02-385-110 Me. Code R. § 2-10
State-certified modular homes manufactured in accordance with the inspection agency approval method set forth in Subchapter 3 must comply with the following codes and standards, which the Board hereby incorporates into this chapter by reference. Copies of these codes and standards are on file with the Maine Secretary of State and may also be obtained from their publishers as set forth in Subchapter 2, Section 10(12).
2015 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (IRC) (International Code Council, Inc., August 2015), is adopted with the following exceptions:
The ground snow load (Pg) statewide shall be designated as 50 pounds per square foot. Alternatively, a manufacturer may at its option build in accordance with Section R301.2.3, which provides:
Snow loads. Wood-framed construction, cold-formed, steel-framed construction and masonry and concrete construction, and structural insulated panel construction in regions with ground snow loads 70 pounds per square foot (3.35 kPa) or less, shall be in accordance with Chapters 5, 6 and 8. Buildings in regions with ground snow loads greater than 70 pounds per square foot (3.35 kPa) shall be designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice.
The roof (live) load (P) need not exceed 40 pounds per square foot on any portion of the roof.
Townhouses. Each townhouse shall be considered a separate building and shall be separated by fire-resistance-rated wall assemblies meeting the requirements of Section R302.1 for exterior walls.
Exception: A common 1-hour fire-resistance-rated wall assembly tested in accordance with ASTM E 119 or UL 263 is permitted for townhouses if such walls do not contain plumbing or mechanical equipment, ducts or vents in the cavity of the common wall. The wall shall be rated for fire exposure from both sides and shall extend to and be tight against exterior walls and the underside of the roof sheathing. Electrical installations shall be installed in accordance with 2017 NFPA 70. Penetrations of electrical outlet boxes shall be in accordance with Section R302.4.
R311.7.45.1 Risers. The riser height shall be not more than 81/4 inches. The riser shall be measured vertically between leading edges of the adjacent treads. The greatest riser height within any flight of stairs shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm). Risers shall be vertical or sloped from the underside of the nosing of the tread above at an angle not more than 30 degrees (0.51 rad) from the vertical. Open risers are permitted provided that the openings located more than 30 inches (762 mm), as measured vertically, to the floor or grade below do not permit the passage of a 4-inch-diameter (102 mm) sphere.
Exceptions:
R311.7.45.2 Treads. The tread depth shall be not less than 9 inches. The tread depth shall be measured horizontally between the vertical planes of the foremost projection of adjacent treads and at a right angle to the tread's leading edge. The greatest tread depth within any flight of stairs shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm).
R311.7.5.2.1 Winder treads. Winder treads shall have a tread depth of not less than 9 inches measured at a point 12 inches (305mm) from the side where the treads are narrower. Winder treads shall have a tread depth of not less than 6 inches (152 mm) at any point. Within any flight of stairs, the greatest winder tread depth at the 12 inch (305 mm) walkline shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm).
Exception: The tread depth at spiral stairways shall be in accordance with Section R311.7.10.1.
R311.7.45.3 Nosings. The radius of curvature at the nosing shall be not greater than 9/16 inch (14 mm). A nosing projection not less than 3/4 inch (19 mm) and not more than 11/4 inches (32 mm) shall be provided on stairways with solid risers, provided that a 1 inch nosing shall be provided on all treads with tread width less than 9 inches. The greatest nosing projection shall not exceed the smallest nosing projection by more than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) between two stories, including the nosing at the level of floors and landings. Beveling of no sings shall not exceed 1/2 inch (12.7 mm).
Exception: A no sing projection is not required where the tread depth is not less than11 inches (279 mm).
The above revisions to Sections R311.7.45.1, R311.7.45.2,R311.7.5.2.1 and R311.7.45.3, shall also apply to basement stairs when the stairs are a component of a factory designed building system which specifies the necessary basement height, and the design has been certified by the Board-approved inspection agency.
