Section 675IAC12-6-4. Exemptions from design release requirement

   (a) Design releases are necessary for construction on all Class 1 structures, except the following:

(1) Class 1 structures that will never be occupied or otherwise used in any part by the public and that will not normally be occupied or otherwise used in any part by a person who is acting as an employee of another, of the following types:

(A) Oil derricks.

(B) Pipelines, including related physical support structures.

(C) Tanks for storage of products, other than flammable or combustible liquids or gases, that are factory fabricated and assembled.

(D) Electrical power cable transmission towers and substations.

(E) Structures used for communication purposes, except for:

(i) satellite dishes exceeding ten (10) feet in diameter; and

(ii) antennas exceeding thirty (30) feet in length;

when mounted on the roof of a Class 1 structure.

(F) Structures appurtenant to:

(i) industrial plants;

(ii) power generating plants;

(iii) gas plants;

(iv) bulk storage facilities; and

(v) shipping terminals;

where the functions of the structures are primarily the support of related equipment.

(G) Structures of:

(i) sewage;

(ii) water;

(iii) gas; and

(iv) electric;

utilities.

(H) Signs, except those mounted on the roof of a Class 1 structure, that exceed one hundred (100) square feet of surface area.

(2) Temporary structures.

(3) Class 1 structures either:

(A) owned by the federal government; or

(B) located on land over which exclusive jurisdiction has been ceded to the federal government. (See 40 U.S.C. 255 and IC 4-21.5.)

(4) One (1) story detached accessory Class 1 structures in Group B, F, R, S, U, or M Occupancy classifications that:

(A) do not exceed five hundred (500) square feet; and

(B) are used as:

(i) equipment shelters;

(ii) tool and storage sheds (not used for the storage or handling of hazardous materials);

(iii) freezers;

(iv) coolers; or

(v) other similar uses.

(5) One (1) story attached additions to Class 1 structures in Group B, F, R, S, U, or M Occupancy classifications that:

(A) do not:

(i) exceed three hundred (300) square feet; and

(ii) impose an excessive structural load onto the existing structure; and

(B) are used as:

(i) equipment shelters;

(ii) tool and storage sheds (not used for the storage or handling of hazardous materials);

(iii) freezers;

(iv) coolers; or

(v) other similar uses.

(6) One (1) story detached Class 1 structures that:

(A) do not exceed five hundred (500) square feet in floor area;

(B) have at least one (1) unenclosed side; and

(C) are used for personnel shelters, such as:

(i) bus stops;

(ii) picnic shelters; and

(iii) gazebos.

(7) One (1) story detached Class 1 structures that:

(A) do not exceed two hundred (200) square feet in floor area; and

(B) are used as guard houses or retail sales outlets, such as:

(i) kiosks;

(ii) drive-up facilities; and

(iii) roadside fruit and vegetable stands.

(8) Fences, except for those enclosing:

(A) public swimming pools; or

(B) liquified petroleum gas storage facilities.

(9) Retaining or enclosure walls, except for those surrounding flammable or combustible liquids or gases storage facilities.

(10) Installation or replacement of tanks and dispensing equipment for flammable and combustible liquids or gases if the scope of the work is limited to the following:

(A) Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) storage facilities having a total capacity of not more than four thousand (4,000) gallons and no single tank having a capacity of more than two thousand (2,000) gallons measured as gallons of water.

(B) Storage tanks for Class I, II, IIIA, or IIIB liquids:

(i) having a capacity of six hundred sixty (660) gallons or less;

(ii) that are portable; and

(iii) that are for temporary use only.

(11) Structures to be used primarily for the display of agricultural products and not used for assembly purposes where the structures are located within a political subdivision qualified under 675 IAC 12-10-9.

(12) Structures to be built in accordance with the requirements applicable to their eventual use as Class 2 structures that will initially be used as models or offices for the sale of Class 2 structures where the initial use does not cause any of the building systems to become noncompliant with current rules of the commission for that use. "Systems" are architectural, structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical (HVAC), fire alarm, and fire suppression.

  (b) Design releases are necessary for the remodeling or altering of all Class 1 structures, except work limited to one (1) or more of the following:

(1) Any of the buildings or structures the new construction of which is exempted by subsection (a).

(2) Plumbing work as follows:

(A) Replacement of piping, valves, or fixtures, provided that the replacement does not involve relocation of fixtures.

(B) Installation of plumbing fixtures, provided that the drainage fixture unit count does not exceed five (5).

(C) Replacement of water heaters with a similar type and capacity in the same location.

(D) Installation of water heaters with a capacity of one hundred (100) gallons or less.

(3) Electrical work as follows:

(A) Replacement in the same location of electrical equipment or devices of a similar type and rating, including an increase in current capacity in nonhazardous areas where there is no change in voltage or phases.

