Rehabilitation Code: Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Repairs

301.0 General

301.1 Repairs are defined as the patching, restoration, painting and/or minor replacement of materials, elements, components, equipment and/or fixtures for the purposes of maintaining such materials, elements, components, equipment and/or fixtures in good or sound condition. All repairs shall comply with the requirements of this Chapter.

Exception: As modified in Chapter 9 for repairs in historical buildings.

302.0 Requirements

302.1 Except as is otherwise required herein, work shall be done using like materials, or materials permitted by the Building Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Rhode Island Fire Safety Code, NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, Rhode Island Fire Prevention Code, Electrical Code, Boiler Safety Code or Elevator Code as applicable. BFO

302.1.1 Hazardous materials no longer permitted, such as asbestos and lead-based paint, shall not be used. B

302.1.2 Conformance: The work shall not make the building less conforming with the building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical or fire codes of the jurisdiction, or with alternative materials, design and methods of construction or any previously approved plans, modifications, alternate methods or compliance alternatives, than it was before the repair was undertaken. BFO

302.1.3 Flood hazard areas: In flood hazard areas, repairs that constitute substantial improvement shall require that the building comply with the Building Code section 107.0 B

302.2 Replacement glazing in hazardous locations shall comply with the Safety Glazing requirements of

Section 2406 of the Building Code, and paragraph 2403.1 referenced therein. B

Exceptions:

1. Glass-block walls may be repaired using like materials.

2. Louvered windows and jalousies may be repaired using like materials.

302.3 Structural: Repairs of structural elements shall comply with this section. The work shall cause no diminution of structural strength. The work shall not make the building less conforming with the Building Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Rhode Island Fire Safety Code, NFPA 101-Life Safety Code, Rhode Island Fire Prevention Code, Electrical Code, Boiler Safety Code, Energy Code, Elevator Code, or Accessibility Code where applicable, or with any previously approved alternative arrangements, than it was before the repair was undertaken. B

302.3.1 Wind design: Wind design of existing buildings shall be based upon the procedures specified in the Building Code. B

302.3.2 Reduction of strength: Repairs shall not reduce the structural strength or stability of the building, structure or any individual member thereof. B

Exception: Such reduction shall be allowed provided the capacity is not reduced to below the requirements of the Building Code.

302.3.3 Damaged buildings: Damaged buildings shall be repaired in accordance with this section. B

302.3.3.1 New structural frame members: New structural frame members used in the repair of damaged buildings, including anchorage and connections, shall comply with the Building Code unless the authority having jurisdiction specifically allows replacement with like materials. B

302.3.4 Substantial structural damage: Buildings which have sustained substantial structural damage shall comply with this section. B

302.3.4.1 Engineering evaluation and analysis: An engineering evaluation and analysis which establishes the structural adequacy of the damaged building shall be prepared by a registered design professional and submitted to the code official. The evaluation and analysis may assume that all non-damaged structural elements and systems have their original strength and stiffness. B

302.3.4.2 Extent of repair: The evaluation and analysis shall demonstrate that the building once repaired complies with the wind provisions of the Building Code. B

302.3.5 Below substantial structural damage: Repairs to buildings damaged to a level below the substantial structural damage level as defined in Chapter 2 of this Code shall be allowed to be made with the materials, methods and strengths in existence prior to the damage unless such existing conditions are dangerous as defined in Chapter 2. New structural frame members, as defined in Chapter 2, shall comply with Section 302.3.3.1. B

302.3.6 Other uncovered structural elements: Where in the course of conducting repairs, other uncovered structural elements are found to be unsound or otherwise structurally deficient, such elements shall be made to conform to the provisions of section 302.3.4.1 of this Code. B

302.3.7 Flood hazard areas: In flood hazard areas, damaged buildings that sustain substantial damage shall be brought into compliance with Building Code section 3107.0. B

302.3.8 Re-roofing: Re-roofing in excess of twenty-five (25%) percent of the roof area of the entire building shall comply with section 403.2.1 of this code. B

302.4 Plumbing

302.4.1 Materials: The following plumbing materials and supplies shall not be used unless specifically allowed by the current plumbing code:

1. Sheet and tubular copper and brass trap and tailpiece fittings less than the minimum wall thickness of .027" (0.69 mm).