Guards. Porches, balconies or raised floor surfaces located more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor or grade below shall have guards not less than 36 inches (914 mm) in height. Open sides of stairs with a total rise of more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor or grade below, shall have guards not less than 34 inches (864 mm) in height measured vertically from the nosing of the treads.
Porches and decks which are enclosed with insect screening shall be provided with guards where the walking surface is located more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor or grade below.
The purpose of this standard is to provide a reasonable energy code, based on nationally recognized codes, that will apply to all State-certified modular homes that are installed in Maine. This standard sets forth design and construction requirements relating to energy efficiency in State-certified modular homes.
State-certified modular homes must comply with the provisions of this section. The executive director of the Board may waive compliance with the Energy Specifications Table contained in Subchapter 2, Section 10(1)(H)(6)(a) in the limited circumstances described in Subchapter 2, Section 10(1)(H)(6)(k).
Materials and equipment must be identified in a manner that will allow a determination of their compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Materials and equipment used to conform to the applicable provisions of this chapter must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Materials, systems and equipment must allow a determination of compliance with these codes and standards adopted.
The home manufacturer shall provide in the plans approved by the Board, or by an approved inspection agency a listing of the minimum R-value and/or U-value (as appropriate) of insulation installed or to be installed by a licensee of the Board. Any insulation installed in the field by a licensee of the Board must be installed in accordance with the installation requirements of the insulation manufacturer. The home manufacturer shall specify areas within the envelope of the home manufactured by it, that need to be field insulated to meet code and what R-value and/or U-value (as appropriate, if using field windows and doors) must be obtained.
The values listed in the Energy Specifications Table below are minimum standards for State-certified modular homes (one and two family homes and townhouses).
Energy Specifications Table
Minimum Insulation R-Value1 | Maximum Fenestration for Exterior Doors U-Factor | Maximum Fenestration for Windows2 U-Factor | Maximum Fenestration for Skylights U-Factor | ||||
Ceilings | Roof/Ceilings | Walls | Floors | Entrance | Specialty | ||
R-38 | R-38 | R21 | R-19 | .35 | .45 | .35 | .6 |
1 5 1/2" of dense pack cellulose meets the minimum insulation R-value requirements for walls.
2 The term "windows" includes sidelights, octagonal, elliptical, transom, etc.
For 2-story homes, the perimeter of the space between the top of the second floor rim joists and the finished ceiling below must be insulated to R-19.
Homes delivered with an unfinished second floor must be insulated as described below:
Basement stair enclosures of homes with an unconditioned basement must be insulated as described below:
The R-value of insulation materials used in layers, such as framing cavity insulation and insulating sheathing, must be summed to compute the component R-value. The (insulation) manufacturer's settled R-value must be used for blown-in insulation. Computed R-values may not include an R-value for other building materials or air films such as framing, drywall, structural sheathing or exterior siding materials. Insulation separated from the conditioned space by a vented space may not be counted towards the required R-value.
Insulation in exterior walls must be placed so that the entire cavity is insulated, including the space between the back of electrical boxes and the exterior sheathing. Vapor retarders must be installed on the interior side of frame walls.
The building thermal envelope must be durably sealed to limit infiltration.
The durable sealing of the building thermal envelope required by Subchapter 2, Section 10(1)(H)(6)(g) is subject to verification if deemed necessary by the Board's executive director.
Draft stop materials must be placed along the entire perimeter of the connected modules.
U-factors of fenestration products must be determined in accordance with the National Fenestration Rating Council, Inc. (NFRC), NFRC 100-2010.
Gas-fired or oil-fired furnaces and hot-water boilers rated at less than 300,000 BTU/h must have a AFUE rating in accordance with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix N, entitled "Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Furnaces and Boilers" (February 2016).
State-certified modular homes must comply with the provisions of this section.
When a state certified manufactured home is factory equipped with a central system to regulate the quality of indoor air, the system must be operated according to the manufacturer's instructions and equipment specifications.
