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Chapter 3 — GENERAL REGULATIONS

302.3 Alternative Engineered Design. An alternative

California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

engineered design shall comply with the intent of the provisions of this code and shall provide an equivalent level of quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability, and safety. Material, equipment, or components shall be designed and installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

302.3.1 Permit Application. The registered design professional shall indicate on the design documents that the mechanical system, or parts thereof, is an alternative engineered design so that it is noted on the construction permit application. The permit and permanent permit records shall indicate that an alternative engineered design was part of the approved installation. 302.3.2 Technical Data. The registered design professional shall submit sufficient technical data to substantiate the proposed alternative engineered design and to prove that the performance meets the intent of this code. 302.3.3 Design Documents. The registered design professional shall provide two complete sets of signed and sealed design documents for the alternative engineered design for submittal to the Authority Having Jurisdiction. The design documents shall include floor plans of the work. Where appropriate, the design documents shall indicate location, sizing, and loading of appurtenances, equipment, appliances, and devices.

302.3.4 Design Approval. An approval of an alternative engineered design shall be at the discretion of the Authority Having Jurisdiction. The exercise of this discretionary approval by the Authority Having Jurisdiction shall have no effect beyond the jurisdictional boundaries of said Authority Having Jurisdiction. An alternative engineered design so approved shall not be considered as in accordance with the requirements, intent, or both of this code for a purpose other than that granted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction. 302.3.5 Design Review. The Authority Having Jurisdiction shall have the authority to require testing of the alternative engineered design in accordance with Section 302.2.1, including the authority to require an independent review of the design documents by a registered design professional selected by the Authority Having Jurisdiction and at the expense of the applicant. 302.3.6 Inspection and Testing. The alternative engineered design shall be tested and inspected in accordance with the submitted testing and inspection plan and the requirements of this code.

