• New and existing mechanical systems must be maintained in accordance with ASHRAE/ACCA/ANSI Standard 180.
• Parking garage exhaust is now defined as environmental air.
• Includes specifications for grease reservoirs in commercial cooking exhaust duct systems.
• Includes requirements for underground grease ducts.
• Requires any combustible material in a return air plenum to be listed and labeled to verify compliance with ASTM E-84 or UL 723.
• Air dispersion systems are now allowed.
• New requirements for evaporative coolers.

The IMC provides minimum safety standards for:

• HVAC systems

• Ventilation

• Exhaust systems

• Boilers and water heaters

• Refrigeration

• Ductwork and air distribution

• Combustion air and fuel-related systems

It is used by:

• Mechanical engineers

• HVAC contractors

• Building inspectors

• Code officials

• Designers and architects

ICC Mechanical Inspector / Plans Examiner exams

• The 2012 IMC itself is often a required reference.

• The Practical Application book is not required, but it helps explain the code and is used by many students for study.

HVAC Contractor Licensing Exams (state-level)

Most states:

• Do not require the Practical Application book.

• Require:

  • The mechanical code adopted by the state (often IMC 2012, 2015, or 2018)

  • HVAC manuals (e.g., ACCA Manual J, S, D)

  • State statutes or trade knowledge references

The Practical Application book is often listed as supplemental material.

General Mechanical or Building Official Exams

Again:

• Required: the code book itself

• Optional: Practical Application (helpful for understanding but not mandatory)

The book’s visual & organizational tools are designed to help you understand, visualize, and apply the 2012 IMC—not just read it. These include:

Visual Tools

• Diagrams

• Tables

• Flowcharts

• Cutaway illustrations

• Real-world layout examples

Organizational Tools

• Summaries

• Commentary next to code sections

• Checklists

• Common mistake callouts

• Practice questions

• IMC cross-referencing