Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Heating,
Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Systems include those
systems that control the temperature, humidity, or indoor air quality of a
particular space, building or network of buildings. Items to be considered in
the design and analysis of HVACR systems are, as applicable to the particular
project: peak and block load characteristics and capacities; minimum
ventilation; filtration; heat or energy transfer; movement of air, water, or
other fluids associated with HVACR processes; pressure drop; instrumentation
and control; performance requirements; and installation requirements.
(2) The HVACR System(s) shall be based on and
shall reference the Florida Building Code, the Florida Fire Prevention Code,
any other applicable standards (such as ASHRAE, NFPA, ASME, ANSI, IIAR, etc.);
or if no other such standards are available on alternative engineering sources
and good engineering practice.
(3)
For Mechanical Engineering Documents pertaining to HVACR systems exempted by
the threshold requirements for mandatory use of professional engineering
services established by Section
471.003(2)(h),
F.S., the Engineer of Record shall determine the level of detail shown on plans
for HVACR systems. All such plans must include a disclaimer stating the HVACR
systems are exempt from professional engineering services and shall provide a
clear understanding of the minimum system requirements expected to be installed
by the contractor and permitted by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). In
the event the Engineer of Record provides more information and direction than
is minimally required, he or she shall be held responsible for the technical
accuracy of the work in accordance with applicable codes, standards and sound
engineering principles.
(4)
Mechanical Engineering Documents pertaining to HVACR systems that exceed the
threshold requirements for mandatory use of professional engineering services
must include the following information, if applicable to the particular
project:
(a) Demonstrate and provide adequate
information for the AHJ to determine compliance with codes and ordinances.
These may include test methods and results; or data and tabulations that are
results of the design.
(b)
Equipment selection schedule for each piece of mechanical equipment. All
equipment must include the following information, if applicable to the
particular equipment:
1. Equipment
efficiencies.
2. Electrical
requirements based on voltage and phase.
3. Fuel requirements.
4. Static pressure and fan air
quantities.
5. Fluid flow and
pressure head quantities.
6. Heat
transfer capacities.
7. Cooling
coil requirements based on sensible heat, latent heat, and total heat
gains.
8. Filtration
requirements.
9. Motor sizes and
quantities to demonstrate compliance with the Florida Building Code, Energy
Conservation.
(c) Floor
plans; site plans; and building and mechanical system sections or elevations as
appropriate to provide the minimum system requirements expected to be installed
by the contractor.
(d) Ventilation
requirements based on natural or mechanical means, as necessary for
demonstrating compliance with the Florida Building Code, Mechanical.
(e) Energy recovery requirements.
(f) Outside and inside design conditions for
cooling, heating, dehumidification, evaporation, and humidification processes,
as applicable.
1. Processes affecting sensible
heat only may specify outside dry bulb temperature only.
2. Processes affecting latent heat only may
specify outside humidity ratio only.
3. Processes affecting total heat must
specify outside dry bulb temperature and at least one other coincidental
psychrometric state point.
4.
Inside design conditions must include dry bulb temperature and either wet bulb
temperature or relative humidity for cooling and heating conditions, as
applicable. Where inside design conditions are setback based on occupancy, both
occupied and unoccupied design conditions must be listed.
(g) Duct riser diagrams when ductwork travels
vertically more than three stories.
(h) Process schematic flow diagrams with pipe
sizes and fluid flow quantities.
(i) Condensation discharge piping layout with
pipe sizes.
(j) Instrumentation and
Control System requirements, unless included on either Electrical or on
Instrumentation and Control plans to ensure intentional operation of the
system.
(k) Unless included on
plumbing system plans, design for fuel gas system, including piping layout and
sizes; isometric or riser diagram with pipe sizes; and fuel gas capacity and
pressure for each pipe section.
(l)
Ductwork layout and sizing; insulation requirements; supply, return, and
exhaust inlet and outlet sizes; and outside air intake sizes. Air quantities
shall be specified for inlets and outlets.
(m) Piping layout and sizing; and insulation
requirements.
(n) Materials for all
HVACR systems shall be specified.
(o) All data needed to complete the
calculations for compliance with Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation as
applicable.
(p) Identify and locate
required fire protection devices, such as fire dampers, smoke dampers, and
smoke detectors.
(q) A list,
description, or details of through-penetration firestop systems as
applicable.
(r) Building
pressurization criteria as applicable.
1.
Overall building net pressurization consisting of an air balance summary of
outside (fresh) ventilation air quantities versus exhaust air quantities. For
existing facilities where only a portion of the building is being renovated,
the air balance summary must include all affected areas, which may not require
an air balance summary for the entire building.
2. In spaces with critical pressurization
requirements, such as in health care facilities, pharmaceutical facilities, and
laboratories, a pressurization summary or diagram depicting pressure
relationship with adjacent spaces. Supply, return, exhaust, and make-up air
quantities, overall room pressurization, and make-up (transfer) air pathways
shall be specified. For spaces with varying conditions, the pressurization
summary shall include scenarios at both maximum and minimum design
conditions.
(s) Systems
commissioning requirements for demonstrating compliance with the Florida Build
Code, Energy Conservation.
(5) No later than December 31, 2026, the
Board shall review and consider amendment, modification, or repeal of this rule
if review determines this rule creates barriers to entry for private business
competition, is duplicative, outdated, obsolete, overly burdensome, or imposes
excessive costs. Failure by the Board at act in accordance with this provision
will result in the expiration of this rule on December 31,
2026.
Rulemaking Authority
471.008,
471.033(2) FS.
Law Implemented 471.033
FS.
New 11-16-94, Amended 11-13-08, 4-25-21, 11-24-21,
8-4-22.
