For the purpose of this code, certain terms, phrases, words and derivatives shall be construed as specified in this section. Where terms are not defined, the definition shall be in accordance with the International Codes, National Electrical Code and the Uniform Plumbing Code adopted by the MOA. Terms not found in adopted codes shall be the ordinary accepted meanings within the context in which the term is used in Webster's Dictionary, and shall be considered as providing ordinarily accepted meanings. Words used in the singular include the plural and the plural the singular. Words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and the feminine the masculine.
"Addition"
is an extension or increase in floor area, number of stories or height of a building or structure.
"Alter" or "alteration"
is a change or modification in construction or building service equipment.
"Approved,"
as to materials, types of construction, equipment and systems, refers to approval by the building official as the result of investigation and tests conducted by the building official, or by reason of accepted principles or tests by recognized authorities, technical or scientific organizations.
"Approved agency"
is an established and recognized agency regularly engaged in conducting tests or furnishing inspection services, when the agency has been approved by the building official.
"Authorized agent"
is a person designated by an owner in writing to interact on their behalf with the Municipality during the course of the building permit application, plan review and inspection process. An authorized agent may secure permits in the name of the owner, advise the owner on the purchasing of equipment, materials and labor, and advise the owner on the coordination, scheduling and administration of work. An authorized agent may not coordinate, schedule, or administer work, pay for labor, equipment or materials, engage in contractual relationships with or supervise subcontractors, or hire or supervise employees.
"Building"
is a structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering a use or occupancy.
"Building Code"
is the International Building Code, as adopted by the Municipality.
"Building official"
is the officer or other designated authority charged with the administration and enforcement of this code, or a regularly authorized deputy.
"Building permit"
is a general permit to perform work regulated by title 23, excluding electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work. Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work is performed under either a trade permit or retrofit permit, further defined elsewhere in this section.
"Building service equipment"
refers to the plumbing, mechanical, electrical and elevator equipment including piping, ductwork, wiring, fixtures and other accessories providing sanitation, lighting, heating, ventilation, cooling, refrigeration, firefighting and transportation facilities essential to the occupancy of the building or structure for its designated use.
"Change order"
refers to the documentation required to support a design change that is significant enough to warrant approval by the plan reviewer prior to commencement of work involving the change.
"Commercial construction"
is construction of a structure of a non-residential nature or a residential structure comprised of 4 or more contiguous dwelling units.
"Contractor"
means a person who, in the pursuit of an independent business, undertakes or offers to perform, or claims to have the capacity to perform, or submits a bid for a project to construct, alter, repair, move or demolish a building, highway, road, railroad, or any type of fixed structure, including excavation and site development and the erection of scaffolding, electric signs, marquees, or other similar structures for which a condition, rule, regulation, or standard is prescribed by this code. This term includes general contractor, builder, mechanical contractor, specialty contractor and subcontractors. This term does not include regular employees of a contractor licensed under this code or a person who, as owner of a building or structure, performs work on the building or structure for the owner's use and benefit that would otherwise subject the owner to the licensing requirement of this section.
"Dangerous Building Code"
is the Abatement of Dangerous Building Code, as adopted by the Municipality.
"Electrical Code"
is the National Electrical Code, as adopted by the Municipality.
"Electrical contractor"
means a contractor licensed by the state and Municipality as an electrical contractor who installs electrical wiring and equipment in industrial, commercial or residential categories. An electrical contractor, unless specifically exempted in AS 08.40.190, must be registered as, or employ, an electrical administrator licensed under AS 08.40, and may only submit bids for, or work on, projects for which it has a licensed electrical administrator.
"Electrical journeyman"
is a person who installs electrical systems subject to the standards of the adopted electrical codes. An electrical journeyman shall possess a Journeyman Electrician Certificate of Fitness issued by the State of Alaska when performing electrical work and shall be employed by an electrical contractor licensed in the Municipality. A journeyman electrician may perform electrical work in all occupancies and supervise up to two trainees.
"Electrical residential wireman"
is a person who installs residential wiring subject to the standards of the adopted electrical codes. An electrical residential wireman shall possess a residential wireman certificate of fitness issued by the State of Alaska and shall be employed by an electrical contractor licensed in the Municipality. A residential wireman is limited to residential buildings having no more than four dwelling units on a common foundation and may supervise up to two trainees.
"Electrical trainee"
is a person possessing an Electrician Trainee Certificate of Fitness issued by the State of Alaska and employed by an electrical contractor to learn the electrical trade. Trainees may work only when under the direct supervision of a journeyman or wireman, and no more than two trainees may be assigned to a journeyman or wireman.
"Elevator Code"
is the American National Standards Institute/American Society of Mechanical Engineers ANSI/ASME A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators as adopted by the Municipality.
"Existing building"
is a building erected prior to the date of adoption of this code, or one for which a legal certificate of occupancy has been issued.
"Existing Building Code"
is the International Existing Building Code, as adopted by the Municipality.
"Field change order"
refers to the documentation required to support a minor field change to the approved plans. Field change orders may be reviewed by the inspector or plan reviewer, concurrent with or subsequent to, the commencement of work involving the change.
"Fire Code"
is the International Fire Code, as adopted by the Municipality.
"Fuel Gas Code"
is the International Fuel Gas Code, as adopted by the Municipality.
"Gas fitter, journeyman"
is a person issued a certificate of qualification by the Municipality to install, repair and maintain gas piping and gas-fired equipment regulated by the adopted plumbing and fuel gas codes as an employee of a licensed gas piping, plumbing or sheet metal contractor. A journeyman gas fitter shall hold a State of Alaska certificate of fitness card.
