Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0780 - Commerce and Insurance
Subtitle 0780-02 - Division of Fire Prevention
Chapter 0780-02-13 - Modular Building Units
Section 0780-02-13-.09 - BUILDING SYSTEMS AND COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE PROGRAMS

Universal Citation: TN Comp Rules and Regs 0780-02-13-.09

Current through September 24, 2024

(1) Approval Required for the Approved Construction Inspection Program.

(a) No modular building unit or component shall be manufactured for sale or installation in this state until the building system and compliance assurance program therefor have been approved by an approved design review agency and filed with the Department.

(b) Separate approval of a building system and compliance assurance program must be obtained for each manufacturing facility at which the manufacturer intends to produce modular building units or components.

(c) The manufacturer shall submit three (3) copies of or an electronic copy, in a form acceptable to the Department, of the proposed building system and compliance assurance program documentation to an approved design review agency in the manner prescribed in this rule.

(2) Submission of Building Systems.

(a) General Requirements.
1. A model building system shall bear the name, address, phone number, fax number, signature, date and seal of the responsible architect and/or engineer, duly registered in the State of Tennessee, certifying that the model building system complies with applicable standards. The model building system must be sealed in accordance with the statutes and rules concerning the practice of architecture and engineering in Tennessee.

2. All documents submitted shall indicate the manufacturer's name, office address, e-mail address, telephone number, fax number and the address of the manufacturing facility. Where a manufacturer operates more than one facility, each facility shall be assigned a sequential plant number and all documentation shall include the appropriate plant number.

3. The manufacturer shall submit plans showing all elements relating to specific systems on properly identifiable separate sheets. All sheets shall contain the plan number (identified as "plan number") assigned by the architect or engineer and a blank rectangular space near the title box for the approved design review agency's stamp of approval. The above mentioned plan number shall identify the manufacturer by using the initials of the manufacturer's company name and sequential numbering for each submittal. All Compliance Assurance Manual revisions will be assigned a sequential revision number.

4. All work to be performed on-site, including location and connection of all equipment, appliances, and systems, including fire protection sprinkler systems and commercial hood and duct systems, shall be identified and distinguished from work to be performed in the manufacturing facility.

5. The nature, grade, and quality of all materials shall be specified.

6. Design drawings, details, calculations and test reports shall be submitted when required or requested by the Department. These items may be required to be submitted electronically.

7. Design drawings and details shall be drawn to scale, dated, and identified. The number of sheets in each set shall be indicated in an index on the cover sheet.

8. Floor plans shall indicate the location of the label(s) and manufacturer's data plate.

9. Floor plans shall also identify the use of all rooms and spaces by name and/or number.

10. A properly completed submittal form and fee (Rule 0780-02-13-.09(4)(b)) shall be submitted for each compliance assurance manual, building system manual, model, plan, design specification or revision.

(b) Required construction details for each set of model plans.
1. The building system for a modular building unit shall provide or show, but not be limited to, the following details, including the method of their testing or evaluating (or both):
(i) General:
(I) Details and methods of installation of modular building units or components on foundations and/or to each other;

(II) All exterior elevations;

(III) Cross sections as necessary to identify major building components;

(IV) Details of flashing, such as at openings and at penetrations through roofs and sub-component connections. Indicate flashing material and gauge to be used;

(V) Attic access and attic ventilation;

(VI) Exterior wall, roof, and soffit material as well as finish;

(VII) Interior wall, floor, and ceiling finish material;

(VIII) Tenant separation walls with UL or equivalent assembly details and all application instructions;

(IX) Sizes, locations and types of doors and windows, and a complete hardware schedule;

(X) Recommended foundation plans, vents, and under-floor access;

(XI) Insulation value for water, piping, air ducts, walls, attic flues, and ground flues (if above grade); and

(XII) Information contained in the manufacturer's data plate;

(ii) Component Usage:
(I) Occupancy classification;

(II) Area, height and number of stories;

(III) Type of construction;
I. Construction Type; and

II. Sprinklered or Unsprinklered;

(IV) Fire resistance ratings; and

(V) Occupant load;

(iii) Space and Fire Safety:
(I) Detail of fire resistance rated assemblies, and all application instructions for all stairway enclosures, doors, including door frames, hardware and other accessories, walls, tenant separation walls, floors, ceilings, partitions, columns, roof, and shaft enclosures;

(II) Details as to width of all aisles, exits, corridors, passageways, and stairway enclosures;

(III) Flame spread and smoke development classification of finished materials;

(IV) Fire stopping details, and all application instructions for penetrations of all rated construction; and

(V) Location of all smoke detectors;

(iv) Structural:
(I) Engineer's calculations of structural members, framing, and foundation, where appropriate;

(II) Design soil bearing value;