A cooking appliance must be equipped with a separate ventilating fan/hood, independent of other ventilating systems, with a minimum rating of 100 cubic feet per minute (CFM). This equipment must exhaust at the outside of the home.
Each bathroom with or without a tub or shower unit must be equipped with a separate ventilating fan, independent of other ventilating systems, with a minimum rating of 50 cubic feet per minute (CFM). The fan must exhaust at the outside of the home and must be rated for sound at a maximum of 3 sone.
All clothes dryers must be vented directly to the outside. A clothes dryer may not be vented into a chimney.
Combustion air for a heating appliance must be drawn directly from the outdoors. This paragraph does not apply to a gas fireplace, provided that the manufacturer's instructions do not require that the gas fireplace be provided with combustion air from the outdoors.
Each chimney used to vent a heating appliance must be draft tested to ensure that no positive pressure is present in the chimney that would allow products of combustion to enter the home. Consideration shall be given to seasonal changes in draft.
The purpose of this standard is to provide a reasonable code for manufacturer-installed vent piping and electrical supply boxes within the envelope of a State-certified modular home to facilitate future, on-site completion of the radon mitigation system should such a system be required either by code or by the consumer. This standard sets forth design and construction requirements relating to preparation for radon mitigation in State-certified modular homes.
State-certified modular homes must comply with the provisions of this section. The executive director of the Board may waive compliance with the radon standard contained in Subchapter 2, Section 10(1)(J)(4) in the limited circumstances described in Subchapter 2, Section 10(1)(J)(4)(i).
Materials and equipment must be identified in a manner that will allow a determination of their compliance with the provisions of this subsection. Materials and equipment used to conform to the applicable provisions of this chapter must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Potential radon entry routes such as openings around bathtubs, showers, water closets, pipes, wires or other objects that penetrate the floor assemblies must be filled with a suitable sealant applied in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
The manufacturer must install a 3-inch-minimum diameter vent pipe up through the building floors at least 2 feet into the attic space and capped below the roof. The vent pipe must be installed such that the pipe can be extended by others at a later date and located at least 12 inches above the roof in a location at least 10 feet away from any window or other opening into the conditioned spaces of the building that is less than 2 feet below the exhaust point and 10 feet from any window or other opening in adjoining or adjacent buildings.
All components of the 3-inch-minimum diameter vent pipe installed by the manufacturer up through the building floors and capped below the roof must provide for positive drainage.
Radon vent pipes must be accessible for future fan installation through an attic or other area outside the habitable space. Any accessible space reserved for the radon fan must occupy an imaginary cylinder, standing on end, which is 24 inches or more in diameter, centered on the axis of the vent pipe, and extending a minimum vertical distance of 3 feet.
Exception:The radon vent pipe need not be accessible in an attic space where an approved roof-top electrical supply is provided for future use and where it is possible to mount the future fan above the roof.
All exposed and visible interior radon vent pipes must be identified with at least one label on each floor and in accessible attics. The label shall read: "Vent Piping for Future Radon Reduction System."
For homes designed to be placed on combination basement/crawl space foundations, the manufacturer may, but is not required to, install separate 3-inch-minimum diameter vent pipes for each type of foundation area up through the building floors and capped below the roof.
To provide for future installation of an active depressurization system, an electrical circuit terminated in an approved box must be installed by the manufacturer in the attic or other anticipated location of vent pipe fans. If the circuit is dedicated solely to vent pipe fans, the manufacturer must install in the living space of the home a visual indicator that the circuit is energized, or an alarm that the circuit is not energized. If the circuit is not dedicated solely to vent pipe fans, future installation of vent pipe fans must be taken into account when designing the circuit.
Vent pipes must be tested at the manufacturing facility for tightness. Fully-assembled vent pipes must be field-tested by the dealer or installer unless the vent pipes were tested in a fully-assembled state at the manufacturing facility.
2017 National Electrical Code, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 70) (National Electrical Code Committee, August 2016) is adopted.
