Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine June 2018

HVACR NewsMagazine June 2018 Code REgulation Legislation Transfer Grills Now Optional In Encapsulated Attics contractors should follow manufacturer’s instructions. Go to the next page to read the Memorandum being sent by the Health Department.

In January 2016 the Arkansas HVACR Licensing Board mandated transfer grills between the conditioned space and attic space in homes with encapsulated attics. The idea was to create air flow and reduce the humidity in the encapsulated space. There were reports of houses, especially in southern Arkansas, that had serious mold and mildew problems. During the May 2018 meeting, the decision was reversed. Now, transfer grills are not required. According to testimony 1. There is no prevailing code which requires transfer grills & 2. Some fire marshals have expressed concern that the grills could create a chimney effect causing a fire to burn more rapidly. Code is the merging of data and opinion designed to protect the health and safety of the public. Since there is no apparent data to substantiate the need for transfer grills—in a unanimous decision, the Board rescinded the 2016 order. Board Chair, Joe Kirby, asked what HVAC contractors were to do when installing systems in encapsulated attics. Bob Higginbottom, Director of Protective Health Codes and Health Department representative on the Board, said that at present there are no codes relevant to encapsulated attics and that HVAC Now, transfer grills are not required .

Arkansas Mechanical Code and Fuel Gas Code are available from the International Code Council at http://shop.iccsafe.org/state-and-local- codes/arkansas.html

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Amendments to the Energy Code can be found at https://www.adeq.state.ar.us/energy/resources/pdfs/2 014-ar-energy-code-for-new-building-construction.pdf