(III) Structural and framing details of all floors, walls, and roof;

(IV) Details and stress diagrams of roof trusses;

(V) Details of reinforcing steel;

(VI) Complete loading schedule, including roof, handrail, guardrail, floor, wind, snow, and seismic loading;

(VII) Column loads and column schedule;

(VIII) Lintel schedule;

(IX) Size, spacing, and details of all structural elements;

(X) Grade or quality of all structural elements (lumber, steel, etc.);

(XI) Elevation of structural elements, walls, or sections thereof providing resistance to vertical loads or lateral forces; and

(XII) Complete details of all structural connections;

(v) Mechanical:
(I) Separate floor plan(s) with the location of all equipment and appliances. Indicate equipment and appliances listed or labeled by approved agencies;

(II) Heat gain and loss calculations;

(III) Manufacturer's name, make, model, number, BTU, input rating of all equipment and appliances, as appropriate, or the equivalent thereof;

(IV) Duct and register locations, sizes, and materials;

(V) Clearances from combustible material or surfaces for all ducts, flues, and chimneys;

(VI) Method of providing required combustion air and return air;

(VII) Location, size, and weight of flues, vents, and chimneys and clearances from air intakes and other vents and flues;

(VIII) Details regarding dampers in duct penetrating fire separations;

(IX) Complete drawings of fire sprinkler system, standpipe system, and fire alarm system. Site water flow requirements are subject to the local authority having jurisdiction; and

(X) Detail of elevator or escalator system, including method of emergency operation;

(vi) Plumbing:
(I) Separate floor plan(s) and/or schematic drawing(s) of the plumbing layout, including, but not limited to, size of piping, fittings, traps and vents, cleanouts and valves, of gas, water, waste and drainage system(s);

(II) Plumbing materials, and location of all equipment and appliances to be used. Indicate the fixture unit capacity of the system(s) and make, model, and rating/capacity of equipment and appliances. Indicate equipment and appliances listed or labeled by approved agencies;

(III) Make and model of safety controls (such as for water heaters), their location, and whether listed or labeled by approved agencies;

(IV) Method of supporting piping and intervals of support;

(V)
I. Location, size and height of vents above roofs and required clearances, including, but not limited to, clearances from air intakes, other vents, and flues; and

II. Location, size and access to automatic air admittance valves;

(VI) Location and methods of penetration of piping through load-bearing structural members; and

(VII) Methods of testing; and

(vii) Electrical:
(I) Separate floor plan(s) with single line diagram of the entire electrical installation;

(II) Load calculations for service and feeders;

(III) Sizes of all feeders and branch circuits;

(IV) Size, rating, and location of main disconnect/overcurrent protective devices;

(V) Method of interconnection between modular building units or components and location of connections;

(VI) Location of all outlets and junction boxes; and

(VII) Method of mounting fixtures and wiring installations.

2. The requirements of this subparagraph (b) shall apply to building systems for components only to the extent deemed necessary by the approved design review agency or the Department to permit proper evaluations of such components.

(3) Submission of Compliance Assurance Programs.

(a) General Requirements.
1. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to:
(i) Execute every aspect of its compliance assurance program; and

(ii) Take any required corrective action with respect to such program.

2. The manufacturer shall cooperate with the approved construction inspection agency by providing such agency with all necessary reports, information, documents, records, facilities, equipment samples, and other assistance for assuring compliance.

3. An application for approval of a compliance assurance program shall be submitted in the form of a compliance assurance manual containing complete documentation of all the compliance assurance activities of the manufacturer. The manual shall include an index, and shall treat in detail the following material:
(i) Organizational Structure.
(I) An organizational structure (including names, training, and qualifications of responsible officers and employees) for implementing and maintaining the compliance assurance program, and its functional relationship to other elements of the manufacturer's organizational structure. The personnel in charge of the compliance assurance program must be independent of the production department.

(II) A uniform system of audit (in-depth analysis of program effectiveness and means to identify deficiencies) to monitor program performance periodically.

(III) Complete and reliable records of manufacturing and site operations (if any). (Suitable means of storage, preservation, and accessibility of copies of forms to be utilized shall be included.)

(IV) A system to control changes in production or inspection procedures.

(V) A system to assure that working drawings and specifications, working instructions and standards, procurement documents, etc., conform to the approved building system.

(VI) A serial numbering system for modular building units or components.

(VII) The method of storing, handling, issuing, attaching, and accounting for all labels to assure that they are attached only to modular building units or components manufactured pursuant to an approved building system and inspected pursuant to an approved compliance assurance program.

(VIII) A procedure for periodic revision of the manual.

(ii) Materials Control.
(I) Procedures to assure effective control over procurement sources to ensure that materials, supplies, and other items used in production and site operations (if any) conform to the approved building system.