2015 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, January 2015), is adopted with the following exceptions:
Fees. Any person who begins any work outside the envelope of a State-certified modular home for which a permit is required by the Code without first having obtained a permit shall, if subsequently eligible to obtain a permit for that work, pay double the permit fee for such work. However, this provision shall not apply to any emergency work when it can be proved to the satisfaction of the LPI that such work was necessary and that it was not practical to obtain a permit before the commencement of the work. In all emergency cases, a permit must be obtained within four (4) working days or a double permit fee shall be charged.
For the purpose of this section a sanitary plumbing outlet on or to which a plumbing fixture or appliance may be set or attached shall be construed to be a fixture. Fees for reconnection and retest of existing plumbing systems in relocated State-certified modular homes to the extent permitted by Section 104.5.3(5) shall be based on the number of plumbing fixtures that requires a permit to be issued.
Permit fees shall be charged for the following permits:
Testing of Systems. Allowing the testing of plastic schedule 40 DWV (drainage, waste and vent) piping systems with 5 psi (pounds per square inch) maximum of air. For safety purposes, when testing with air, a listed 6 psi relief valve is required.
Co-extruded ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) schedule 40 (cellular core) piping systems with reference standards ASTM F1488 and ASTM F891 shall not be tested with air.
PVC and CPVC (Chlorinated Poly Vinyl Chloride) building supply and water distribution piping systems shall not be tested by air.
Unions. Approved unions shall be permitted to be used in drainage piping when accessibly located in the trap seal or between a fixture and its trap in the vent system, except underground or in wet vents and at any point in the water supply system.
Solvent Cement Joints. Solvent cement joints for PVC pipe and fittings shall be clean from dirt and moisture. Pipe shall be cut square and pipe shall be deburred. Where surfaces to be joined are cleaned and free of dirt, moisture, oil and other foreign material, apply primer in accordance with ASTM F656.
Domestic Dishwashing Machine. Dishwashing machines shall discharge separately into a trap, trapped fixture, tailpiece of the kitchen sink or the dishwasher connection of a food waste grinder. The waste line from the dishwashing machine shall be looped as high as possible and be securely fastened to the underside of the sink rim or countertop.
Air Admittance Valves. The valves must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions. Air admittance valves must be installed after the drainage, waste and vent (DWV) testing has been performed.
Individual branch and circuit vents may be permitted to terminate with a connection to an air admittance valve. The air admittance valve must vent only fixtures that are on the same floor level and connect to a horizontal branch drain.
The horizontal branch drain must connect to the drainage stack or building drain a maximum of four branch intervals from the top of the stack.
The air admittance valve must be located a minimum of 4 inches above the horizontal branch drain or fixture drain being vented. The air admittance valve must be located within the maximum developed length permitted for the vent. The air admittance valve must be installed a minimum of 6 inches above insulation materials.
Access must be provided to all air admittance valves. The valve must be located within a ventilated space that allows air to enter the valve.
The air admittance valve must be rated in accordance with the standard for the size of the vent to which the valve is connected.
Within each plumbing system, a minimum of one stack vent or vent stack must extend outdoors to the open air.
The 2011 Standard for the Installation of Oil-Burning Equipment (NFPA 31) (Technical Committee on Liquid Fuel Burning Equipment, January 2011), is adopted with the following exceptions:
Operating Controls. For electrically powered appliances, the requirement of 10.5.1 shall be accomplished by an identified switch in the burner supply circuit, placed outside of and adjacent to the entrance to the room where the appliance is located.
If the entrance to the boiler room is only accessible from the outside, the emergency switch may be placed at the inside not more than one foot beyond the door opening. An emergency switch shall not be placed outside of any building.
