Codes:
Per NH statute 674:51 Power to Amend State Building Code and Establish Enforcement Procedures. – The state building code established in RSA 155-A shall be effective in all towns and cities in the state and shall be enforced as provided in RSA 155-A:7.
The language in this statute directs the Town of Bedford to enforce the current adopted state codes, as amended by the State Building Code Review Board, for all construction. Additionally RSA 155-A includes codes that are part of the State Fire Code, licensing agencies and local fire code are enforced.
The following is a list of the currently adopted codes that most frequently govern projects in the Town of Bedford. There are additional codes & standards that may govern unique aspects of projects not listed here that are part of the New Hampshire Fire Code.
The Building & Fire Departments should be consulted for specialized codes that may apply to unique projects, to view the State Fire Code click here.
CODE EDITIONS1
2009 International Building Code* |
2009 International Residential Code* |
2009 International Plumbing Code* |
2009 International Mechanical Code* |
2009 IECC* (energy) |
Town of Bedford Fire Code |
NFPA 1 Uniform Fire Code 2003 |
NFPA 31 Oil Burning Equipment 2006 |
NFPA 70 NEC 2011 |
NFPA13,13R &13D Sprinkler 2007 |
NFPA 54 Fuel Gas Code 2006 |
NFPA 72 Fire Alarm Code 2007 |
NFPA 101 Life Safety Code 2003 |
NFPA 241 Safeguarding Construction, |
NFPA 211 Chimneys, Fireplaces, |
Alteration & Demolition operations 2004 |
& Solid Fuel Burning Appliances 2006 |
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LOCAL CODE AMENDMENTS
ELECTRICAL
• Switches controlling stairway lighting must be lighted in the off position (residential only).
• Switches controlling stairway lighting must be within 6’ of the top and bottom of each stairway (this includes basement stairs)
(residential only).
• Per the Bedford Fire code gas furnaces are required to have fire-matics and emergency shut off switches located outside the point of entry to the area where the device is located.
• A wall switch must control lights in attics and other storage areas.
PLUMBING
• The maximum water temperature at domestic lavatories and kitchen sinks is 130oF and 120oF at showers and tubs.
• The maximum water temperature at commercial lavatories and personal hand wash stations is 130oF.
The maximum water temperature shall be obtained using a mixing valve located either at the hot water source or at each fixture required to have the maximum temperature limited.
Amend2 the IBC section outlining Architect/Engineer responsibilities during construction by adding the following responsibilities:
When the laws of the State of New Hampshire require that construction documents be prepared by registered architects or engineers or the plans do not meet the prescriptive requirements of the code, the registered architects or engineers who have prepared plans, computations and specifications or the registered architects or registered engineers who have been retained to perform construction phase services, shall perform the following tasks for the portion of the work for which they are directly responsible:
- Review, for conformance to the design concept, shop drawings, samples and other submittals, which are submitted by the contractor in accordance with the requirements of the construction documents.
- Review and approval of the quality control procedures for all code-required controlled materials, structural tests and special inspections.
- Be present at intervals appropriate to the stage of construction to become generally familiar with the progress and quality of the work and to determine, in general, if the work is being performed in a manner consistent with the construction documents and accepted engineering practice standards.
- The design professional shall submit to the building department documentation verifying compliance with the above requirements at regular intervals, which shall be noted at the time of permit issuance.
- The tasks listed in this section are in addition to requirements for structural observation or other duties specified in Section 1704, Section 1709 or elsewhere in the adopted International Building Code.
Add a new section regarding Architect/Engineer qualifications:
When the requirements of codes dictate there shall be design professionals preparing plans; those professionals shall have their license based upon the discipline required for the plans being prepared. Any design professional wishing to stamp plans for a discipline other than the one his or her license is based upon may be required to submit additional documentation validating his or her competency in the additional area of design.
*The state of NH has made amendments to these codes. To review the amendments click here.
1 Code editions may change without notice as they are modified or adopted by the State of New Hampshire. Specific conditions noted on permits by the building department shall supersede these general guidelines.
2 These amendments are part of the Bedford municipal code. To view the ordinance click here.
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