Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Appliance Protection topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Panel endorses 24-inch platform, bollards or curbs as approved garage appliance impact protection
Summary
The advisory board recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt code language listing wall, post (bollard), curb or a 24-inch platform as approved methods for vehicle-impact protection of appliances in residential garages; staff said the change codifies prior unwritten practice.
The Mojave County Building Code Advisory Board voted to forward a proposed ordinance amendment that would list specific approved methods for protecting appliances in residential garages from vehicle impact, including a 24-inch-high platform.
Staff told the board the change codifies what has been an unwritten practice and would specify that approved methods include a wall, a post (bollard), a curb, or a 24-inch platform or stand. "Basically, the code just said it has to be an approved barrier. So we felt it needed to be categorized out a little bit more," staff said, recommending the 24-inch platform because it meets both ignition-source elevation and vehicle-impact protection needs.
Board members asked whether items such as water softeners or reverse-osmosis systems count as appliances under the proposal. County counsel and staff referenced the International Residential Code (2018) definition: "A device or apparatus that is manufactured and designed to utilize energy, and for which this code provides specific requirements." Staff and counsel said water softeners generally lack specific code requirements and therefore would not be treated as appliances for this purpose; water heaters, washers, dryers and freezers would be covered.
Staff also referenced an existing handout with diagrams that show bollard dimensions and curb heights (a standard 4-inch parking-style curb) and suggested clarifying the handout and code language to reduce dispute over small measurement differences. A member moved to adopt the recommendation raising water-heater platform height to 24 inches (from 18 inches required for ignition-source elevation); after a second, the voice vote carried and the chair instructed staff to forward the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.
The amendment is focused on clarifying acceptable methods for vehicle-impact protection for appliances in garages and on providing installation guidance (bollard size, curb height, platform dimensions) in accompanying materials.
