South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 8 - BUILDING CODES COUNCIL
Article 6 - MODULAR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
Section 8-607 - Approved Inspection Agency Authority

Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 8-607

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024

(1) An approved inspection agency shall conduct inspections at the manufacturing plant to determine compliance with the approved plans, the Act and these regulations. Violations of any of the provisions of these regulations or variations from the approved plans may be cause for revocation of the plan approval and shall be reported to the Council within one (1) day after discovery.

(2) Failure on the part of an approved inspection agency to fulfill its responsibilities or notify the Council of violations of these regulations or variations from the approved plans is cause for revocation of its approval.

(3) An approved inspection agency shall perform final plan review and approval, inspection, and certification of a single family residential modular building. Upon final plan review and approval by an approved inspection agency of a plan as meeting the requirements of the Modular Building Construction Act and the regulations of the council, a copy of the approved plan must be filed with the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Upon filing of an approved plan with the department by an approved inspection agency, a manufacturer may request from the department certification labels for units manufactured to the approved plan. Each certification label must bear the serial number of the unit for which it is issued and only may be attached upon final inspection by an approved inspection agency.

(4) An approved inspection agency shall perform plan approval, inspection, and certification of commercial or multifamily modular buildings. Upon review by the approved inspection agency, the plans must be submitted to the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation for final plan review and approval.

(a) The design review for required plan submittal shall include a completed application on forms obtainable from the Council and one electronic copy of plans, specifications and structural, electrical, mechanical, and energy calculations prepared by an architect or engineer licensed to practice in the State of South Carolina; quality control manuals, calculations, and any required test results for each system and prototype to be approved. The approved inspection agency shall designate its approval by affixing its seal to each print, the cover of the quality control manual, and supporting data prior to submittal.

(b) The approved inspection agency shall submit for the manufacturer, a request for Council review which may include any or all elements of building systems such as structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical components. All modular building system submittals must include at least the following:
(1) Structural:
(i) details specifying methods of field connection of units or models to each other and foundations; and

(ii) all exterior elevations; and

(iii) elevations and details of elements, walls or sections thereof providing resistance to vertical loads or lateral forces; and

(iv) floor plans and floor framing plans; and

(v) details of framing system showing direction of face grain of plywood, blocking, connections, etc.; and

(vi) vertical load calculations; and

(vii) lateral force calculations; and

(viii) overturning and uplift calculations; and

(ix) details of all structural connections such as chord splices, corner and wall intersection details, post and beam splices, etc., (both inplant and onsite connections must be shown); and

(x) complete roof framing plan showing method of framing, direction of face grain of plywood, connections, etc., roof covering material and roofing specifications; and

(xi) cross sections as necessary to identify major building components; and

(xii) information for plywood when used, such as thickness, index number, grade, direction of face grain, etc., and lumber grades; and

(xiii) details of flashing, such as at openings and at penetrations through roofs flashing material and gage to be used; and

(xiv) attic access and attic ventilation; and

(xv) wall and soffit material as well as finish; and

(xvi) interior wall and ceiling finish; and

(xvii) fire separation details, when required by code; and

(xviii) opening treatment for doors and windows including door swings; and

(xix) all foundation vents and under floor access; and

(xx) structural steel materials, sizes, finishes, and connection details; and

(xxi) reinforcing, concrete and mesh materials, strengths, grades, sizes, spacing and details in accordance with "Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete, ACI 318"; and

(xxii) all work that is required on the building site; and

(xxiii) details of all elements for access and use by people with disabilities.

(2) Plumbing:
(i) plan and riser diagram of the plumbing layout showing size of piping, fittings, traps, vents, cleanouts and valves, etc., for gas, water, drainage, waste, and vent systems; and

(ii) plumbing materials, make, model, and rating/capacity of fixtures; and

(iii) make and model of safety controls and their locations; and

(iv) intervals and method of horizontal piping support; and

(v) vertical piping and valve supports; and

(vi) location of flues and vents above roofs and required clearances from air intakes, other vents and flues, etc.; and

(vii) method of testing.

(3) Mechanical:
(i) location of all equipment and appliances; and

(ii) listed or labeled appliances, units or equipment; and

(iii) heat loss and heat gain calculations; and

(iv) BTU, input and output rating of all appliances and equipment; and

(v) duct and register locations, including size, and materials; and

(vi) clearance from combustible material or surfaces for all appliances, equipment, ducts, flues, and chimneys; and

(vii) method of providing required combustion air and return air; and

(viii) location of flues, vents and chimneys, and clearances for air intakes; and

(ix) details and approvals for dampers in ducts penetrating fire separation walls, floors and ceilings; and

(x) method of testing; and

(xi) method of securing every appliance and its components to avoid displacement and movement from vibration and road shock.

(4) Electrical:
(i) plan and detail of service equipment, including service entrance, conductors, service raceway and clearances, above ground, and above structures; and

(ii) method and detail for grounding service equipment; and

(iii) diagram of the entire electrical installation; and

(iv) complete load calculations for service and feeders; and

(v) identification and sizes of all feeders and branch circuits; and

(vi) size, rating, and location of main disconnect/overcurrent protective devices; and

(vii) method of interconnection between modules or units and location of connections; and

(viii) location of all outlets and junction boxes; and

(ix) the protection of nonmetallic sheathed cable in locations subject to mechanical damage; and

(x) method of backing, mounting, and strapping of fixtures and wiring; and

(xi) name plate rating of all appliances and equipment; and

(xii) method of testing; and

(xiii) labeling of wiring, fixtures, and equipment.

(5) Calculations and test procedures. When the composition or configuration of elements, assemblies, or details of structural members are such that calculations of their safe load carrying capacity, basic structural integrity, or fire resistance cannot be accurately determined in accordance with generally established principles of engineering design, such structural properties, or fire resistance of the members or assemblies may be established by an approved inspection agency.

(6) Design plan approval expiration. Design plan approvals shall expire on the effective date of any applicable change to these regulations and the building codes referenced herein.

(7) It shall be the responsibility of the manufacturer to submit an application for design plan renewal to the Council.

(8) Revocation of approval. Revocation of a plan approval shall occur upon the failure of the manufacturer to comply with the provisions of these regulations.

(9) Nonconforming application. If an application does not conform to the requirements of these regulations, the applicant shall be notified in writing. If corrections have not been received by the Council within ninety (90) days of such notice, the application will be deemed abandoned. Subsequent submission shall be as for a new application.

(10) Evidence of Council approval. Approved plans and specifications shall be evidenced by acknowledgment of the Council. Approved copies of the plans and specifications shall be returned to the manufacturer with a letter indicating the limitations of the approval, if applicable. A copy of the letter shall be available for inspection use at each place of manufacture.

(11) Manufacturer's unit data plate. The manufacturer shall install on all modular building units, a data plate which shall contain, but not be limited to the following design information:
(a) maximum live load; and

(b) maximum snow load; and

(c) maximum wind load; and

(d) seismic zone; and

(e) thermal transmittance value (Uo) of: walls, roof/ceiling, and floors.

(12) The data plate shall be permanently mounted in a conspicuous location.

(13) Manufacturer's component data plate. The manufacturer shall install on each modular component or package of modular components a data plate which indicates the limiting characteristics and design criteria of the components for determining how they can be installed and utilized within their capabilities.

(14) All modular plans, apart from single-family dwellings, must be submitted to the Council and approval issued prior to the commencement of construction of the modular building or component in the manufacturing facility. The approved inspection agency shall not inspect or allow a certification label to be affixed to any modular building or component whose plans have not been approved by the Council.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. South Carolina may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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