(II) Procedures for inspection of materials, supplies, and other items at the point of receipt.

(III) Method of protection of materials, supplies, and other items against deterioration prior to their incorporation in the labeled modular building unit or component.

(IV) Provision for disposal of rejected materials, supplies, and other items.

(iii) Production Control.
(I) Procedures for timely remedial and preventive measures to assure product quality.

(II) Provision, maintenance, and use of testing and inspecting equipment to assure compliance with the approved building system.

(III) Provision for frequency of sampling inspections.

(IV) Provision of necessary authority to reject defective work and carry out compliance assurance functions, notwithstanding any conflict with production department goals and needs.

(V) A schematic detail of the manufacturing operation showing the location of inspection stations and hold points for mandatory inspection characteristics.

(VI) Inspection and test procedures, including accept/reject criteria and mandatory inspection characteristics.

(VII) Standards of workmanship.

(VIII) Provision for disposal of rejects.

(iv) Finished Product Control.
(I) Procedure for final inspection of all modular building units or components before shipment to the site or storage point, including identification and labeling.

(II) Procedure for handling and storing all finished modular building units or components, both at the manufacturing plant or other storage point and after delivery to the site.

(III) Procedure for packing, packaging, and shipping operations and related inspections.

(v) Installation Control.
(I) Installation procedures, including component placement, equipment, and procedures, field erection and finishing work, utility connection instructions, and all appropriate on-site inspection criteria and test descriptions.

(II) Organization provisions for field repair and disposal of rejects.

(4) Review and Approval.

(a) The approved design review agency shall evaluate the building system and compliance assurance program documentation to determine compliance with the standards. Such agency may require tests to determine whether a building system or compliance assurance program meets the standards if that determination cannot be made from evaluation of plans, specifications, and documentation alone.

(b) The approved design review agency shall approve the manufacturer's building system and compliance assurance program when it determines that they meet these standards. Within thirty (30) days of approval, such agency shall forward to both the manufacturer and Department a complete copy of the approved building system and compliance assurance program documentation, which the Department may require to be submitted electronically. Each set of model plans, building system manual or compliance assurance manual submittal to the Department shall be accompanied by:
1. A filing fee of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00); and

2. For those making payment by over the Internet, payment of an internet payment processing fee, not to exceed two and one half percent (2 1/2%), to be used solely to defray the costs of any payments processed electronically.

(c) Commencement of Construction.
1. All commercial Modular Building Unit plans must be submitted to the Department, and a Notification of Receipt and Filing Letter indicating the plans have been filed issued by the Department, prior to the commencement of construction of the Modular Building Unit. The construction inspection agency shall not inspect or allow a label to be affixed to any commercial Tennessee modular building unit for which plans have not been filed with the Department and a Notification of Receipt and Filing Letter issued.

2. All plans for One and Two Family Dwellings must be submitted to the Department. Manufacturers of One and Two Family Dwellings may commence construction on the unit before the Department has issued the Notification of Receipt and Filing Letter indicating the plans have been filed; however, any deficiencies found prior to the issuance of the Notification of Receipt and Filing Letter must be remedied during the construction process before the modular building unit is permitted to be labeled.

(5) Amendments. The procedures set out in this rule for submission, review, and approval of building systems and compliance assurance programs shall be followed with regard to proposed amendments thereto.

(6) Variations.

(a) No approved building system (or amendment thereto) shall be varied in any way without prior authorization by the approved design review agency and the documentation of such prior authorization being received and filed by the Department.

(b) All approved variations must be submitted to the Department and shall be made a part of the written record of the approval of the building system.

(7) Withdrawal of Approval.

(a) The Department or approved design review agency may withdraw the approval of any building system or compliance assurance program if:
1. Such approval was granted in error;

2. Such approval was granted on the basis of incorrect information; or

3. Such building system or compliance assurance program fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter.

(b) The Department or agency instituting withdrawal of approval shall notify the manufacturer in writing within ten (10) days of the effective date of such withdrawal. Such notice shall clearly set forth the reasons for the withdrawal of approval.

(c) Upon such withdrawal of approval, the manufacturer shall not attach a label to any modular building unit or component manufactured pursuant to the building system or compliance assurance program whose approval was withdrawn. However, the Department or approved construction inspection agency may thereafter label such units or components as it determines to be in compliance with the standards after a complete inspection.

(d) The manufacturer shall return all unused labels allocated for modular building units or components to the Department within thirty (30) days after the effective date of withdrawal of approval of the building system or compliance assurance program pursuant to which such units or components are manufactured. The manufacturer shall also return to the Department all labels which it determines for any reason are no longer needed.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 68-36-302 through 68-36-305, 68-102-113, and 68-126-305.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Tennessee 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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