| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the adoption of county and municipal building codes for |
|
|
the insulation and protection of piping in new residential |
|
|
construction. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Section 250.014 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 250.014. RESIDENTIAL PIPE INSULATION. (a) In |
|
|
accordance with Subchapter G, Chapter 214, a municipality shall |
|
|
adopt the building code regulations described by this section. |
|
|
(b) A county to which Subchapter F, Chapter 233, applies |
|
|
shall in accordance with that subchapter adopt the building code |
|
|
regulations described by this section. |
|
|
(c) A building code regulation adopted under this section |
|
|
must: |
|
|
(1) apply to new residential construction beginning on |
|
|
or after January 1, 2024; and |
|
|
(2) require a pipe to be: |
|
|
(A) insulated to an R-value of not less than 3 if |
|
|
the pipe is: |
|
|
(i) associated with a mechanical system; |
|
|
and |
|
|
(ii) designed to carry a fluid at a |
|
|
temperature of not less than 55 degrees Fahrenheit and not more than |
|
|
105 degrees Fahrenheit; and |
|
|
(B) protected from sunlight, moisture, and wind |
|
|
with appropriate shielding materials not including adhesive tape if |
|
|
the pipe is: |
|
|
(i) described by Paragraph (A); and |
|
|
(ii) exposed to outside weather conditions. |
|
|
(d) In addition to the requirements under Subsection (c), |
|
|
the regulations must require a pipe associated with service hot |
|
|
water to be insulated to an R-value of not less than 3 if the pipe: |
|
|
(1) is three-fourths inch or greater in diameter; or |
|
|
(2) leads to a kitchen outlet, a distribution |
|
|
manifold, or multiple dwelling units. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2024, a municipality or |
|
|
county to which this Act applies shall take the necessary actions to |
|
|
implement Section 250.014, Local Government Code, as added by this |
|
|
Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |