Microsoft Word - OM_MW

1



SIGNIFICANTCHANGESTOMINORWORKANDORDINARYMAINTENANCE



PursuanttoadoptionintheMarch5,2018NewJerseyRegister,therequirementsforminorworkandordinary

maintenancehavechanged.Thisdocumentismeanttobeanaidtolocalofficialsasaneasyreferenceonthe

typesofwork

thatareordinarymaintenanceandminorworkbeginningonMarch5,2018.TheDocumentis

dividedintotwoparts.Thefirstpartliststhetypesofworkthatareordinarymaintenance,thesecondpartlists

typesofworkthatareminorwork.Theitemsthatarenewordifferenthavebeen

boldedsothatthechanges

maymoreeasilybeidentified.



ORDINARYMAINTENANCE

ThefollowingitemsaretypesofworkthatmaybeperformedwithoutapermitpursuanttotheUniform

ConstructionCode.Theclassificationofworkasordinarymaintenanceisnotawaiverfromcodecompliance;all

workisrequiredtomeetcoderequirements.However,nopermitisrequiredandthere

arenoinspectionsof

thework.Thelisthasbeenarrangedbythebuildingtypeanddisciplineforeaseofuse.

Forotherthandwellings,thefollowinghasbeendesignatedasordinarymaintenance:

BUILDING

 Finishes – Painting (interior/exterior), wall papering, trim/molding (interior/exterior) and flooring material

repair,replacementorinstallation.

 Siding–Forotherthanpolypropylenesiding,existingsidingmayberepairedorreplacementwithlikematerial

notexceedi ng25

percentofthetotalbuildingexteriorwall.Theinstallationofanyamountofpolypropylene

sidingrequiresapermit.

 Windows/Doors

o Glass may be replaced in any window or door.The replacement glass must be of a type and

qualitythatcomplieswiththecode;

o Windowsand doors(includ i ng

garagedoors)maybereplacedinthesame roughopeningwithout

alteringthedimensionsorframing;thisincludesmeansofegresselements(suchas emergency

escapeopenings)whendimensionsandframingarenotaltered,andtheheight,widthornetclear

openingismaintained.

o Screensmayberepaired,replaced

orinstalled.

 Cabinets–Non‐structuralelementssuchasacabinetmayberepaired,replacedorinstalled.

 Decks–Anypartofadeck,porchorstoopthatdoesnotprovide structuralsupportforanyrooforportionof

abuildingmayberepairedorreplaced.

 Insulation–

Theinstallationofinsulationwheninstalledadjacenttoornotmorethanoneandahalfinches

from an interior finish, except that the install ation of foam plastic insulation requires a permit (Note:

ordinary maintenance used to be limited to roll or batt insulation, now any insulation other than foam



plasticisallowedasordinarymaintenance).

 Gutters–Exteriorguttersandleadersmayberepaired,replacedorinstalled.

 Spas/HotTubs–Storablespasandhottubsmaybeinstalledwhenprovidedwithalockablesafetycoverthat

complieswithASTMF1346.



2



PLUMBING

 Fixturesandfixtureparts–Fixturesmaybereplacedwithasimilarfixtureprovidedthattherenochangein

thepipingarrangement(Note:thereplacementoffixtureswaspreviouslylimitedtosinglefamilydwelling s,

nowfixturesmaybereplacedinallusesasordinarymaintenance);faucets

andworkingpartsoffaucetsmay

bereplaced;existingfixtur esmayberefinished(reliningfixturesisnotordinarymaintenance).

 Valves – Hose bib valves may be replaced provided that an approved atmospheric vacuum breaker is

provided(Note:thereplacementofhosebibsusedtobelimitedtosingle

familydwellings,nowtheymay

bereplacedinallusesasordinarymaintenance);valvesandworkpartsofvalvesmaybereplacedincluding

showerorcombination bath/showervalves(Note:thereplacementof showervalvesusedtobelimi tedto

singlefamilydwellingsnowtheymaybereplacedinall

usesasordinarymaintenance).

 BallCocks–Ballcocksmaybereplacedprovidedthatanapprovedanti‐siphontypeisused.

 Pipingr epair/replacement– Piping maybe replaced torepaira leak(Note:the repairofleaksusedtobe

limitedtoreplacementofpipingbetweenanytwo

adjacentjoints,thatisnolongerthecase).

 ApplianceReplacements– Domestic clotheswashersanddomesticdishwashersmaybereplaced.

 Traps–Trapsincludingtrapsonculinarysinksmaybereplaced.

 Draincleaning–Stoppage smayberemoved.



ELECTRICAL



 Receptacles,switchesandoutlets– Receptacles,

switches,orlightingfixturesthatdonotcontainemergency

battery packs, may be replacedwith a similar item. However, receptacles in lo cations whereground ‐fault

circuit interrupter protection, damp/ wet, or tamper‐resistant must comply with Section 406.4(D) of the

electricalsubcode(Note:Thelimitationon20ampsorless

hasbeenremoved).

