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TITLE 22EXAMINING BOARDS
PART 23TEXAS REAL ESTATE COMMISSION
CHAPTER 535GENERAL PROVISIONS
SUBCHAPTER RREAL ESTATE INSPECTORS
RULE §535.230Standards of Practice: Minimum Inspection Requirements for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems
Historical Texas Register

(a) Heating equipment.

  (1) General requirements.

    (A) The inspector shall report:

      (i) the type of heating systems; and

      (ii) the energy sources; and

    (B) report as Deficient:

      (i) inoperative units;

      (ii) deficiencies in the thermostats;

      (iii) inappropriate location;

      (iv) the lack of protection from physical damage;

      (v) burners, burner ignition devices or heating elements, switches, and thermostats that are not a minimum of 18 inches above the lowest garage floor elevation, unless the unit is listed for garage floor installation;

      (vi) the absence of an opening that would allow access to equipment for inspection, service, repair or replacement without removing permanent construction or building finish;

      (vii) when applicable; a floored passageway and service platform that would allow access for equipment inspection, service, repair or replacement; and

      (viii) deficiencies in mounting and performance of window and wall units;

  (2) Requirements for electric units. The inspector shall report deficiencies in:

    (A) performance of heat pumps;

    (B) performance of heating elements; and

    (C) condition of conductors; and

  (3) Requirements for gas units. The inspector shall report as Deficient:

    (A) gas leaks;

    (B) flame impingement, uplifting flame, improper flame color, or excessive scale buildup;

    (C) the absence of a gas shut-off valve within six feet of the appliance;

    (D) the absence of a gas appliance connector or one that exceeds six feet in length;

    (E) gas appliance connectors that are concealed within or extended through walls, floors, partitions, ceilings or appliance housings; and

    (F) deficiencies in:

      (i) combustion, and dilution air;

      (ii) gas shut-off valves;

      (iii) access to a gas shutoff valves that prohibits full operation;

      (iv) gas appliance connector materials; and

      (v) the vent pipe, draft hood, draft, proximity to combustibles, and vent termination point and clearances; and

(b) Cooling equipment

  (1) Requirements for cooling units other than evaporative coolers.

    (A) the inspector shall report the type of systems;

    (B) the inspector shall report as Deficient:

      (i) inoperative units;

      (ii) inadequate cooling as demonstrated by its performance;

      (iii) the absence of an opening that would allow access to equipment for inspection, service, repair or replacement without removing permanent construction or building finish;

      (iv) when applicable; a floored passageway and service platform that would allow access for equipment inspection, service, repair or replacement;

      (v) noticeable vibration of blowers or fans;

      (vi) water in the auxiliary/secondary drain pan;

      (vii) a primary drain pipe that discharges in a sewer vent;

      (viii) missing or deficient refrigerant pipe insulation;

      (ix) dirty coils, where accessible;

      (x) condensing units lacking adequate clearances or air circulation or that has deficiencies in the fins, location, levelness, or elevation above grade surfaces;

      (xi) deficiencies in:

        (I) the condensate drain and auxiliary/secondary pan and drain system;

        (II) mounting and performance of window or wall units; and

        (III) thermostats.

  (2) Requirements for evaporative coolers.

    (A) The inspector shall report:

      (i) type of systems;

      (ii) the type of water supply line;

    (B) The inspector shall report as Deficient:

      (i) inoperative units;

      (ii) inadequate access and clearances;

      (iii) deficiencies in performance or mounting;

      (iv) missing or damaged components;

      (v) the presence of active water leaks; and

      (vi) the absence of backflow prevention.

(c) Duct systems, chases, and vents.

  (1) The inspector shall report as Deficient:

    (A) damaged duct systems or improper material;

    (B) damaged or missing duct insulation;

    (C) the absence of air flow at accessible supply registers;

    (D) the presence of gas piping and sewer vents concealed in ducts, plenums and chases;

    (E) ducts or plenums in contact with earth; and

  (2) The inspector shall report as Deficient deficiencies in:

    (A) filters;

    (B) grills or registers; and

    (C) the location of return air openings.

(d) For heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems inspected under this section, the inspector is not required to perform the following actions:

  (1) program digital thermostats or controls;

  (2) inspect:

    (A) for pressure of the system refrigerant, type of refrigerant, or refrigerant leaks;

    (B) winterized or decommissioned equipment; or

    (C) duct fans, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air purifiers, motorized dampers, electronic air filters, multi-stage controllers, sequencers, heat reclaimers, wood burning stoves, boilers, oil-fired units, supplemental heating appliances, de-icing provisions, or reversing valves;

  (3) operate:

    (A) setback features on thermostats or controls;

    (B) cooling equipment when the outdoor temperature is less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit;

    (C) radiant heaters, steam heat systems, or unvented gas-fired heating appliances; or

    (D) heat pumps, in the heat pump mode, when the outdoor temperature is above 70 degrees;

  (4) verify:

    (A) compatibility of components;

    (B) tonnage match of indoor coils and outside coils or condensing units;

    (C) the accuracy of thermostats; or

    (D) the integrity of the heat exchanger; or

  (5) determine:

    (A) sizing, efficiency, or adequacy of the system;

    (B) balanced air flow of the conditioned air to the various parts of the building; or

    (C) types of materials contained in insulation.


Source Note: The provisions of this §535.230 adopted to be effective January 1, 2014, 38 TexReg 3350; amended to be effective September 7, 2016, 41 TexReg 6742

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