Content Description

The 2012 edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC©) represents the most current approaches in the mechanical field.  It is the fourth edition developed under the ANSI Consensus process is designated as an American National Standards by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Contributions to the content of this code were made by every segment of the built industry, including such diverse interests as consumers, enforcing authorities, installers/maintainers, labor, manufacturers, research/standards/ testing laboratories, special experts and users.

The UMC provides complete requirements for the installation and maintenance of heating, ventilating, cooling and refrigeration systems, while at the same time allowing latitude for innovations and new technologies.


Key changes to the 2012 UMC include new provisions for piping, tubing, balancing, louvers, ductwork, safety requirements for refrigeration machinery rooms and an alternative to calculate ventilation efficiency.

Significant improvements in Chapter 3 include provisions for a heating or cooling air system that provides specific requirements with return air, outside air or both, which are designed to replace required ventilation arranged to discharge into a conditioned space not less than the outside air specified in Chapter 4. Standards are referenced for louvers and their locations where installed in hurricane prone regions by providing minimum performance ratings for water rejection abilities and high-velocity wind conditions.

Provisions added in Chapter 4 offer an alternative for calculating ventilation efficiency through ASHRAE Standard 62.1 and updating minimum ventilation rates in breathing zones based on occupancy.

Safety requirements are updated and revised for refrigeration machinery rooms on vapor alarms, emergency control over the ventilation systems, control of ventilation systems and emergency controls. In addition, machinery room ventilation is addressed through the central control over the ventilation system and adding safety provisions for the emergency control through an identified switch. Detector location is critical to early leakage warning in refrigeration machinery rooms. Because machinery rooms are unattended most of the time, once the refrigerant gas is detected at the levels noted in Chapter 11, a local alarm must be initiated. The alarm is intended to alert occupants inside the area of detection and in the immediate vicinity to prevent any refrigerant gases that might escape from causing harm to those outside the area of release. In addition, the required detectors have the added important role of activating the emergency ventilation/exhaust systems in the machinery rooms. The intent of this section is to provide a safe environment for emergency response personnel when responding to an incident in a refrigeration room. The emergency control switch is a tamper-resistant type that requires more than one action to actuate it. To prevent an accidental start-up, the switch must be capable of only stopping the controlled machinery, not restarting it. The switch must not affect the operation of such life-safety systems as detectors and exhaust equipment. In addition to the manual switch, the required refrigerant room detector must also shut down the same equipment when the vapor concentration exceeds the lesser of the detectors’ upper detection limit or 25 percent of the refrigerants’ lower explosive limit.

Refrigeration port protection in the form of a locking-type, tamper-resistant cap is added to address illegal venting of refrigerant service ports by unauthorized individuals. This inhalant sometimes poses a serious threat to human life and safety. The typical condensing unit is located outdoors and is equipped with access ports on the vapor and liquid refrigerant lines. These access ports allow for the connection of diagnostic gauges so the refrigerant may be added to or taken from the unit during servicing. The purpose for this section is to prevent exposure to the refrigerant by illegal venting of refrigerant or the intentional inhalation of refrigerant and refrigerant leaks that contribute to the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.

A new appendix provides a comprehensive set of technically sound provisions for sustainable practices and works toward enhancing the design and construction of mechanical systems that result in a positive long-term environmental impact. Practices include water efficiency in systems through the use of a submeter to monitor large water usage; including make-up water to cooling towers, evaporative condensers and boilers; establishing efficiency measures for cooling towers evaporative coolers; increased air quality provisions to reduce air contaminants; and establishing minimum equipment efficiencies, system balancing, duct leakage, system sizing and systems controls add to the overall design and construction practices. A key feature is system commissioning that ensures such systems are designed, installed and maintained to function as intended over their life cycle that provides the most cost-effective strategy for reducing energy usage.

The following editions for this book are also available...