 Equipment – Repairing any installed electrically operated equipment such as doorbells, communication

systems,andanymotor‐operateddevice(Intheeventofafireprotectionsystembeing interruptedforrepairs,

thefireofficialistobenotifiedinaccordancewiththebuildingsubcode).

 Communications Wiring

 – Communications wiring may be installed (i.e. Ch. 8 and data circuits between

computers/informationtechnologyequipmentfromArticle725oftheelectri calsubcode)inaClass3structure

(see N.J.A.C. 5:23‐4.3A), provided that the rearrangement  does not involve penetration of a fire‐rated

assemblyandisnotina

hazardouslocation(seeCh.5oftheelectricalsubcode).

 Appliances–Domesticdishwashersmaybereplaced.

FIRE

 Thereplacementofsprinklerorsmokedetector,smokealarm,orheatdetectorheadswithalikedevice.

 Therepairorreplacementofanycomponentof afirealarmorsmoke

andheatdetectionequipment(other

thanthereplacementofafirealarmcontrolpanel)mayberepairedorreplaced.

 Theinstallationofbattery‐poweredsmokealarmsandtheinstallationofbattery‐poweredorplugincar bon

monoxidealarms.

MECHANICAL

 Motors,pumpsandfans –Motorspumpsandfansof

thesamecapacitymaybereplaced.

 Heating,supplyandreturnpipingandradiationelements–Therepairorreplacementofheatingsupplyand

returnpipingandradiationelementswherethereisnorearrangementofthepipingsystem.

 Ductwork–Ductworkmayberepairedorreplaced.



Air Conditioning Equipment – Repair of air conditioning equipment and systems  along with the repair or 

replacementofcontroldevicesforheatingandairconditioningequipment.

 Liquidappliedchimneylining–Theapplicationofliquidapplied liningmaterialinsideanexistingchimney.



3



Ordinarymaintenance:Foralldwellings,anyworklistedaboveisapplicabletoresidentialusesplusthe

following:



ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL



 Kitchen range hoods – Kitchen range hoods may be replaced provid ed that the replace m ent hood

exhaust rate does not exceed  the exhaust rate of the existing hood or the exhaust rate of the

replacementhooddoesnotexceed400cfm.

 Replacementofdomesticappliances–

Domestic clothes dryers may be replaced provided that no change in fuel type, pipe size, or

locationorelectricalcharacteristicsisrequired.

o Domesticstovesanddomesticovensmaybereplacedprovidednochangeinfueltype,pipesize,

orlocationorelectricalcharacteristicsisrequired.

 Exhaustfans–

Bathroomexhaustfansmaybereplaced.



Ordinarymaintenanceinone‐andtwo‐familydwellings:Anyworklistedinthetwocategoriesabove

applicabletoresidentialusesplusthefollowing:



BUILDING



 Finishes–Installation,repairorreplacementofinteriorfinishesoflessthan25percentofthewallarea

ofthedwelling.Thisshallincludeplasteringanddrywallinstallation.(1)Vinylwallcoveringofanyamount

isordinarymaintenance;(2)Panelingis

notordinarymaintenance.

 Non‐structural components – The repair or replacement of any non‐structural com ponent, such as a

partition.

 Roofing – The repair or replacem ent (including total replacement) of any amount of existing roof

coveringondetachedone‐ortwo‐familydwellings.

 Siding – The repair or

 replacement of any amount of existing siding. Exception: The repair or

replacementofpolypropylenesidingisnotordinarymaintenance.



ELECTRICAL



 Alarmsystems–Theinstallationofaburglaralarm,securitysystem.

 Doorbells–Doorbellsmaybeinstalled,repairedorreplaced.

 Landscapeirrigationsystems–Plug‐inlandscape

irrigationunitunder30voltsmaybeinstalled.



MINORWORK



Likeordinarymain tenance,minorworkisa category ofworkthatrequireslessoversight than do construction

projectsthatrequireplanreview,afullpermit,andinspections.Minorworkrequiresacons tructionpermit,but

allowsworktobeginbeforethepermithasbeenissuedoncenoticeofthe

workhasbeengiventothelocalcode

enforcementagency.Thenoticemaybeoral,written,oremail.



ItisimportanttonotethatwiththeMarch5changes,minorworkpermitsmaybeissuedregardlessofwhether

therearepriorapprovals.Thoseprior approvalsdonotneedtobechecked

bythecodeofficialpriortoissuing

the permit.  The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the pr ior approvals are satisfied.Also, minor work

4



permitsnolongeroperatewithafinalinspectionwithin30calendardays;whenrequested,uptothreebusiness

daysareallottedtoperformtheinspection.



Forotherthandwellings,thefollowinghasbeendesignatedasminorwork:

BUILDING

 Porches–Theconstructionortotalreplacementofanyporchorstoopthatdoesnotprovidestructural

supportforanyrooforportionofabuilding.

 Repairand/orrenovationwork–Repairand/orrenovationwork

inaGroupB,GroupF, GroupM,orGroup

S occupancy performed in accordance withN.J.A.C. 5:23‐6, not including work categorized asordinary

maintenancepursuanttoN.J.A.C.5:23‐2.7.

 Radon–Theinstallationofaradonmitigationsystemprovidednonewelectri calworkisrequired.(Note:

this

usedtobelimitedtoone‐andtwo‐familydwellings.Nowtheinstallationofradonmitigationsystems

isminorworkinallbuildings,providednonewelectricalworkisrequired).

 Elevators–MinorworkonelevatordevicesshallalsomeanandincludeworkasoutlinedinN.J.A.C.5:23‐

12.8(b)and

notinvolvinganystructuralmodificationtoabuilding.

 Partitions–Repair orreplacementwithnoreconfigurationofspaceorofanynon‐structuralcomponen t

suchasapartitioninstructuresotherthanone‐andtwo‐familydwellings(seeordinarymaintenanceone‐

andtwo‐familydwellings).



PLUMBING



 Piping–

Replacementofexistingplumbingpipingwithnewandapprovedmaterialoflikecapacity.

 Drinkingfountains–Theinstallationofdrinkingfountainsandcondensatedrainsinexistingstructures.

 WaterHeaters–Thereplacementofexistingwaterheaterswithnewonesoflikecapacity.

 HVACEquipment–Thereplacement

ofexistingboilers,warmairfurnaces,airconditionin gunitsandair

conditioningcondensingunitswithnewappliancesoflikecapacity.



ELECTRICAL



 Communicationwiring–TheinstallationofcommunicationswiringinanyClass1 orClass2structureor

anyClass3structureinvolvingthepenetrationofafire‐resistance

ratedassembly.Note:Communications

wiring is any wiring covered by Chapter 8 of the electrical subcode, “including data circuits between

computers/information te chnology equipment, which may be classified as communications circuits in

accordancewithArticle725oftheelectricalsubcode.”

 Alarmsystems–Theinstallationofaburglaralarm,security

system,ordoorbellinstructuresotherthan 

one‐andtwo‐familydwellings(seeordinarymaintenanceforone‐andtwo‐familydwellings).Exception:

controlled,delayed,orsensorreleasedegressdoors.



FIRE



 AlarmSystems–Anychangeofanexistingtransmissionmeansfromadigitalalarmcommunicator

transmittertoafire

alarmsupervisingstation.(1)Forthepurposesofapplyingthis provision,

transmissionmeansshallmeantheexistingphoneline(s)thattransmitfirealarmsignalsfro madigital

alarmcommunicatortransmittertothesupervisingstation.Acertifiedfirealarmservicecompany,

licensedfirealarmcompanyorlicensedelectricalcontractorshallsubmitForm

F‐391signedbythe

contractortoprovideaverificationstatementinwritingtothefiresubcodeofficialwithin24hoursthat

allrequiredsignalsremainoperationalafterthenewtransmissionmeansisinstalled.

5



Minorworkinalldwellings:Anyoftheworkaboveapplicabletoresidentialusesplusthefollowing:

PLUMBING

 Fixture installation– The newinstallationoffixtures inan existing spacewherethenew installationof

additionalfixturesmaybeaccommodatedwithnoincreaseinthesize ofthewaterdistribution

system,

waterservice,orhousedrain(Note:thisusedtobelimitedtoone‐andtwo‐familydwellings,nowthe

installationofadditionalfixturesinexistingspaceisminorworkinalldwellings).



Minorworkinone‐andtwo‐familydwellings:Alltheworkinthetwocategoriesaboveapplicableto

residentialusesplusthefollowing:

BUILDING



 RenovationsorAlterations–Renovationoralterationworkprovidedthatnoprimarystructuralmembers

arealteredinanyway,andfurtherprovidedthattheworkdoesnotconstitutereconstruction.



ELECTRICAL

 Appliances–Minorwork shallalsomeanandincludenewelectricalwork

incidentaltotheinstallationof

airconditioning,equipment,clothesdryers,andrangesoroven.

 Outlets–Theinstallationoffiveorfeweroutletswhereexistingcircuitsand/oravailablespaceforcircuits

andserviceareadequatetosupporttheload.Fishingisconsideredminorworkregardlessofthenumber

of

fixtures/receptacles.(Note:thelimitationthatthedevices/outletsarelimitedto125or250volthas

beeneliminated;fishingwaspreviouslylimitedto5receptacles).

 Rewiring–Thereplacementofexistingwiringwithnewwiringofthesamecapacityprovidedthatthenew

wiringshallbeof

atypeapprovedfortheusebythecode.



FIRE

 Detection/Suppression–Theinstallationofafiredetectionorsuppressiondevice.



Finally,thoughnotordinarymaintenanceorminorwork,thepermittingrequirementsforgardentypeutilitysheds

alsochanged.Nopermitisrequiredforagardentypeutilityshed

thatis200squarefeetorunderprovidedit

doesnothaveelectric,water,gas,oilorsewerconnections.