1、 2015CODE AND COMMENTARYThe complete IPMC with commentary after each sectionIPMC2015 International Property Maintenance CodeCommentaryFirst Printing: May 2015ISBN: 978-1-60983-288-9 (soft-cover edition)COPYRIGHT 2015byINTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL, INC.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This 2015 International Prope
2、rty Maintenance CodeCommentary is a copyrighted work ownedby the International Code Council, Inc. Without advance written permission from the copyright owner, no part of this book maybe reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including, without limitation, electronic, opt
3、ical ormechanical means (by way of example, and not limitation, photocopying or recording by or in an information storage retrievalsystem). For information on permission to copy material exceeding fair use, please contact: Publications, 4051 Flossmoor Road,Country Club Hills, IL 60478. Phone 1-888-I
4、CC-SAFE (422-7233). Trademarks: “International Code Council,” the “International Code Council” logo and the “International Property MaintenanceCode” are trademarks of the International Code Council, Inc. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.2015 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODECOMMENTARY iiiPREFACEThe princi
5、pal purpose of the Commentary is to provide a basic volume of knowledge and facts relating to existing structures as itpertains to the regulations regarding property maintenance set forth in the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code. Theperson who is serious about effectively regulating prope
6、rty maintenance will find the Commentary to be a reliable data sourceand reference to almost all aspects of property maintenance.As a follow-up to the International Property Maintenance Code, we offer a companion document, the International PropertyMaintenance Code and Commentary. The basic appeal o
7、f the Commentary is thus: it provides in a small package and at reason-able cost thorough coverage of many issues likely to be dealt with when using the International Property Maintenance Code,then supplements that coverage with historical and technical background. Reference lists, information sourc
8、es and bibliogra-phies are also included.Throughout all of this, strenuous effort has been made to keep the vast quantity of material accessible and its method of pre-sentation useful. With a comprehensive yet concise summary of each section, the Commentary provides a convenient referencefor propert
9、y maintenance regulations. In the chapters that follow, discussions focus on the full meaning and implications of thecode text. Guidelines suggest the most effective method of application, and the consequences of not adhering to the code text.Illustrations are provided to aid understanding; they do
10、not necessarily illustrate the only methods of achieving code compliance.The format of the Commentary includes the full text of each section, table and figure in the code, followed immediately by thecommentary applicable to that text. As stated in the preface of the 2015 International Property Maint
11、enance Code, the content ofsections in the code that begin with a letter designation (i.e., P502.1) are maintained by another code development committee.Each sections narrative includes a statement of its objective and intent, and usually includes a discussion about why the require-ment commands the
12、 conditions set forth. Code text and commentary text are easily distinguished from each other. All code textis shown as it appears in the International Property Maintenance Code, and all commentary is indented below the code text andbegins with the symbol.Readers should note that the Commentary is t
13、o be used in conjunction with the International Property Maintenance Code andnot as a substitute for the code. The Commentary is advisory only; the code official alone possesses the authority and respon-sibility for interpreting the code.Comments and recommendations are encouraged, for through your
14、input, we can improve future editions. Please direct yourcomments to the Codes and Standards Development Department at the Chicago District Office.iv 2015 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODECOMMENTARY 2015 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE COMMENTARY vTABLE OF CONTENTSCHAPTER 1 SCOPE AND A
15、DMINISTRATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 1-16CHAPTER 2 DEFINITIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1 2-8CHAPTER 3 GENER
16、AL REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 3-16CHAPTER 4 LIGHT, VENTILATION AND OCCUPANCY LIMITATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 4-14CHAPTER 5 PLUMBING FACILITIES AND FIXTURE REQUIREMENTS .
17、 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1 5-10CHAPTER 6 MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 6-10CHAPTER 7 FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18、. . . . . 7-1 7-6CHAPTER 8 REFERENCED STANDARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1 8-4APPENDIX A BOARDING STANDARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19、. . . A-1 A-2INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INDEX-1 INDEX-12vi 2015 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE COMMENTARY 2015 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODECOMMENTARY 1-1PART 1 SCO
20、PE AND APPLICATIONSECTION 101GENERAL This section sets forth the scope and intent of the codeas it applies to existing structures.A 101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as theInternational Property Maintenance Code of NAME OFJURISDICTION, hereinafter referred to as “this code.” The purpose
21、of this section is to identify the adoptedregulations by inserting the name of the adopting juris-diction into the code.A 101.2 Scope. The provisions of this code shall apply toall existing residential and nonresidential structures and allexisting premises and constitute minimum requirements andstan
22、dards for premises, structures, equipment and facilitiesfor light, ventilation, space, heating, sanitation, protectionfrom the elements, a reasonable level of safety from fire andother hazards, and for a reasonable level of sanitary mainte-nance; the responsibility of owners, an owners authorizedage
23、nt, operators and occupants; the occupancy of existingstructures and premises, and for administration, enforcementand penalties. This section establishes the broad purpose of thecodeto protect the public health, safety and welfarein both existing residential and nonresidential struc-tures and on all
24、 existing premises.Four specific areas are addressed in greater detailin subsequent sections: Establishing minimum maintenance standards forsuch elements as basic equipment, light, ventila-tion, heating, sanitation and fire safety. Fixing responsibility among owners, operators andoccupants for follo
25、wing the code. Regulating the use of existing structures andpremises. Providing for administration, enforcement andpenalties.These four categories provide communities with thetools to reduce risks created by deteriorated or unsafebuildings and help communities upgrade and maintainother existing stru