Thermal Cut-Off Switches. A thermal cut-off switch must be wired into the burner circuit to shut off the burner in the event of a fire at the unit. The switch must be placed at the highest point directly above the unit to be fired with the thermal element pointed downwards, and must be placed on the bottom of the floor joist or stringer at the front of the unit. In no case shall it be lower than the point where the flue connector enters the chimney. The switch must be wired to shut off the burner, circulating fan, forced or induced draft fan any remote oil pump that is not an integral part of the burner.
The 2012 National Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54) (Technical Committee on National Fuel Gas Code, August 2011), is adopted with the following exceptions:
Emergency Switches. For central heating equipment and water heating appliances where the interruption of an electrical circuit will arrest the combustion process, an identified emergency shutdown switch must be placed outside of and adjacent to the entrance of the room where the appliance is located.
An emergency switch shall not be placed outside any building.
If the entrance to the boiler room is only accessible from the outside, the emergency switch may be placed at the inside not more than one foot beyond the door opening.
Service Switches. For central heating equipment and water heating appliances where the interruption of an electrical circuit will arrest the combustion process, a service disconnect switch for control of the burner while observing the flame must be placed at the unit, within 3' of the burner.
Thermal Cut-Off Switches. For central heating equipment and water heating appliances where the interruption of an electrical circuit will arrest the combustion process, a thermal cut-off switch must be wired into the burner circuit to shut off the burner in the event of a fire at the unit. The switch must be placed at the highest point directly above the unit to be fired with the thermal element pointed downwards, and must be placed on the bottom of the floor joist or stringer at the front of the unit. In no case shall it be lower than the point where the flue connector enters the chimney.The switch must be wired to shut off the burner, circulating fan, forced or induced draft fan and any electrically-operated gas valves.A thermal electric switch is required for each electrically-powered gas-fired unit in a multi-appliance installation.
The 2013 Standard for Chimney's, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances (NFPA 211) (Technical Committee on Chimneys, Fireplaces, and Venting Systems for Heat-Producing Appliances, December 2012), is adopted.
NFRC 100-2010- Procedure for Determining Fenestration Product U-Factors (National Fenestration Rating Council, Inc., January 2010)is adopted.
United State Department of Energy, (DOE) 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix N, entitled, "Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Furnaces and Boilers" (February 2016) is adopted.
The provisions of these rules are not intended to prevent the use of any technologies, techniques, or materials not specifically prescribed by the codes, standards, specifications, and requirements, provided that any such alternate has been approved by the Board.The Board may approve any such alternate provided that the board finds that the proposed design is satisfactory, and that the material, method, or work offered is, for purpose intended, consistent with the adopted codes and standards, including quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability, and safety.The Board shall require that sufficient evidence or proof be submitted to substantiate any claims that may be made regarding the use of any such alternate.
The Board shall maintain appropriate information, indicating those areas of the State which it has established as having special environmental conditions such as snow, wind loads, seismic conditions, temperature, humidity, and soil conditions requiring special or different building standards.Such information shall be available for public inspection.
Installation and connection of plumbing, heating and electrical components that are not part of the envelope of the home must be installed by licensed professionals pursuant to the standards adopted by the boards that license the respective trades.
The other standards identified in this section may be purchased from their respective publishers, as follows:
International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (UPC)
4755 E. Philadelphia Street
Ontario, CA 91761 USA
Telephone: (909) 472-4100
Website: www.iapmo.org
International Code Council (IRC)
Birmingham Regional Office
900 Montclair Road Birmingham, AL 35213-1206
Telephone: (205) 591-1853 Website: www.ecodes.biz
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
1 Batterymarch Park
P.O. Box 9101
Quincy, MA 02269-9101
Telephone: (800) 344-3555
Website: www.nfpa.org
National Fenestration Rating Council, Inc. (NFRC)
8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 320
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Telephone: (301) 589-1776
Website: www.nfrc.org
U.S. Government Printing Office (DOE Rules)
Superintendent of Documents
PO Box 371954
Philadelphia, PA 15250-7954
Telephone:(866) 522-1800
Website: www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index/html
02-385 C.M.R. ch. 110, § 2-10