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Contents — California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4)
California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4)
  1. Chapter 1 — GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
    Overview
    1. 301.1 Applicability. This chapter covers general requirements …
    2. 301.2 Approval. Equipment or appliance shall be approved
    3. 301.3 Design of Equipment. The installer or contractor
    4. 301.4 Electrical Connections. For equipment regulated
    5. 301.5 Oil-Burning Appliances. The tank, piping, and
    6. 301.6 Personnel Protection. A metal guard shall be provided ar…
    7. 301.7 OSHPD 1R [OSHPD 1R]. For OSHPD 1R, refer to
    8. 302.1 Minimum Standards. Listed pipe, pipe fittings,
    9. 302.2 Alternate Materials and Methods of Construc-
    10. 302.3 Alternative Engineered Design. An alternative
    11. 303.1 Listed Appliances. The installation of equipment
    12. 303.2 Closet or Alcove Installations. [Not adopted
    13. 303.3 Unlisted Appliances. Except as otherwise permitted in th…
    14. 303.4 Anchorage of Appliances. Appliances designed to
    15. 303.5 Movement. Movement of appliances with casters
    16. 303.6 Identification of Equipment. Where more than one
    17. 303.7 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Facilities. Containers,
    18. 303.8 Appliances on Roofs. Appliances on roofs shall be
    19. 303.9 Avoiding Strain on Gas Piping. Appliances shall
    20. 303.10 Clearances. Appliances and their vent connectors
    21. 303.11 Installation in Commercial Garages. Appliances installe…
    22. 303.12 Installation in Aircraft Hangars. Heaters in aircraft h…
    23. 304.1 General. All appliances shall be located with respect
    24. 304.2 Sloped Roof. Where equipment or appliances that
    25. 304.3 Access to Appliances on Roofs. Appliances
    26. 304.4 Appliances in Attics and Under-Floor Spaces.
    27. 305.4 Elevator Shaft. Unless required for the functionality
    28. 305.5 Drainage Pan. Where a water heater is located in an
    29. 306.1 General. Heating appliances shall be equipped with
    30. 306.2 Building Automation Systems. [OSHPD 1]
    31. 305.1 Installation in Residential Garages. Appliances
    32. 305.2 Pit Location. Where excavation is necessary to
    33. 305.3 Flood Hazard Areas. For buildings located in flood
    34. 307.1 Fuel-Burning Appliances. Fuel-burning heating
    35. 307.2 Electric Heating Appliances. Electric heating
    36. 307.3 Heat Pump and Electric Cooling Appliances.
    37. 307.4 Absorption Units. Absorption units shall bear a permanen…
    38. 308.1 General. Piping or equipment shall not be so located as
    39. 309.1 Engineering Practices. Design, construction, and
    40. 309.2 Concealing Imperfections. It shall be unlawful to
    41. 309.3 Installation Practices. Mechanical systems shall
    42. 310.1 Condensate Disposal. Condensate from air washers, air-co…
    43. 310.2 Condensate Control. Where any equipment or
    44. 310.3 Condensate Waste Pipe Material and Sizing.
    45. 310.4 Appliance Condensate Drains. Condensate drain
    46. 310.5 Point of Discharge. Air-conditioning condensate
    47. 310.6 Condensate Waste From Air-Conditioning
    48. 310.7 Plastic Fittings. Female plastic screwed fittings shall
    49. 311.1 Source. A heating or cooling air system shall be provide…
    50. 313.7 Gas Piping. Gas piping shall be supported by metal
    51. 311.2 Air Filters. Air filters shall be installed in a heating,
    52. 311.3 Prohibited Source. Outside or return air for a heating o…
    53. 311.4 Return-Air Limitations. Return air from one
    54. 311.5 California Energy Code Requirements for Res-
    55. 312.1 General. Water supply, sanitary drainage, and backflow p…
    56. 313.1 General. Piping, tubing, appliances, and appurtenances s…
    57. 313.2 Material. Hangers and anchors shall be of sufficient
    58. 313.3 Suspended Piping. Suspended piping or tubing
    59. 313.4 Alignment. Piping or tubing shall be supported in
    60. 313.5 Underground Installation. Piping or tubing in the
    61. 313.6 Hanger Rod Sizes. Hanger rod sizes shall be not
    62. 314.1 General. Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning
    63. 315.1 General. Louvers located in areas within hurricaneprone …
    64. 316.1 General. Piping or tubing passing under or through
    65. 316.2 Installation. Piping or tubing shall be installed so that
    66. 316.3 Corrosion, Erosion, and Mechanical Damage.
    67. 316.4 Protectively Coated Pipe. Protectively coated pipe
    68. 316.5 Fire-Resistant Construction. Piping, tubing, and
    69. 316.6 Steel Nail Plates. Plastic piping or tubing, copper
    70. 316.7 Sleeves. Sleeves shall be provided to protect piping
    71. 316.8 Firewalls. A pipe sleeve through a firewall shall have
    72. 316.9 Structural Members. A structural member weakened or impa…
    73. 316.10 Rodentproofing. Mechanical system shall be constructed …
    74. 316.11 Metal Collars. In or on buildings where openings
    75. 317.1 Trenches. Trenches deeper than the footings of a
    76. 317.2 Tunneling and Driving. Tunneling and driving shall
    77. 317.3 Open Trenches. Excavations required to be made for
    78. 317.4 Excavations. Excavations shall be completely backfilled …
    79. 318.1 Applicability. This part is applicable to health facil-
    80. 318.2 Services/Systems and Utilities. Refer to Section
    81. 319.1 Requirements for Hospitals and Optional Serv-
    82. 319.2 Requirements for Skilled Nursing, Intermedi-
    83. 320.1 Requirements for Hospitals and Optional Serv-
    84. 320.2 Requirements for Skilled Nursing, Intermedi-
    85. 320.3 Requirements for Outpatient Facilities and
    86. 320.4 Telephone and Technology Equipment Centers.
    87. 320.5 Psychiatric Services. [OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 4 & 5] For
    88. 321.1 (Does not apply to OSHPD 3 surgical clinic.) All heat-
    89. 321.2 All heating equipment and fans necessary to maintain
    90. 321.3 Equipment necessary for humidification of the areas
    91. 321.4 All supply, return, and exhaust fans required to maintain
    92. 321.5 All control components and control systems necessary
    93. 321.6 Alarms for airborne infection isolation rooms and pro-
    94. 322.1 The following conditions shall be met for sensitive
    95. 323.0 Mechanical Equipment Schedules. [OSHPD 1,
  4. Chapter 4 — VENTILATION AIR
  5. Chapter 5 — EXHAUST SYSTEMS
  6. Chapter 6 — DUCT SYSTEMS
  7. Chapter 7 — COMBUSTION AIR
  8. Chapter 8 — CHIMNEYS AND VENTS
  9. Chapter 9 — INSTALLATION OF SPECIFIC APPLIANCES
  10. Chapter 10 — BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS
  11. Chapter 11 — REFRIGERATION
  12. Chapter 12 — HYDRONICS
  13. Chapter 13 — FUEL GAS PIPING
  14. Chapter 14 — PROCESS PIPING
  15. Chapter 15 — SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
  16. Chapter 16 — STATIONARY POWER PLANTS
  17. Chapter 17 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  18. Appendix A — RESIDENTIAL PLAN EXAMINER REVIEW FORM FOR HVAC SY…
  19. Appendix B — PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED TO PLACE GAS EQUIPMENT …
  20. Appendix C — INSTALLATION AND TESTING OF OIL (LIQUID) FUEL-FIR…
  21. Appendix D — FUEL SUPPLY: MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME PARKS AND R…
  22. Appendix E — SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
  23. Appendix F — GEOTHERMAL ENERGY SYSTEMS
  24. Appendix G — SIZING OF VENTING SYSTEMS AND OUTDOOR COMBUSTION …
  25. Appendix H — EXAMPLE CALCULATION OF OUTDOOR AIR RATE

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