26、ctures.A 101.3 Intent. This code shall be construed to secure itsexpressed intent, which is to ensure public health, safety andwelfare insofar as they are affected by the continued occu-pancy and maintenance of structures and premises. Existingstructures and premises that do not comply with these pr
27、ovi-Chapter 1:Scope and Administration General CommentsThe law of building regulation is grounded on the policepower of the state. This power is the source of allauthority to enact building regulations. In terms of how itis used, police power is the power of the state to legis-late for the general w
28、elfare of its citizens. This powerenables the passage of laws such as a property mainte-nance code. It is from the police power delegated by thestate legislature that local governments are able toenact building regulations. If the state legislature haslimited this power in any way, the municipality
29、may notexceed these limitations. While the municipality may notfurther delegate its police power (e.g., by delegating theburden of determining code compliance to the buildingowner, contractor or architect), it may turn over theadministration of building regulations to a municipal offi-cial, such as
30、a code official, provided that he or she isgiven sufficient criteria to clearly establish the basis fordecisions as to whether a proposed building conformsto the code.Chapter 1 is largely concerned with maintaining “dueprocess of law” in enforcing the provisions contained inthe body of the code. Onl
31、y through careful observationof the administrative provisions can the code official rea-sonably hope to demonstrate that “equal protectionunder the law” has been provided. While it is generallyassumed that the administrative and enforcement sec-tions of a code are geared toward the responsibilities
32、ofthe code official, the provisions also establish the rightsand privileges of the design professional, contractor andbuilding owner.PurposeChapter 1 establishes the necessary legal basis forenforcement of the code by the authority having jurisdic-tion. All of the police powers inherent in enforcing
33、 mini-mum standards for the use and maintenance of buildingsmust follow the line of authority, from the U.S. Constitu-tion to the state to the actual enforcer. Chapter 1 definesthe role and responsibilities of the authority having juris-diction. To protect all parties from an unfair enforcementactio
34、n, this chapter also sets forth the due process thatrequires corrective actions to be accomplished in a con-stitutional manner. Police powers are not unlimited, andthis chapter identifies those limitations.SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION1-2 2015 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODECOMMENTARYsions shall
35、be altered or repaired to provide a minimum levelof health and safety as required herein. The code is intended to provide requirementsaddressing the public health, safety and welfare asthey relate to the use and maintenance of existingstructures and premises. The code requires existingstructures and
36、 premises that are not in compliancewith the code to be altered or repaired to meet thecode. The code requirements are intended to repre-sent the minimum acceptable level of public healthand safety. As required in Section 102.3, repairs andalterations need to comply with several InternationalCodes(I
37、-Codes), including the International BuildingCode(IBC).A 101.4 Severability. If a section, subsection, sentence,clause or phrase of this code is, for any reason, held to beunconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity ofthe remaining portions of this code. Only invalid sections of th
38、e code (as established bythe court of jurisdiction) can be set aside. This isessential to safeguard the application of the code textto situations whereby a provision of the code isdeclared illegal or unconstitutional. This section wouldpreserve the legislative action that put the legal provi-sions i
39、n place.SECTION 102APPLICABILITY This section details how to use the code under variousconditions.A 102.1 General. Where there is a conflict between a gen-eral requirement and a specific requirement, the specificrequirement shall govern. Where differences occur betweenprovisions of this code and the
40、 referenced standards, the pro-visions of this code shall apply. Where, in a specific case, dif-ferent sections of this code specify different requirements, themost restrictive shall govern. The most restrictive requirement is to apply wherethere may be different requirements in the code for aspecif
41、ic situation. In cases where the code establishesa specific requirement for a certain condition, thatrequirement is applicable even if it is less restrictivethan a general requirement mentioned elsewhere inthe code.A 102.2 Maintenance. Equipment, systems, devices andsafeguards required by this code
42、or a previous regulation orcode under which the structure or premises was constructed,altered or repaired shall be maintained in good working order.No owner, owners authorized agent, operator or occupantshall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility that isrequired under this section to be
43、removed from, shut off fromor discontinued for any occupied dwelling, except for suchtemporary interruption as necessary while repairs or alter-ations are in progress. The requirements of this code are notintended to provide the basis for removal or abrogation of fireprotection and safety systems an
44、d devices in existing struc-tures. Except as otherwise specified herein, the owner or theowners authorized agent shall be responsible for the mainte-nance of buildings, structures and premises. This section contains general maintenance require-ments. The code specifically prohibits the disconnec-tio
45、n of any required utilities for an occupied dwelling.This helps to safeguard persons who have a physicalcondition and are dependent on these systems. Someexamples of this include: a person who has to haveelectricity to power a kidney dialysis machine; apatient who is on an oxygen system full time; a
46、ndsomeone with particularly bad allergies who needs tohave an air-conditioning system to help filter the air.Any safety system that exists in a building must bemaintained. A fire protection or safety system is not tobe removed from a building if it is required by the codeor a previous regulation or
47、code that was in effectwhen the building was built. This section also specifiesthat the owner, the owners authorized agent, or otherperson having control of the structure or premises isresponsible for maintenance, not the tenants of rentalproperties.A 102.3 Application of other codes. Repairs, addit
48、ions oralterations to a structure, or changes of occupancy, shall bedone in accordance with the procedures and provisions of theInternational Building Code, International Existing BuildingCode, International Energy Conservation Code, Interna-tional Fire Code, International Fuel Gas Code, InternationalMechanical Code, International Residential Code, Interna-tional Plumbing Code and NFPA 70. Nothing in this codeshall be construed to cancel, modify or set aside any provi-sion of the International Zoning Code. Repairs, additions or alterations are to be done asrequired by the IBC, Int
