Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

BOARD MEETING August 22, 2022 Mechanical and Plumbing Board APPROVED MINUTES The Mechanical and Plumbing Board convened in a Regular Called Meeting on August 22, 2023. Meeting took place at the Permit Development Center at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive. Vice Chairman Thornton, called the Meeting to order at 9:37 a.m. Board Members in Attendance: William Harris, Robert Thornton, Kyle Smith, Joe Bowie, Robert Butler, Alex Ramirez, and Joe Cooper Absent members: Bobbi Jo Foster and Roman Perez Staff Members in Attendance: Chad Watson (DSD), Tony Hernandez (DSD) Charlie Ablanedo (DSD), Eric Reynolds (AWU), Kevin Kluge (AWU), Robert Stefani (AWU), Shwertha Pandurangi (AWU) and Katherine Jashinski (AWU). GENERAL CITIZEN COMMUNICATION- John Mata of IAPMO spoke on behalf of discussion item 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1.The minutes from the June 27th, 2023 meeting was approved as written. Board member Cooper made a motion to approve the minutes, board member Harris second the motion. Motion pass 6-0. Board member Foster and Perez were absent. Board member Ramirez entered after the minutes were approved. DISCUSSION ITMES 2. Reclaim Water use at Single Family Residential Sites. – Shwertha Pandurangi and Katherine Jashinski with Austin water provided a presentation on reclaimed water in Single Family (SF) residential buildings. Austin Water Utility (AWU) is currently developing a policy with guidance and implementation for steps on indoor uses on SF homes but requires coordination with Development Services (DSD) with ongoing education, outreach with the site development and along with the design and plumbing inspections as to what DSD will inspect up to. Currently reclaim water is being serviced by 182 commercial properties which include parks, grocery stores and the airport. There are additional 320 or more planned for reclaim water. Implemented in 2015, reclaim water are being used for Commercial and multifamily development, primarily being used for irrigation, cooling, toilet flushing and other significant uses. With SF lots, currently there would be no prohibition on using reclaimed water for irrigation but developing a plan and policy for indoor uses is still ongoing as concerns of public health and safety and the build-out as time goes forward. Possible year of having to access reclaim water lines for SF lots could be in 2070. 3. Water saving calculator appendix in UPC- Robert Stefani with Austin Water (AWU) notes that a water saving calculator is a pipe downsizing water allowance. Noted as appendix M, peak demand water calculator which allows the downsizing of premise plumbing based on conservation rates and fixtures. It was in the last current code adoption, but the appendix did not get adopted. As to reasons why AWU did not adopt the appendix M, because it was not directed to do so. However, possible an Alternative of Method of compliance (AMOC) could be possibly used. A consideration that AWU would like to look at, is the meter sizing allowance which Robert does not believe it will affect AWU because he thinks we are using fixture counts, not flow rates but additional research would be needed. Right now there is not a reason to adopt appendix M as it still provides the choice of using alternative method of compliance rather than using the AWU watering saving calculator. Staff position on the water saving calculator is that this specific chapter in the UPC is an alternative method of compliance. It is just used for pipe sizing for the interior part of the building, you can choose the calculator or use AMOC if you wish but it will not hurt anything to adopt it. And it is not tied to any occupancy or building type. John Mata with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical officials (IAPMO) provided insight to IAPMO’s water saving calculator and highlights the pipe sizing method for water demand in single family homes, multi-family buildings and high-rise apartments. The tool improves water conservation, water quality and public health and improves housing affordability with reduced cost of building materials and meter fees. 4. Appendix L in the 2024 UPC- Board member Harris notes that a lot of appendix L conflicts with the city mandate but wanted to touch more on water heating design and equipment installation, service hot water other than low rise residential buildings, load calculations and service and water heating system control. Board member Harris requested that DSD staff Tony Hernandez and AWU Robert Stefani to take a closer look at these items and see if there is a conflict with the items noted however there are other items that do conflict and wanted staff to look at. This item will be noted in the future agenda. DISCUSSION AND ACTION 5. 2023 Board Elections- Board member Cooper nominates Robert Thornton as Chair, board member Harris, second the vote, motion pass 7-0. Chairman Thornton nominates the Joe Bowie to vice chair, board member Harris second the motion, motion pass 7-0 . FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 1. Discussion on Water Saving Calculator 2. Discussion on appendix L 3. Discussion on appendix M 4. Discussion on Shower Pans ADJOURN – Vice Chair Thornton made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:41 without objection. The minutes were approved at the October 24, 2023 meeting on board member Cooper motion, Board member Smith, second the vote. Board member Harris, Foster and Bowie were absent. Motion passed 7-0. Board member Mapes entered the meeting after the minutes were read