Section 113 Industrialized Units
Industrialized units shall be approved by the board in accordance with the provisions in this section.
Exceptions:
- Alternative materials, design and methods of construction and equipment approved by the board in accordance with Section 114.2.
- Construction for which the provisions of Section 1704 applies. Where panels or components are constructed to include elements not provided for or accounted for in Section 1704, then this section shall apply. (For example, engineered gluelam beams, precast concrete panels or welded steel components that have been constructed offsite with electrical or mechanical components in them so that a detailed inspection of the mechanical or electrical components cannot be done on the site of their intended use would be required to comply with this section).
- Foam plastic insulation conforming to the provisions of Section 2603. (However, a foam plastic insulation panel that is constructed, listed and labeled in accordance with Section 2603, is required to comply with this section if structural, electrical or other components not covered by Section 2603 are enclosed within the panel).
- Materials, devices and products in directories listed in Table 114.3 used for building service equipment systems in accordance with the listing and this code.
Closed construction. An assembly of materials or products manufactured in such a manner that its structural, plumbing, electrical, environmental control, or fire protection elements or components are concealed and are not readily accessible for inspection at the site of its erection, without disassembly, damage, or destruction. Closed construction includes assemblies where only one of the components is not accessible for inspection. (For example, an equipment enclosure where all the electrical conductors and components are exposed for inspection and its roof and wall panels have exposed structural members but the floor panel structural members are not exposed, would be required to comply with this section.)
Industrialized units. Industrialized units are prefabricated components comprised of closed construction manufactured at a location remote from the site of intended use and transported to a building site for its subsequent use. Industrialized units are not restricted to housing for one-, two-, and three-family dwellings, but includes all prefabricated forms of building elements and assembled construction units, intended for both structural and service equipment purposes in all buildings of all groups. Prefabricated shop assemblies may be shipped in structurally complete units ready for installation in the building structure or in knock-down and packaged form for assembly at the site.
Such terms as heart modules or cores, modules, modulars, service cores, prefabs, sectional or sectionalized, panels or panelized construction, and specific terms including "prefabricated-subassembly, -building, -unit, -unit service equipment" shall be considered industrialized units. They may be self-sufficient or interdependent as a unit or group of units and used together or incorporated with standard construction methods to form a completed structural entity.
The application for approval, including revisions and renewals for existing approvals, shall be submitted to the board together with the fee required in Section 113.8 of this chapter. The required information shall be provided as prescribed by the board on its website. Construction documents shall be included in conformity with the applicable provisions of Section 106, and shall describe all essential elements of the structure or assembly and details of interconnection of: assemblies; service equipment; electrical wiring; plumbing; mechanical; and any other equipment whether installed at the site or in the manufacturing facility. The design and construction of the units shall be in conformance with the provisions of the Ohio building, mechanical and plumbing codes based on the intended use and/or occupancy type. Industrialized units intended to be used exclusively for one-, two-, or three- family dwellings shall comply with the applicable provisions of the "Residential Code of Ohio for One-, Two-, and Three- Family Dwellings" listed in Section 3501.2 or shall meet the provisions of the board's rules applicable to "Group R-3." Only the person holding an approval may apply to the board for a revision or renewal of the approval.
Each application for manufacturers with manufacturing facilities outside Ohio shall also identify the individual or agency that will be performing in-plant inspections of the units intended for placement in Ohio. The application shall also include a letter from the designated individual or agency indicating that they have a contractual relationship with the manufacturer to perform the inspections. This letter shall include the name(s) and board certification(s) of the individual(s) who will be assigned to perform the inspections.
Each application for manufacturers with manufacturing facilities in Ohio shall include the same information required in Section 113.3.1 or, as an alternative, the manufacturer shall indicate their intention to have the inspections conducted by inspectors designated by the board.
After receipt of the application, the board or such agency designated by the board shall proceed with review of the industrialized unit construction documents and cause such inspections of the manufacturer's quality control processes used to ensure compliance with the rules of the board.
The board shall have the authority to require tests as evidence of compliance. Test methods shall be as specified in this code or by other recognized test standards. In the absence of recognized and accepted test methods, the board shall approve the testing procedures. Tests shall be performed by an approved agency. Reports of such tests shall be retained by the board for the period required for retention of public records.