(B) Portable or temporary equipment and devices energized by means of cord and plug.

(C) Temporary installation of wiring and devices.

(D) Installation of branch circuits not exceeding the capacity of the electrical distribution system within the existing building.

(E) Low-energy power, control, and signal circuits of Classes II and III as defined in the Indiana Electrical Code except circuits for fire detection or fire alarm systems.

(F) Electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment installed by a public or private utility in the exercise of its function as a serving utility:

(i) for the generation, transmission, distribution, or metering of electrical energy; or

(ii) in the operation of signals or the transmission of intelligence.

(G) Except for fire detection or fire alarm systems, electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus, or equipment:

(i) operating at less than twenty-five (25) volts; and

(ii) not capable of supplying more than fifty (50) watts of energy.

(4) Mechanical work as follows:

(A) Installation of any portable heating, ventilating, and air conditioning appliance or equipment.

(B) Replacement of mechanical appliances and equipment with a similar type and rating in the same location.

(C) Installation of any of the following:

(i) A heating system having an output not in excess of four hundred thousand (400,000) British thermal units per hour.

(ii) A cooling system having an output not greater than fifteen (15) tons (one hundred eighty thousand (180,000)) British thermal units per hour).

(iii) A combination of the two (2) having an air-handling capacity not in excess of nine thousand (9,000) cubic feet per minute.

(D) Installation of heating or cooling equipment to be used for commercial processing work or activities where comfort of personnel is not of primary concern.

(5) Miscellaneous work as follows:

(A) Painting, papering, and replacement of coverings on:

(i) walls;

(ii) ceilings;

(iii) roofs; or

(iv) floors;

and similar finish work, including replacement or reglazing of glass.

(B) Cases, counters, and partitions not over six (6) feet in height.

(C) Penetrations of nonfire-rated exterior walls where the width of the opening:

(i) does not exceed six (6) feet; and

(ii) is not for a required exit.

(D) Installation of one (1) or more nonload-bearing partitions not to exceed a total of one hundred (100) lineal feet in length provided it is not part of a corridor or a partition that is required to be of fire-resistive construction.

(6) Fire sprinkler systems as follows:

(A) Replacement of components of existing wet fire sprinkler systems of light hazard or ordinary hazard classification as defined in 675 IAC 13, including:

(i) replacement of sprinkler heads;

(ii) replacement of equipment; or

(iii) replacement of piping to restore a system to its original condition and configuration.

(B) Alteration of existing light hazard or ordinary hazard fire sprinkler systems, including:

(i) the addition or alteration of up to an aggregate of twenty (20) sprinkler heads in a wet pipe system for light or ordinary hazard design;

(ii) conversion of a dry type system to a wet or antifreeze type system not exceeding ten (10) sprinkler heads; or

(iii) conversion of a wet or antifreeze type system not exceeding ten (10) sprinkler heads to a dry type system.

  (c) All additions or alterations permitted by this subdivision [sic.] shall be documented by the installer and kept on file with the maintenance and testing records required by 675 IAC 22 and 675 IAC 28, specifically the applicable editions of NFPA 13 and NFPA 25.

  (d) The design release requirements including filing of plans and specifications shall apply for any work otherwise exempted by subsection (b) when a part of, supplemental to, or an accessory of a construction project that otherwise requires a design release.

  (e) Construction work on a Class 1 structure exempted from the design release requirements under this section is not exempt from compliance with other rules of the commission. (Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission; 675 IAC 12-6-4; filed Jul 17, 1987, 2:30 p.m.: 10 IR 2689, eff Aug 1, 1987 [IC 4-22-2-36 suspends the effectiveness of a rule document for 30 days after filing with the Secretary of State. LSA Document #87-53 was filed Jul 17, 1987.]; errata, 11 IR 97; filed Oct 17, 1989, 11:05 a.m.: 13 IR 388; errata filed Aug 11, 1990, 5:00 p.m.: 13 IR 2140; filed Sep 21, 1992, 9:00 a.m.: 16 IR 714; filed Jan 30, 1998, 4:00 p.m.: 21 IR 2090; filed Nov 20, 2000, 3:25 p.m.: 24 IR 1002; readopted filed Sep 11, 2001, 2:49 p.m.: 25 IR 530; filed Aug 30, 2006, 2:25 p.m.: 20060927-IR-675050108FRA; readopted filed Sep 21, 2007, 9:20 a.m.: 20071010-IR-675070388RFA; readopted filed Oct 10, 2007, 9:16 a.m: 20071031-IR-675070388RFA; readopted filed Aug 8, 2012, 8:08 a.m.: 20120905-IR-675120260RFA)