"Gas piping contractor"
means a contractor whose business operations consist of the repair and installation of gas piping and equipment regulated by the adopted plumbing and fuel gas codes. A gas piping contractor is required to be licensed by the state as a mechanical contractor, licensed by the Municipality as a gas piping contractor and must possess a certificate of qualification issued by the Municipality. A gas piping contractor is required to be registered as, or employ, a mechanical administrator licensed under AS 08.40, and may only submit bids for, or work on, projects for which it has a licensed mechanical administrator.
"General contractor, or builder"
means a contractor licensed by the state and Municipality whose business operations require the use of more than three trades or the use of mechanical or specialty contractors and subcontractors who are under the supervision of the contractor.
"Listed" and "listing"
are terms referring to equipment and materials included in a list published by an approved testing laboratory, inspection agency, or other organization concerned with product evaluation and maintaining periodic inspection of current productions of listed equipment or materials. The published list shall state the material or equipment complies with approved nationally recognized codes, standards or tests and has been tested or evaluated and found suitable for use in a specified manner.
"Mechanical Code"
is the International Mechanical Code, as adopted by the Municipality.
"Municipality"
means Municipality of Anchorage.
"Occupancy"
is the purpose for which a building, or part thereof, is used or intended to be used.
"Owner"
is any person, agent, firm or corporation with a legal or ownership interest in the property.
"Permit"
is an official document or certificate issued by the building official authorizing performance of a specified activity.
"Person"
is a natural person, heir, executor, administrator or assign, and also includes a firm, partnership or corporation, its or their successor or assign, or agent of any of the aforesaid.
"Plumbing Code"
is the Uniform Plumbing Code, as adopted by the Municipality.
"Plumbing contractor"
means a contractor whose business operations consist of plumbing work regulated by the adopted plumbing code. A plumbing contractor is required to be licensed by the state as a mechanical contractor, licensed by the Municipality as a plumbing contractor and must be issued a certificate of qualification issued by the Municipality. A plumbing contractor is required to be registered as, or employ, a mechanical administrator licensed under AS 08.40, and may only submit bids for, or work on, projects for which it has a licensed mechanical administrator.
"Plumber journeyman"
is a person issued a certificate of qualification by the Municipality to labor at the trade of plumbing as an employee of a licensed plumbing contractor installing and repairing plumbing and gas piping systems and equipment. A journeyman plumber shall hold a State of Alaska certificate of fitness card.
"Plumber trainee"
is a person, other than a contractor or journeyman, who labors at the trade of plumbing as an employee of a licensed plumbing contractor. The trainee shall be under the direct supervision and in the immediate presence of a plumbing contractor or journeyman. The trainee shall hold a State of Alaska certificate of fitness card and a Municipality of Anchorage certificate of qualification trainee card.
"Repair"
is the reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building, structure or building service equipment for the purpose of its maintenance.
"Residential construction"
for the purposes of issuance of a residential permit, means construction associated with a building having no more than three dwelling units and having no other uses or occupancies other than a private garage or carport.
"Residential electrical contractor"
means a contractor licensed by the state and Municipality as an electrical contractor who installs electrical wiring and equipment in residential buildings having up to four dwelling units on a single foundation.
"Retrofit permit"
is an official document or certificate issued by the building official for limited electrical, plumbing, mechanical or fire system work regulated by this code.
"Shall"
means mandatory.
"Sheet metal contractor"
means a contractor whose business operations consist of the repair and installation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment, systems and ductwork regulated by the adopted mechanical code. A sheet metal contractor is required to be licensed by the state as a mechanical contractor, licensed by the Municipality as a sheet metal contractor and issued a certificate of qualification by the Municipality. A sheetmetal contractor is required to be registered as, or employ, a mechanical administrator licensed under AS 08.40, and may only submit bids for, or work on, projects for which it has a licensed mechanical administrator.
"Sheet metal journeyman"
is a certificate of qualification holder who labors at the trade of sheet metal as an employee of a licensed sheet metal contractor. A sheet metal journeyman may install and repair mechanical equipment, i.e., HVAC equipment, duct work, and venting of appliances.
"Sheet metal trainee"
is person, other than a contractor or journeyman, who labors at the trade of sheet metal as an employee of a licensed sheet metal contractor. The trainee shall be under the direct supervision and in the immediate presence of a sheet metal contractor or journeyman. The trainee shall hold a certificate of qualification trainee card issued by the Municipality.
"Specialty contractor"
means a contractor licensed by the State of Alaska to perform a specialty trade. Specialty contractors performing work regulated by this code are required to be licensed by the Municipality.
"Structural observation"
means the visual observation of the structural system, for general conformance to the approved plans and specifications, at significant construction stages and at completion of the structural system. Structural observation does not include or waive the responsibility for the inspections required by this code.
"Structure"
is that which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.
"Technical codes"
refer to those codes adopted by the Municipality containing the provisions for design, construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy and maintenance of buildings and structures and building service equipment as herein defined.
"Trade permit"
is an official document or certificate issued by the building official to permit performance of electrical, mechanical, or plumbing work. Trade permits may require electrical, mechanical, plumbing, structural, fire prevention and land use plan review.
"Valuation"
or value shall be determined in accordance with this code.
(AO No. 2020-85, § 1, 10-27-2020; AO No. 2023-130(S), § 1, 1-16-2024)