Article 16 — Building and Property Maintenance Regulations, Chapter 16-1 — CODES ADOPTED

That certain document, one copy of which is on file in the office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, being marked and designated as the International Building Code, as published by the International Code Council and is hereby adopted as the code of the City of Gainesville, Georgia for regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of buildings and structures in the City of Gainesville, Georgia, and providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefore; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions and terms of such International Building Code, current edition adopted by the Board of Community Affairs of the State of Georgia, with Georgia amendments, published by the International Code Council on file in the office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this Ordinance.

That certain document, one copy of which is on file in the Office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, being marked and designated as the National Electrical Code, current edition, as adopted by the Board of Community Affairs of the State of Georgia, as published by the National Fire Prevention Association is hereby adopted as the Code of the City of Gainesville, Georgia for regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of the building envelope, mechanical, lighting and power systems in the City of Gainesville, Georgia, and providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefore; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions and terms of such National Electrical Code, current edition, with Georgia amendments, published by the National Fire Prevention Association, on file in the Office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this Ordinance.

That certain document, one copy of which is on file in the Office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, being marked and designated as the International Fire Code, current edition adopted by the Board of Community Affairs of the State of Georgia with Georgia amendments, as published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted as the Code of the City of Gainesville, Georgia for regulating and governing the safeguarding of life and property from fire and explosion, hazards arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life or property in the occupancy of buildings and premises in the City of Gainesville, Georgia and providing for the issuance of permits or hazardous uses or operations; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions and terms of such fire code on file in the Office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this Ordinance.

That certain document, one copy of which is on file in the Office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, being marked and designated as the International Fuel Gas Code, current edition, adopted by the Board of Community Affairs of the State of Georgia with Georgia amendments, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., is hereby adopted and the Fuel Gas Code of Gainesville, Georgia; for the control of building and structures as herein provided; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Fuel Gas Code are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this Ordinance.

That certain document, one copy of which is on file in the Office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, being marked and designated as the International Mechanical Code, with Georgia amendments, current edition adopted by the Board of Community Affairs of the State of Georgia, as published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted as the Code of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, for regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of mechanical systems in the City of Gainesville, Georgia and providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefore; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions and terms of such International Mechanical Code current edition, with Georgia amendments, published by the International Code Council on file of the Office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this Ordinance.

That certain document, one copy of which is on file in the office of the city clerk, being marked and designated as the International Plumbing Code current edition, as published by the International Code Council, with Georgia state amendments, adopted by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, hereinafter referred to as the “Georgia State Minimum Standard Plumbing Code,” is hereby adopted as the plumbing code of the city for regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of plumbing systems in the city and providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefore; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions and terms of such Georgia State Minimum Standard Plumbing Code on file in the office of the city clerk are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this Code, subject to the local amendments contained in Section 9-16-1-14.

That certain document, one copy of which is on file in the Office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, being marked and designated as the International Residential Code, current edition, with Georgia amendments, adopted by the Board of Community Affairs of the State of Georgia, as published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted as the Code of the City of Gainesville, Georgia for regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of one and two family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories in height in the City of Gainesville, Georgia, and providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefore; and each and all regulations, provisions, conditions and terms of such International Residential Code, current edition, with Georgia Amendments, published by the International Code Council on file in the Office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this Ordinance.

That certain document, one copy of which is on file in the Office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, being marked and designated as the International Energy Conservation Code, current edition, with Georgia amendments, adopted by the Board of Community Affairs of the State of Georgia, as published by the International Code Council, with Georgia amendments, is hereby adopted as the Code of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of the building envelope, mechanical, lighting and power systems in the City of Gainesville, Georgia, and providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefore; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions and terms of such International Energy Conservation Code, current edition, with Georgia amendments, published by the International Code Council on file in the Office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this Ordinance.

That certain document, one copy of which is on file in the Office of the Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, being marked and designated as the “Standard Swimming Code, with Georgia amendments, current edition adopted by the Board of Community Affairs of the State of Georgia as published by the Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc., Birmingham, Alabama, is hereby adopted as the code of the City of Gainesville, Georgia for regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of the swimming pools in the City of Gainesville, Georgia, and providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefore; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions, and terms of such Standard Swimming Pool Code, current edition adopted by the Board of Community Affairs of the State of Georgia with Georgia amendments, published by the Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc., Birmingham, Alabama, on file in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Gainesville, Georgia, is hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this Ordinance.

The edition of the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code that is currently adopted and in force is adopted, save and except such portions as hereinafter deleted, modified or amended of which a copy has been and is now filed in the office of the clerk of the city council, and same is hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein. The Life Safety Code shall only apply to and govern those buildings and structures listed in the O.C.G.A, Sections 25-2-13 (a) and (b), as amended. The provisions of this Article shall govern all other buildings and structures.

The legal occupancy of any structure existing on the date of adoption of this Article or its predecessor article shall be permitted to continue without change, except as is specifically covered in this Article, the International Property Maintenance Code or the International Fire Code, or as is deemed necessary by the Building Official for the general safety and welfare of the occupants and the public.

The latest revision of the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual (GSMM), is hereby adopted and incorporated for regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of stormwater facilities in the city and providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefore, in addition to Sections in this Ordinance. Each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions and terms of such Georgia Stormwater Management Manual, latest edition, published by Atlanta Regional Commission are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this Code.

Plumbing Code

“LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION”.

Flow sensor. An inline device in a landscape irrigation system that produces a repeatable signal proportional to flow rate.

Lawn or Landscape Irrigation system. An assembly of component parts that is permanently installed for the controlled distribution of water to irrigate landscapes such as ground cover, trees, shrubs, and other plants. Lawn and Landscape Irrigation System refer to the same system.

Master shut-off valve. An automatic valve such as a gate valve, ball valve, or butterfly valve) installed as part of the landscape irrigation system capable of being automatically closed by the WaterSense controller. When this valve is closed water will not be supplied to the landscape irrigation system.

Pressure regulating device. A device designed to maintain pressure within the landscape irrigation system at the manufacturer’s recommended operating pressure and that protects against sudden spikes or drops from the water source.

Rain sensor shut-off. An electric device that detects and measures rainfall amounts and overrides the cycle of a landscape irrigation system so as to turn off such system when a predetermined amount of rain has fallen.

WaterSense irrigation controller. Is a weather-based or soil moisture-based irrigation controller labeled under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program, which includes standalone controllers, add-on devices, and plug-in devices that use current weather data as a basis for scheduling irrigation.

WaterSense spray sprinkler bodies. A sprinkler body with integral pressure regulation, generating optimal water spray and coverage labeled under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program.

Consistent with the general approach taken in Georgia, these Maximum Flow and Water Consumption requirements and related definitions in Section 604.4 of the plumbing code shall apply to all plumbing systems, including those in one- and two-family dwellings. The maximum water consumption flow rates and quantities for all plumbing fixtures and fixture fittings shall be in accordance with Table 604.4.

Plumbing Fixture or Fitting Fixture Maximum Flow Rate or Quantity [b] Lavatory faucet and replacement aerators, private WaterSense Labeled & 1.2 gpm at 60 psi [f] Lavatory faucet, public (metering) 0.25 gallon per metering cycle Lavatory, public (other than metering) 0.5 gpm at 60 psi Showerhead [a] WaterSense Labeled & 2.0 gpm at 80 psi [f] Kitchen faucet and replacement aerators 1.8 gpm at 60 psi [f, g] Urinal 0.5 gallon per flushing cycle [f] Water closet 1.28 gallons per flushing cycle [c, d, e, f] Table Notes:

For SI: 1 gallon = 3.785 L, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m, 1 pound per square inch = 6.895 kPa.

[a] A hand-held shower spray is a shower head. As point of clarification, multiple shower heads may be installed in a single shower enclosure so long as each shower head individually meets the maximum flow rate, the WaterSense requirements, and the US Department of Energy definition of showerhead.

However, multiple shower heads are not recommended for water efficiency purposes.

[b] Consumption tolerances shall be determined from referenced standards.

[c] For flushometer valves and flushometer tanks, the average flush volume shall not exceed 1.28 gallons.

[d] For single flush water closets, including gravity, pressure assisted and electro-hydraulic tank types, the average flush volume shall not exceed 1.28 gallons.

[e] For dual flush water closets, the average flush volume of two reduced flushes and one full flush shall not exceed 1.28 gallons.

[f] See 2020 GA Amendment to Section 301.1.2 'Waiver from requirements of high efficiency plumbing fixtures.’

[g] Kitchen faucets are permitted to temporarily increase the flow above the maximum rate, but not to exceed 2.2 gpm (8.3 L/m) at 60 psi (414 kPa) and must revert to a maximum flow rate of 1.8 gpm (6.8 L/m) at 60 psi (414 kPa) upon valve closure.

Residential clothes washers shall be in accordance with the Energy Star program requirements.

The requirements in Section 604.4.3 apply to all new landscape irrigation systems connected to the public water system except those (a) used for agricultural operations as defined in the Official Code of Georgia Section 1-3-3, (b) used for golf courses, and (c) dependent upon a nonpublic water source. Nothing in this Code or in this Section 604.4.3 is intended to require that landscape irrigation systems must be installed at all premises. The landscape irrigation efficiency requirements in this Section 604.4.3 apply only when someone voluntarily chooses, or is otherwise required by some requirement beyond this Code, to install a landscape irrigation system on premises.

Reclaimed water provided from a reclaimed wastewater treatment system permitted by the Environmental Protection Division may be used to supply water closets, urinals, trap primers for floor drains and floor sinks, water features and other uses approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction, in motels, hotels, apartment and condominium buildings, and commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings, where the individual guest or occupant does not have access to plumbing. Also, other systems that may use a lesser quality of water than potable water such as water chillers, carwashes or an industrial process may be supplied with reclaimed water provided from a reclaimed wastewater treatment facility permitted by the Environmental Protection Division.

The use of reclaimed water sourced from any new private reclaimed wastewater treatment system for outdoor irrigation shall be limited to golf courses and agriculture operations as defined in the Official Code of Georgia Section 1-3-3, and such reclaimed water shall not be approved for use for irrigating any other outdoor landscape such as ground cover, tree, shrubs, or other plants. These limitations do not apply to reclaimed water sourced from existing private reclaimed water systems or from existing or new, governmentally-owned reclaimed wastewater treatment systems.

Because of the variable conditions encountered in hydraulic design, it is impractical to specify definite and detailed rules for sizing of the water piping system.

Accordingly, other sizing or design methods conforming to good engineering practice standards are acceptable alternatives to those presented herein. Without limiting the foregoing, such acceptable design methods may include for multi-family buildings the Peak Water Demand Calculator from the IAPMO/ANSI 2020 Water Efficiency and Sanitation Standard for the Built Environment, which accounts for the demands of water-conserving plumbing fixtures, fixture fittings, and appliances. If future versions of the Peak Water Demand Calculator including other building types, such as commercial, such updated version shall be an acceptable design method.