Format	Year	Publisher	Type	Title				Annual Price
	2006	IAPMO	Model Code	Uniform Mechanical Code				$102.90	Buy
	2003	IAPMO	Model Code	Uniform Mechanical Code				$55.65	Buy
	2000	IAPMO	Model Code	Uniform Mechanical Code				$26.25	Buy
	2015	IAPMO	Model Code	Uniform Mechanical Code				$128.10	Buy
	2009	IAPMO	Model Code	Uniform Mechanical Code				$114.45	Buy
	2015	TX	Local Amendment	Houston Amendments to the 2012 Uniform Mechanical Code - Effective Date: 02/01/2016
	2006	TX	Local Amendment	Houston Amendments to the 2006 Uniform Mechanical Code
	2013	TX	Local Amendment	City of Austin - Ordinance No. 20130606-090: Ordinance to Adopt the 2012 Uniform Mechanical Code and Local Amendments
	1994	ICC	Model Code	Uniform Mechanical Code				$58.74	Buy
	2018	IAPMO	Model Code	Uniform Mechanical Code, 1st Printing				$134.40	Buy
	2018	IAPMO	Model Code	Uniform Mechanical Code, 2nd Printing				$134.40	Buy
	2018	IAPMO	Manual	Uniform Mechanical Code Illustrated Training Manual				$182.70	Buy
	2019	NV	Local Amendment	Southern Nevada Amendments to the 2018 Uniform Mechanical Code
	2021	IAPMO	Model Code	Uniform Mechanical Code				$143.85	Buy
	2024	IAPMO	Model Code	Uniform Mechanical Code				$151.20	Buy
	2021	IAPMO	Model Code	Uniform Mechanical Code Illustrated Training Manual				$184.80	Buy

This book also exists in the following packages...

Year	Publisher	Title		Annual Price
2012	IAPMO	IAPMO 2012 UMC & UPC Bundle	[+]	$239.40	Buy
	2012	IAPMO	Uniform Mechanical Code
	2012	IAPMO	Uniform Plumbing Code, 5th Printing
2012	IAPMO	IAPMO 2012 Standards Package	[+]	$418.95	Buy
	2012	IAPMO	Uniform Mechanical Code
	2012	IAPMO	Uniform Plumbing Code, 5th Printing
	2012	IAPMO	Green Plumbing & Mechanical Code Supplement
	2012	IAPMO	Uniform Solar Energy Code
	2012	IAPMO	Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code
VAR	COMBO	Nevada (NV) - State Codes & Standards 2012 Package	[+]	$1,217.64	Buy
	2011	NFPA	NFPA 70: National Electrical Code
	2010	ASHRAE	ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010 Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ANSI Approved; IESNA Co-sponsored) - (IP Edition)
			ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010 Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings - ERRATA - 20130417
			ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Addenda a, b, c, g, h, j, k, o, p, s, y, z, bz, cg, ci, and ds to ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2010
			ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Addenda e to dw to ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2010
	2009	ICC	ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
			ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities - ERRATA - 20110627
	2012	ICC	International Building Code
			International Building Code, 2nd Print - ERRATA
			International Building Code, 3rd Print - ERRATA
			International Building Code, 4th Print - ERRATA
			International Building Code, 5th Print - ERRATA
			International Building Code, 6th Print - ERRATA
			International Building Code, 7th Print - ERRATA
			International Building Code, 8th Print - ERRATA
			International Building Code, 9th Print - ERRATA
			International Building Code, 10th Print - ERRATA
	2012	ICC	International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings
			International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings - ERRATA - 20130427
	2012	ICC	International Fire Code
			International Fire Code - ERRATA - 20130827
	2012	ICC	International Existing Building Code
			International Existing Building Code - ERRATA - 20121031
	2012	ICC	International Energy Conservation Code
			International Energy Conservation Code - ERRATA - 20120913
	2012	IAPMO	Uniform Mechanical Code
	2012	IAPMO	Uniform Plumbing Code, 5th Printing

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About IAPMO

The International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officialsis (IAPMO)the only Plumbing & Mechanical Code writing organization that is recognized worldwide for codes that are developed by the industry for the industry. IAPMO is a non-profit membership based organization that specializes in developing codes that govern the Plumbing and Mechanical Industry since 1926. The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials has been protecting the public’s health and safety for more than eighty five years by working in concert with government and industry to implement comprehensive plumbing and mechanical systems around the world. As a membership-based association, IAPMO is proud to utilize an open consensus process in the development of our flagship Uniform Plumbing Code® and Uniform Mechanical Code®. These codes are established through scientific research, debate, and analysis, strengthening our position at the forefront of the plumbing and mechanical industries. The IAPMO Group is a complete service organization, providing code development assistance, industry-leading education, plumbing and mechanical product testing and certification, building product evaluation and a manufacturer-preferred quality assurance program. Each component of the IAPMO Group works toward playing an integral part in protecting the health of people everywhere.