Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Transferability of credit depends entirely upon the institution to which the student wishes to transfer.  

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• Analyze plans for compliance with commercial mechanical code requirements relating to combustion air, chimneys and vents, refrigeration, and specific appliance systems.

• Analyze construction for compliance with commercial mechanical code requirements relating to combustion air, chimneys and vents, refrigeration, and specific appliance systems.

• Communicate commercial code requirements to design and construction professionals.

Activities include in-class illustrated lectures showing concepts of the mechanical building codes, supported by collaborative group review of case studies.  In-class work will be supported by out-of-class individual reading, research of codes and application to mock problems.

·        Course materials will be presented in a lecture and discussion format, using multimedia presentations (slides, overheads, videos) showing examples of mechanical code applications in various buildings, and online building codes. 

·        Discussions will be supplemented by posting of additional referencs and resources, on the PCC Course Tools files. 

·        Weekly assignments will provide an opportunity for student to apply class information to actual building examples.

·        Short answer exams will cover a summary of information from the Building Codes.

Student will work on projects where they will use sample mechanical drawings for commercial buildings, identify applicable mechanical codes, and analyze mechanical solutions for code compliance.  Assessment will include review of projects, along with exams requiring ability to find and cite mechanical code requirements. Student to demonstrate willingness and ability to work in small groups during class to provide input and solve in-class assignments, and articulate findings to class.  Student to demonstrate time management skills by completion of projects by assigned deadlines and by meeting specific objectives for each phase of class projects.

• Commercial building mechanical codes regulate mechanical systems, specifying their minimum requirements for public buildings, and multi-family structures.

• Building Inspectors need to understand their role in interpreting and applying mechanical codes requirements to commercial buildings.

• Skills:  Review plans and construction to determine compliance with:

Combustion air ventilation requirements

Chimney venting requirements

Mechanical requirements for commercial appliances, including refrigeration systems