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County Code - Mechanical

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1. Do pellet and wood stoves need HVACR permits?

No. However a solid fuel burning fireplace such as pellet stoves and wood stoves require an approved building permit prior to installation.

2. For replacement of existing equipment, can the HVACR contractor make all the necessary electrical and gas connections and disconnections?

A registered HVACR contractor can make all required connections. The registered HVACR contractor will be required to obtain a mechanical permit for replacement of existing equipment as long as the equipment is being installed in the same location and the new installation does not require the resizing of any gas line, electrical conductors and/or circuit breakers.

3. How can a HVACR permit be obtained for equipment that needs to be replaced on the weekend and holidays when the permit office is not open?

To be determined. Inspections, License, and Permits

4. How long will the permit process take?

In almost all cases HVACR permits will be issued at the time of permit application.

5. How much will HVACR permits cost?

View the Inspections, License, and Permits page.

6. How will the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits (DILP) regulate a mechanical inspection program?

DILP will utilize existing staff to create a program which will include administrative processes for registration, permitting, plan reviews and inspections. The approval of mechanical system installations will become another requirement for obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy. Inspections, License, and Permits

7. How will the mechanical code be adopted?

The mechanical code will be formally adopted through the Harford County Government legislative process. A legislative bill will be introduced to the County Council which will provide for an opportunity for public input and comment. Once approved by the Council, the bill will then be enacted by the County Executive for enforcement by DILP.

8. What inspections will be required for mechanical permits?

While this process has not been formally created and is still a work in progress, it is anticipated that a rough-in and a final inspection will be required. Additional commercial inspections may be necessary as the process is refined.

9. What is the Harford County Mechanical Code?

The proposed mechanical code is based upon the State HVACR Code which has adopted the 2006 International Mechanical Code as maintained by the International Code Council. Harford County will also be incorporating the mechanical provisions for one and two family dwellings found in the 2006 International Residential Code. Inspections, License, and Permits

10. What is the Mechanical Inspection Division?

The Mechanical Inspection Division will consist of a qualified group of building and plumbing inspectors and plan reviewers who will be chosen from existing DILP staff. While the Mechanical Division will not be formally created at first, the responsibility for oversight will be divided mainly between the current Building and Plumbing Divisions. Inspections, License, and Permits

11. What role does the Board of Appeals, established under the Building Code, play with mechanical installations?

There will be 2 appointed Boards that will have the ability to address mechanical issues. First there will be the creation of a HVACR Advisory Board. The HVACR Advisory Board will be responsible for reviewing HVACR registrations within the County, address areas of misconduct and as requested provide technical assistance to the Building Official. The 2nd board will be the Board of Appeals as established under the adoption of the Building Code. The Department has chosen to incorporate an appeals process as established in the administrative chapters of the International Code Council family of Codes. The Board of Appeals will serve as an appellate function to hear issues of code compliance and/or alternative method of compliance when an individual has been aggrieved by a decision of the Building Official. The Board of Appeals must have representation by individuals who are a licensed architect or builder with 10 years of experience, a structural engineer, a licensed mechanical engineer or master contractor, an electrical engineer or master contractor and a fire protection engineer.

12. Where can more information about mechanical codes and equipment installations be obtained?

This department has identified several links that will be helpful when researching information regarding the mechanical code, registration, inspections, plan review process and equipment installations. Inspections, License, and Permits

13. Who do I call to schedule an inspection?

At this time an administrative decision as to who will be taking the inspection request has not been made. Prior to implementation, a phone number will be provided. As with the other divisions within the department the inspections will be normally scheduled the next business day for inspection requests made before 3 p.m. Inspection requests made after 3 p.m. will be scheduled for the second business day. All inspection requests will require a valid permit number to be supplied at the time of the request.

14. Who is in charge of the HVACR process at the County level?

To be determined.

15. Who will be required to obtain a mechanical registration with the County?

Please view the Plumbing Services page.

16. Who will provide the mechanical permit and inspection services to Harford County residents?

The Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits (DILP) is committed to providing qualified staff that will assist in adopting and implementing a mechanical inspection program based upon feedback from all the stakeholders who are involved in the process.

17. Why is there growing interest in implementing a Mechanical Inspection Program?

There have been several incidents in Harford County over the past decade that demonstrated a need for the adoption of a mechanical inspection program. The most important of which is mechanical equipment installations are just as important as the codes and programs that oversee building, electrical and plumbing installations. Over the past few years industry representatives, the State HVACR Board and our own observations have demonstrated the need for oversight regarding mechanical installations to help ensure the public health, safety and welfare. When situations arise that threaten the public good, the Department is forced to utilize alternative methods to obtain compliance which not always specifically include the licensed mechanical contractor. Inspections, License, and Permits

18. Will commercial work require a plan review?

Plan reviews for commercial structures will be done in two phases. The focus team will be establishing criteria that must be addressed by a licensed design professional at the time of building permit application and verified during the building plans review process. The focus team will also be determining any additional information that will need to be supplied by the master HVACR contractor at the time of permit application. A finalized process for obtaining a plans review at the time of the mechanical permit application will also be developed. The process will be streamlined as much as possible to allow for plan reviews to be performed at the time of permit application.

19. Will gas and installation remain under the authority of the Plumbing Services Division?

Yes it will. However the governing code for gas installations has been changed from NFPA 58 to the 2006 International Fuel Gas Code as of March 16, 2009. The fuel gas code for Harford County was adopted as part of the Plumbing Code.

20. Will residential work require a plan review?

Most typical residential HVACR installations will not require a plan review at the time of application for the mechanical permit by the master HVACR contractor. The building permit plan review process will also be used to help determine compliance with energy efficiency requirements as they are being refined to increase energy efficiency of the structures being built. Exact installation details will not be required at that time.