ICC Says No To Hood Proposal, Comment Period Open Until Aug. 1

A hood proposal to the International Code Council described as a well-intended but unnecessary expense has been “disapproved” but remains alive pending public comment.

Proposal M105-12, section 507.2.1 calls for specific hoods above a variety of equipment including conveyor and door-type dishwashers, kettles, pasta and rice cookers, steamers, smokers and others. The proposal calls for Type I and Type II hoods to be installed over a variety of light-, medium-, heavy-, extra-heavy-duty cooking appliances and Type II hoods to be installed above dishwashers and various appliances. The proposal was disapproved at Code Development Hearings held April 29-May 6 in Dallas; its requirements could have included either more venting than necessary or a vent hood when one isn’t needed at all. Either option presented a financial burden on operators. The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers has been tracking the proposal, according to Charlie Souhrada, CFSP, NAFEM’s director of member services.

Although the proposal was disapproved, it could be brought back up during the public comment period, which runs through Aug. 1. Comments should provide concise details, including potential increase in cost for end-users and recommended solutions. According to Souhrada, unless the ICC receives a public comment requesting it be brought back, the E&S industry does not need to provide a comment against the proposal. However, he adds, just in case it does come up again, industry stakeholders should be prepared to argue against it at the final action hearings, Oct. 24-28, in Portland, Ore. More information is available at the ICC website.

The ICC is a building-based association focused on safe, sustainable and affordable construction through the development of building safety and fire prevention codes and standards. Fifty states and the District of Columbia have adopted the I-Codes at the state or jurisdictional level.