An initial plant evaluation inspection shall be required at each plant of manufacture to observe and ensure that the manufacturer's facilities and quality control program maintains acceptable control of materials and processes used in the manufacture of industrialized units to ensure conformance with the approved construction documents. The plant evaluation inspection shall include all subassembly plants supplying the manufacturer, as the board may deem necessary.
The board, upon determination of compliance, shall issue an approval to the applicant. Industrialized units approved by the board may be used anywhere in Ohio subject to the conditions for their use and application as indicated in the approval.
Any changes to board approved construction documents affecting the conditions listed in the approval shall require a revision of the approval.
When any changes to the rules of the board are adopted which affect the use, safety or sanitation of any approved industrialized unit, the holder of the approval shall apply to the board for a revision of the approval. Failure to apply for revision of approvals within the time specified by the board, shall constitute failure to comply with the conditions of the approval.
Upon failure of the holder of an approval to comply with the conditions of the approval and this chapter, the board, on its own motion, shall order a hearing in accordance with Section 119.03 of the Revised Code to revoke an existing approval.
Each industrialized unit shall be inspected during each phase of the manufacturing process by inspectors certified by the board of such persons designated by the board until inspections demonstrate that the manufacturer's quality control program is capable of assuring that the industrialized units produced are built in accordance with the construction documents approved by the board. When it has been determined that the manufacturer's quality control program is capable of assuring compliance with the board approved construction documents, then at least one overall inspection of "open" construction shall be performed for each unit by an inspector certified or designated by the board.
An insignia shall be obtained from the board for each industrialized unit module to be used within the state of Ohio. The insignia shall be affixed to each unit after a determination is made by the inspector that the unit is constructed in accordance with the construction documents approved by the board, which shall constitute final approval of the unit.
After an insignia has been affixed, the manufacturer shall record its use in shipping records, to be submitted monthly to the board, which shall record:
- The shipping insignia number;
- Ohio board of building standards industrialized unit group assigned project file number appearing on the board-approved construction documents;
- The date the insignia was affixed to the individual unit;
- Name and address of the construction inspector and inspection agency;
- Manufacturer's unit serial number;
- Manufacturer's model number;
- Dealer name and address; and
- Site installation destination address and owner name.
When an inspection determines that the quality control program does not sufficiently ensure compliance with the construction documents approved by the board, the certified inspector or person designated by the board shall, by written notification, inform the manufacturer that the inspection frequency will be increased so that each assembly or component affected by the nonconforming item will be inspected. These inspections shall continue until an inspection determines that the manufacturer's control of the materials and processes used is sufficient to ensure that the units are constructed in accordance with the approved construction documents.
The manufacturer shall maintain responsibility over all work completed in the factory until the unit is approved for first occupancy and shall rectify any deviations from the approved construction documents, which are found either in the field or at the place of manufacture. The manufacturer shall submit to the board such periodic reports, notifications and information as required by board procedures.
The manufacturer shall ensure that the construction documents approved by the board are presented to the building official in accordance with Section 106.1.2(1) before placing the industrialized unit on site.
Exception: Industrialized units construction documents previously approved by the board and site related construction documents are not required to be submitted to the division of industrial compliance where industrialized units are used exclusively as one-, two, or three family dwellings.
Whenever there are changes in company name, ownership, subsidiary status, address or change in the manufacturer's management personnel who are responsible for making policy concerning quality control, the manufacturer shall immediately notify the board, in writing, and the manufacturing plant(s) affected by the change will be subject to a plant evaluation inspection.
Each initial application or revision submittal to the board shall be accompanied by nonrefundable fees, designated by the board to include: application processing fee; one-hour minimum plan review fee; and other costs, when incurred, such as mailing and check processing.
All costs of application processing, evaluation of construction documents or other documentation submitted to the board shall be paid by the applicant.
All costs of plant evaluations and inspections shall be paid by the manufacturer of the unit including travel, food, lodging, and administrative costs.
The fee for insignia for all assembled modular units manufactured for use in the state of Ohio shall be fifty dollars per unit (any preassembled combination of walls to floor, ceilings, roof, and other such components).
The fee for insignia for all panelized units manufactured for use in the state of Ohio shall be one dollar for each twenty square feet of surface area of preassembled individual components (wall, floor, ceiling or roof sections, and other such components) intended to be shipped to the site and attached to other components at the site of intended use.
Tests required by the board to be performed to determine compliance pursuant to Section 113.4.1, shall be conducted at no expense to the board. Costs associated with any required testing or research necessary to provide evidence of compliance shall be the responsibility of the applicant.