Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
(1)
The statewide mechanical minor label inspection program goes into effect on
July 1, 2024. This program does not supersede a local jurisdiction's mechanical
minor label program in any way.
(2)
Minor labels issued under this rule will be administered by using the
definitions in OAR 918-100-0010, the fees in
918-100-0030, and the process
described in section (12) of this rule.
(3) The scope of work allowed under this
program does not include any new construction except as allowed under
subsection (d), (e), and (f) of this section. The scope of work allowed under
this program is limited to the following:
(a)
Moving or replacing ductwork not involving fire dampers or penetrations of
firewalls, fire assemblies or floors;
(b) Relocating grilles and air distribution
inlets or outlets;
(c) Replacing
existing heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment, including minor
alterations of fuel piping or appliance connectors downstream of an appliance
shutoff valve;
(d) Adding a central
air conditioning unit to existing ductwork in one- and two-family
dwellings;
(e) Installing new
mini-split heat pumps in one- and two-family dwellings; and
(f) Installing a mechanical exhaust fan for
radon mitigation systems in one- and two-family dwellings.
(4) Minor mechanical installations do not
include:
(a) Mechanical replacements where the
fuel type changes;
(b) Replacement
of fuel burning equipment which requires replacement of the existing venting
system; or
(c) Replacement of
commercial systems or equipment that:
(A)
Exceeds 2,000 cubic feet per minute of air movement capability;
(B) Weighs more than 400 pounds, except
packaged rooftop equipment up to 5-ton cooling capacity being replaced with
packaged rooftop equipment not exceeding the existing unit's cooling capacity;
or
(C) Exceeds 5-ton cooling
capacity.
(5)
Unused minor labels issued under this rule shall expire one year after they are
purchased.
(6) Work performed under
the mechanical minor label program shall be to the current Oregon Mechanical
Specialty Code or the current Oregon Residential Specialty Code, as
applicable.
(7) Only one mechanical
minor label shall be used on any single project per job site. For the purpose
of this rule, a job site means work at the same address.
(8) A minor label is only required when the
work otherwise requires a permit. No new permit requirements are created by
this rule.
(9) The following people
may purchase and use state mechanical minor labels:
(a) For commercial and industrial mechanical
minor labels, the contractor doing the work, who holds a Construction
Contractors Board license.
(b) For
residential mechanical minor labels, a contractor licensed by the Construction
Contractors Board.
(10)
A contractor performing work under a minor label must still comply with all
applicable licensing requirements for the work performed.
(11) A person performing work under a minor
label may elect to have this work inspected virtually. To have the work
inspected virtually, the work must be documented with images, and those images
must be uploaded to the division's mechanical minor label software
system.
(12) The local jurisdiction
where the minor label is used shall be the inspecting jurisdiction. If pictures
of the work performed under the minor label have been uploaded to the
division's mechanical minor label software system, then inspections shall be
conducted remotely through that system. If pictures of the work performed under
the minor label have not been uploaded, or if the uploaded pictures are
insufficient to complete a virtual inspection, then inspections shall be
conducted using the minor label process in OAR
918-100-0060.
(a) The division shall assign the initial
inspection of a minor label lot to the local jurisdiction at the start of the
calendar month. The local jurisdiction shall perform the assigned minor label
inspection before the end of the calendar month in which the inspection was
assigned. If the local jurisdiction fails to perform an assigned inspection
within the calendar month that it was assigned, then the division shall perform
the inspection.
(b) No less than 10
percent of each minor label lot shall be inspected either by the local
jurisdiction or by the division. The inspection shall verify the minor
installation.
(c) If any minor
label inspections beyond the initial inspection in a lot are required, the
additional inspections will be performed in accordance with OAR
918-100-0060.
(d) The division shall compensate each
inspecting jurisdiction $75 per inspection for the first minor label
installation inspected by the local jurisdiction in a lot. If the first minor
label installation fails the inspection, the division shall perform an
inspection on a second minor label from the same lot. If the second minor label
fails the division's inspection, then the division shall inspect a third minor
label of the same lot.
(e) If any
minor label fails an inspection, then the contractor that purchased the minor
label is required to pay the local jurisdiction for an on-site inspection of
the same work at the local jurisdiction's hourly inspection rate.
(f) The division shall, upon notice of three
failed inspections in the same lot of labels, notify the contractor and the
jurisdictions affected by the remaining labels in the same lot. Each
jurisdiction shall then notify the contractor that a permit is necessary for
each of the remaining installations within the jurisdiction in the same lot of
labels, and work shall follow the normal permit and inspection procedures for
that jurisdiction.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS
455.046, ORS
455.154 & ORS
455.155
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS
455.046, ORS
455.154 & ORS
455.155
