Legislative Updates
6th Annual “Frank Alexander” Legislative Day
was Tuesday, May 14, 2013 in Columbus, Ohio
Click here to view our position papers and photos from that day.
Important Update – Final Furnace Rule.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled favorably on a motion filed by the Air-conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) requesting a stay of the May 1, 2013, compliance date for the regional furnace standards.
The U.S. Department of Energy is now prohibited from enacting or enforcing the standard until the pending lawsuit has been resolved.
The Court of Appeals motion was agreed-to based on the confusion surrounding the events and actions of the final furnace rule.
The rule mandates that home furnaces installed in 30 northern tier states have an AFUE rating of at least 90%.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors The Residential Construction Advisory Committee (RCAC) continues to review carbon monoxide detectors (section 315). CO detectors do not require an inspection and installation is the responsibility of the homeowner.
Building officials on the committee are going to create various forms (information and release) for contractors and homeowners and PHCC will send the information when it’s received. The committee is also going to be revising the language of section 315. A draft was made available at the April 24 meeting. If you would like to see a copy, please email rocco@phccohio.org.
PHCC has a meeting (May 10) with BBS Secretary Regina Hanshaw and others to discuss action taken by the RCAC clarifying the plumbing standards in the Residential Code of Ohio (RCO). We’re told the action taken should have no effect on the codes in question and it merely clarifies that any standard applied to 1-2-3 family construction is governed by the RCO. Action was taken to clarify some confusion over the plumbing code where commercial standards were thought to be applicable to 1-2-3 family construction.
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