Athens City Code

Pursuant to authority granted by T.C.A. §§ 6-54-501 through 6-54-506 and for the purpose of providing building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical provisions, the International Residential Code (IRC), 2018 edition, as prepared and adopted by the International Code Council, is adopted and incorporated by reference as part of this Code and is hereinafter referred to as the residential code.

(Code 1995, § 12-1001; Ord. No. 960, 7-17-2007; Ord. No. 1008, 8-21-2012; Ord. No. 1058, § 8, 1-17-2017; Ord. No. 1105, § 8, 12-21-2021)

1. (1) When the residential code refers to the "chief appointed authority" or the "chief administrator," it shall be deemed to be a reference to the city manager.
2. (2) The adopted code is modified and amended as follows:
   1. (a) Section R313, automatic fire sprinkler systems, is not mandatory, pursuant to T.C.A. § 68-120-101(a) (8).
   2. (b) Chapters 34--43, relating to electrical installations, are deleted and the National Electrical Code, 2017 edition, shall apply.
   3. (c) Figure R301.2(2), seismic design categories, is deleted and replaced with Figure R301.2(2), seismic design categories site Class D, from the 2015 IRC.
   4. (d) Section N1102.4.1.2 (R402.4.1.2), testing, is replaced with section N1102.4.2.1, testing option, and section N1102.4.2.2, visual inspection, from the 2009 IRC.
   5. (e) Section N1103.3.3 (R403.3.3), duct testing (mandatory), and section N1103.3.4 (R403.3.4), duct leakage (prescriptive), are optional.
   6. (f) Table N1102.1.2 (R402.1.2), insulation and fenestration requirements by component, and Table N1102.1.4 (R402.1.4), equivalent U-factor, from 2018 IRC, are replaced with Table N1102.1, insulation and fenestration requirements by component, and Table N1102.1.2, equivalent U-factor, from 2009 IRC.
   7. (g) Section N1102.4.4 (R402.4.4) when the fenestration U-factor of 0.50 or lower is used, a skylight U-factor of 0.65 or lower is used, a glazed fenestration SHGC of 0.30 or lower is used, a 90 AFUE furnace is used, an 85 AFUE boiler is used, and a 9.0 HSPF heat pump (heating) and 15 SEER (cooling) are used.
   8. (h) Table N1102.1, insulation and fenestration requirements by component, in the 2009 edition, is adopted and amended by adding the following as footnote "M": "Log walls complying with ICC400 and with a minimum average wall thickness of five inches or greater shall be permitted in Zone 4 when a fenestration U-factor of 0.35 or lower is used, a skylight U-factor of 0.60 or lower is used, a 90 AFUE furnace is used, an 85 AFUE boiler is used, and a 9.0 HSPF heat pump (heating) and 15 SEER (cooling) are used."
   9. (i) Section 313.1, townhouse automatic sprinkler system, is amended by adding, "However, an automatic sprinkler system shall not be required in a three-unit townhouse with less than 5,000 gross square feet and three or fewer stories if each unit is separated by a two-hour firewall."

(Code 1995, §§ 12-1002, 12-1003; Ord. No. 960, 7-17-2007; Ord. No. 1008, 8-21-2012)

Pursuant to the requirements of the T.C.A. § 6-54-502, one copy of the residential code has been placed on file in the city manager's office and shall be kept there for the use and inspection of the public.

(Code 1995, § 12-1004; Ord. No. 960, 7-17-2007; Ord. No. 1008, 8-21-2012)

It is unlawful for any person to violate or fail to comply with any provision of this chapter or the residential code as herein adopted by reference and modified.

(Code 1995, § 12-1005; Ord. No. 960, 7-17-2007; Ord. No. 1008, 8-21-2012)