Florida Building Commission


Minutes

Mechanical Technical Advisory Committee

Meeting concurrent with the Electrical TAC 

October 14, 2008

10:00 a.m.

Embassy Suites
3705 Spectrum Blvd

Tampa, FL 33612

(813) 977-7066

 

Voting Members:    Steve Bassett, Chairman Bob Andrews, Larry Banks, Steve Bassett, Jim Cummings, Joe Crum (Claudio Grande), Elizabeth Goll, Dan Griffin, Gary Griffin, Mike McCombs, Donny Pitmann, Pete Quintela, were present. 

1.  Called to Order and reviewed/approved agenda

2.  Reviewed and provided recommendations to the Commission on disposition of DCA08-DEC-275 concerning carbon monoxide detectors installed in multistory condominiums and apartments.

ACTION:

Case 1:  A proposed project located in the City of Ft. Meyers FL, is designed as a 7 story residential condominium structure that surrounds a three level enclosed parking garage. The living units on the first 3 levels are separated from the garage by the required fire walls and a corridor. There are also units built over the garage on the remaining 4 stories. It appears excessive to require the installation of CO detection outside a sleeping unit on the 7th floor, when the only requiring criteria, and generating source of carbon monoxide is a mechanically ventilated, enclosed parking structure on the lowest 3 levels of the building.

a.   Is the Rule intended to require that, with no other fossil burning appliances in consideration, the entire building will need to be equipped with carbon monoxide detection within 10 feet of every sleeping area?

Answer: Yes.  The project in question is one building and according to Rule 9B-3.0472 the whole building is subject to the requirements of the Rule. 

b.      Is there any consideration given for a carbon monoxide monitoring system installed in the garage area?

Answer:  No.

 

Case 2: A proposed project located in Tampa, Florida, is designed as a 5 story high density residential apartment building with several units equipped with fossil burning fire places.

a.  Does the Rule require carbon monoxide detection in every other residential  unit within 10 feet of each room used for sleeping purposes, without taking into consideration their proximity to the actual appliances?

Answer:  Yes, the Rule would apply to the whole building.

 

b.  Would the detection only be required in the units where the appliances reside?

Answer:  No. The detection will apply to the whole building.

 

Case 3:  A proposed 30 story residential high rise in Aventura, Florida, has no other fossil burning appliances other than a diesel powered emergency generator on the first floor.          

Question: Will the Rule require that all units in the building be provided with carbon monoxide detection outside every sleeping area, no matter how distant they may be from the generator?

Answer:  Yes, all units in the building must be provided with carbon monoxide detectors.

 

General Question:  It appears that based on the provisions for hospitals, in patient hospice facilities, and nursing homes, the Rule recognizes the value of a monitored detection system in the area of the production of the carbon monoxide gas.

a. Could this provision be expanded to cover the circumstances outlined above? 

Answer:  No. The Florida Building Commission has no authority to approve alternatives.   

b. As an alternative, could a reasonable direction be given addressing carbon monoxide detection in selected units based on their proximity to the expected source of the gas, as in only being required in the area of origin and all immediately adjacent units, above, below and to the sides?

Answer:  This question is outside the scope of the DEC statement process.

       

3.      Reviewed and discussed the pros and cons of the Rule 9B-3.0472 Carbon Monoxide Protection for the purpose of providing recommendation to the Commission to go into a report to the legislature on any needed changes to the Carbon Monoxide Detector law.  The committee took an action to recommend to the Commission that a workgroup be scheduled to discuss the issue further and provide recommendation at the December Commission meeting.  Members of the Committee and interested parties were encouraged to send information to the facilitator Jeff Blair before the December meeting. 

Action needed from the Commission:

Establish the workgroup.

 

4.   With no further business, Motion to Adjourn at 11:35 am.