2. Solder having more than 0.2% lead in the repair of potable water systems.

3. Water closets having a concealed trap seal or an unventilated space or having walls that are not thoroughly washed at each discharge in accordance with ASME A112.19.2.

4. The following types of joints shall be prohibited:

a. Cement or concrete joints

b. Mastic or hot-pour bituminous joints

c. Joints made with fittings not approved for the specific installation

d. Joints between different diameter pipes made with elasto-meric rolling O-rings

e. Solvent-cement joints between different types of plastic pipe

f. Saddle-type fittings

5. The following type of traps are prohibited:

a. Traps that depend on moving parts to maintain the seal.

b. Bell traps

c. Crown-vented traps

d. Traps not integral with a fixture and that depend on interior partitions for the seal, except those traps constructed of an approved material that is resistant to corrosion and degradation. B

302.4.2 Water closet replacement: When any water closet is replaced, the replacement water closet shall comply with the Plumbing Code SBC-3. The maximum water consumption flow rates and quantities for all replaced water closets shall be 1.6 gallons (6L) per flushing cycle. B

Exception: Blowout design water closets [3.5 gallons (13L) per flushing cycle].

302.5 Electrical: Existing electrical wiring and equipment undergoing repair shall be allowed to be repaired or replaced with like material. B

Exceptions:

1. Electrical products shall comply with Section 110-3(b) "Installation and Use" of the Electrical Code.

2. Replacement of electrical receptacles shall comply with the requirements of Section 210-7(d) of the Electrical Code.

3. Plug fuses of the Edison-base type shall be used for replacements only where there is no evidence of over fusing or tampering per Section 240-51(b) of the Electrical Code.

4. For replacement of non-grounding-type receptacles with grounding-type receptacles and for branch circuits that do not have an equipment grounding conductor in the branch circuit, the grounding conductor of a grounding type receptacle outlet shall be permitted to be grounded to any accessible point on the grounding electrode system as described in Section 250-81 of the Electrical Code, or to any accessible point on the grounding electrode conductor.

5. Frames of electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units, clothes dryers, and outlet or junction boxes that are part of the existing branch circuit for these appliances shall be permitted to be grounded to the grounded circuit conductor if all the conditions of Section 250-60 of the Electrical Code are met.

302.6 Mechanical

302.6.1 Defective material or parts shall be replaced or repaired in such a manner so as to preserve the original approval or listing. B

302.6.2 Temporary repairs may not be made to a damaged heat exchanger. B

302.7 Boilers and Pressure Vessels

302.7.1 Repairs and replacements of fittings or appliances shall comply with the Mechanical Code SBC 4. B

302.7.2 Repairs of boilers or pressure vessels shall comply with the requirements specified in the Rhode Island Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, 1989 edition. (Boilers over 200,000 BTU require approval by Department of Labor and Training.) BO

302.8 Elevators: All repairs shall be done in accordance the Rhode Island Elevator Safety Code, May 15, 1999 edition. (Elevator approval by the Department of Labor and Training.) BO

NOTE: Where the section is followed by the letter "B", "F", or "O", the following meaning shall apply:

"B" This means that the Building Official or the Plumbing, Mechanical or Electrical Inspector shall review the plans, issue the permit, inspect the installation, and approve the final certificate.

"F" This means that the Fire Official shall review the plans for approval, the Fire Official and/or the Building Official inspects the installation, and the Fire Official observes the final test and approves the final installation. The Building Official shall issue the permits.

"O" This would indicate another State agency approval and inspection is needed. An explanation will indicate the agency and approvals needed.