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Linn County panel adopts 2024 mechanical code updates and moves to merge plumbing, mechanical boards
Summary
The Linn County Mechanical Board of Appeals voted to adopt the 2024 International Mechanical Code updates and endorsed language to merge the plumbing and mechanical boards; the board noted a new TAB certification requirement may limit local contractors and the merger will go to the board of supervisors for approval.
The Linn County Mechanical Board of Appeals voted to adopt updates that move the county from the 2021 to the 2024 editions of the International Mechanical Code, the county building official said, and endorsed proposed language to merge the plumbing and mechanical appeals boards pending approval by the Board of Supervisors.
“Today, we’re simply shifting from the 2021 versions of the IMC to the 2024,” said Luke Maloney, Linn County Building Official, as he summarized the ordinance and invited questions. Maloney listed several substantive changes in the latest code, including removal of a prohibition on domestic ductless range hoods in certain building groups; added identification requirements for A2L and B2L refrigerants; new limits for A1 and A2L refrigerants; and updated ventilation requirements for outpatient healthcare facilities to match ASHRAE 62.1.
Maloney also noted technical standards added or clarified in the new edition: the adoption of UL 2158A for commercial dryer exhaust, new testing options for grease ductwork, additional steam-bath requirements, and a new standard for refrigeration systems containing carbon dioxide.
He highlighted a state amendment requiring kitchen makeup air systems be verified by a certified TAB (testing and balancing) contractor and that the TAB contractor be certified by NEBB or an approved equivalent. “I don’t think there’s too many contractors around from the conversations I’ve had about this that have that. Locally, I believe I was told there was one,” Maloney said, adding the county will need to determine how to implement that requirement.
On the broader governance change, Maloney said the county has struggled to reach quorums for separate plumbing and mechanical boards and proposed merging them to ensure timely appeal hearings. He outlined the proposed makeup of a merged appeals board: one licensed HVAC contractor, one plumbing contractor, one mechanical or plumbing journeyman, one registered architect or mechanical/plumbing engineer, and one private citizen, to preserve technical expertise while improving quorum reliability.
Board members voiced support for the merger as a practical step to prevent appeal delays. The Chair then moved to accept the ordinance as presented; the board conducted a voice vote and members responded with recorded “aye” votes. No opposing votes were recorded in the transcript and the ordinance was approved.
The merger plan described by Maloney will be sent to the Linn County Board of Supervisors for their consideration and approval before any formal change takes effect. The board also completed routine business, including election of officers (Brett Brecken was nominated for chair and Luke Swanson was elected vice chair) and approval of minutes from Dec. 7, 2021.
Maloney said staff and the board will need to work through implementation details for the new TAB certification requirement and other technical clarifications in the code; no implementation timeline was specified in the meeting.
