use. Unsafe equipment is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and shall be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition, or removal in accordance with procedures as may be adopted by this jurisdiction. As an alternative, the Authority Having Jurisdiction or other employee or official of this jurisdiction, as designated by the governing body, shall be permitted to institute other action to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate the violation.
Loading...