§ 7-46. Adopted.

(a)

The International Mechanical Code published in cooperation with Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc., International Conference of Building Officials, and Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. 2000 Edition and any subsequent amendments and revisions is hereby adopted as the mechanical code for the city.

(b)

Scope. The purpose of this code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, installation, quality of materials, use and maintenance of all air conditioning, heating, mechanical, refrigeration and ventilating systems. No provision of this code shall be held to deprive any federal or state agency of any power of authority which it had on the effective date of this code or of any remedy there existing for the enforcement of its orders. Where in any specific case different sections of this code specify different materials, methods of installation or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern.

(c)

Board members. There is hereby created a board of air conditioning, heating, mechanical, refrigeration and ventilation. The board shall consist of six members: The building official, one mechanical inspector, one licensed building contractor, two licensed air conditioning and heating contractors, and one layman. At the first board meeting the members shall elect a chairman and any other necessary officers. The board shall meet once each quarter of the calendar year.

(d)

Appointment and term of office. With the exception of the city building official, all other members of the board shall be appointed by the city council upon the recommendation of the city building official. The city building official and mechanical inspector shall serve throughout their term of employment with the city. The four other members shall be appointed for staggered terms of five years. If a vacancy occurs otherwise than by an expiration of a term, it shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term. Members may be reappointed by the city council. Each of the board members shall be a resident of the Parish of St. Tammany. His membership shall automatically be vacated if he moves outside the limits of the parish. Any member may be removed for cause by the city council. In addition, the chairman of the board may remove any member who has missed three regularly scheduled meetings in one calendar year without a valid reason.

(e)

License fees, expiration, renewal; and inactive license.

(1)

The yearly renewal fee for a license shall be $50.00 due by March 1 of each calendar year.

(2)

Penalties for not renewing a license by March 1 of each year are as follows:

a.

Board review of license holder.

b.

Renewal penalty of $200.00 during the first year of nonrenewal unless the board determines that extenuating circumstances prevented timely renewal.

c.

If not renewed within the first year of expiration, the license holder must retake the examination in order to receive a license renewal.

(3)

Display of license.

a.

Every licensed ACHMRV person, firm, company or corporation shall identify all his service and installation vehicles with the name of the company, telephone number, and city license number. The letters shall be at least two inches in height on both sides of the vehicle.

b.

Every job being conducted requiring a permit shall have displayed a sign plainly visible from the street. The sign shall have displayed on it the company name, telephone number, and city license number. This sign shall not be placed in the right-of-way. The letters on the sign shall be at least two inches in height.

(f)

Exclusion of existing license. Any person having a class A gasfitters license can install a gas heating system without the ACHMRV license, but the system must conform to this code and pass the inspection thereof. Installation of expansion cells, refrigerant lines and condensing units requires an ACHMRV license.

(g)

It shall be unlawful to proceed with the installation of any ACHMRV system, with the alteration or extension of such a system, or the connection to such a system of any appliance without having previously obtained a permit from the city. Applications for permits shall be made in person or in writing to the city, giving such information as may be required to show that the work will be performed in accordance with the provisions of this code. It shall be the duty of the mechanical inspector to see that the work which is being done and which required a permit under the provisions of this code is authorized by such a permit, and where such work is being done without a permit, to promptly stop all such work and report the fact to the city hall. Any person or firm installing new or replacing existing air conditioning, mechanical, refrigeration, or heating system must be licensed by the ACHMRV board and shall file a request for a permit and pay fees as stated.

(h)

Permits not required. Normal maintenance and repair required on ACHMRV shall not require a permit so long as responsibility for the work is assumed by the owner or person performing the work. However, in all cases the work shall be performed by a person so licensed to do so in the city.

(i)

Before a person shall proceed with a ACHMRV installation or repair, he shall file a request for a permit with the city and pay the following fees which are due and payable upon application for permits.

(j)

These fees shall cover all inspections of the work for which a permit is issued, as well as the issuance of the certificate of approval. If, however, the inspector is forced to make an additional trip or trips to the work by reason of the fact that the work is not ready for inspection at the time he calls in compliance with the notice hereinabove referred to, then an additional special inspection fee, as indicated, shall be paid for each trip so made.

(k)

Permits and inspection fees. On new or existing commercial structures, the permit fee shall be one percent of the ACHMRV contractor's contract with a minimum of $50.00. If in the opinion of the building official, the valuation of the ACHMRV contract appears to be underestimated on the application, the permit shall be denied, unless the applicant can show detailed estimated costs which meet the approval of the building official.

On new or existing residential structures, the permit fee shall be $50.00 for any single-family dwelling. For more than one-family dwelling (such as duplex or multifamily dwelling), the permit fee shall be $50.00 per dwelling.

Any change out of air conditioning or heating system, the permit fee shall be $30.00. For change out of both condenser and heater, the permit fee shall be $50.00.

All fees must be paid prior to the issuance of any permit, and it is unlawful to do any work prior to securing the necessary permit.

(l)

Notification. Two inspections are required: Rough-in and final completion. Upon each phase of completion of the installation of ACHMRV system, the alteration or extension of such a system, or the connection of such a system of any appliance, it shall be the duty of the license holder or his designated representative to notify by phone, in person, or in writing the ACHMRV inspector who shall inspect the same within 48 hours of the time such notice shall have been given, Saturday, Sunday and holidays not included.

(m)

Referred reinspection. When any part of or all of a mechanical installation is condemned by the inspector, the owner, within five days after receiving written notice thereof, may file a petition in writing, for a review of such action, with the inspector. Upon receipt of such petition, the inspector shall proceed at once to reinspect the installation and determine whether or not the mechanical installation conforms with this code.

(n)

General reinspection. If, upon inspection, any dangerous installations are discovered, a written notice shall be served on the owner or occupant to have same corrected in accordance with the requirements of this code. On failure of the owner or occupant to comply with such notice, the inspector shall have the authority to give written notice to the utility company to cut off or disconnect utility services, or otherwise cause the operation to be discontinued, until the defects are corrected.

(o)

Certificate of approval. If such installation, alteration, extension or connection shall be found to be fully in compliance with the provisions of this code, and all electrically controlled appliances have been inspected and approved, the city shall issue to such person a certificate of inspection and approval. This certificate shall be taken as evidence that the work has been done and completed in accordance with the provisions of this code.

(p)

Revocation of license. Any licenses granted under this code may be revoked by the city council if the holder of the license violates any ordinance or law relating to the rules and regulations or is guilty of any act or in any installation work which is dangerous to life or property, or for transferring or allowing directly or indirectly persons, firms or corporations other than the lawful holder to operate or to obtain permits to do work under such license, provided the holder of the license be found guilty of such violations by the board.

(q)

License reissued. When a license is revoked, a new license will not be granted to the same person for a period of 30 days or more, nor until such person shall have corrected the faulty work or other violations of these regulations. Licenses will be reissued after the applicant has taken an examination and paid the fees required for the original license.

The board shall have discretionary power to withhold the granting of a new license subsequent to revocation of the original license for cause, for a period not to exceed three calendar months.

(r)

Appeal. Appeal from the decision of the board for the revocation of a license may be taken within 30 days to the city council.

(Code 1966, § 7-15; Ord. No. 3076, 6-25-2002; Ord. No. 3157, 12-16-2003)