(a) General. The Codes set forth in this title are hereby adopted by reference. Such Codes shall be kept available for use or reference by the general public by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. No special permit shall be required for the installation of the type of equipment covered except insofar as building structural elements are involved and electrical and plumbing connections are to be made. Building electrical, and plumbing permits respectively shall be required where such work is to be done. If, however, on any inspection of work involving elevators, moving stairs, dumbwaiters, boilers, gas piping, gas appliances, and mechanical refrigeration systems (including air conditioning units), equipment and installation work is found not to conform to the Codes cited in this title, the Commissioner may order that corrections be made.
(b) Elevators, moving stairs, and dumbwaiters. The construction and installation of elevators, moving stairs and dumbwaiters shall conform to the American Standards Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters and Escalators, A.S.A.A17.1, latest revision.
(c) Boilers. The construction and installation of boilers shall conform to the A.S.M.E. Boiler Code and Unfired Pressure Vessel Code, latest revisions.
(d) Gas piping and gas appliances. The installation of gas piping and gas appliances shall conform to the requirements of installation of Gas Piping and Gas Appliances ASA Z21–30, latest revision.
(e) Mechanical refrigeration. All refrigeration installations shall conform to the requirements of the International Mechanical Code, 2003 edition and any subsequent amendments thereto.
(f) Public Buildings. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the 2003 International Building Code, and any subsequent amendments thereto, shall be applicable to every public building and structure in the Virgin Islands pursuant to section 292, subsection (b).
(g) Non-public Buildings, except One and Two Family Dwellings and One Family Townhouses not more than three stories in height. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, chapters one through thirty-five, and all appendices cited therein of the 2003 International Building Code, and any subsequent amendments thereto, shall be applicable to every non-public building and structure in the Virgin Islands pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, except one and two family dwellings and one family townhouses not more than three stories in height.
(h) One and Two Family Dwellings and One Family Townhouses not more than three stories in height. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, chapters one through forty-three, and all appendices cited therein of the International Residential Code, 2003 edition, and any subsequent amendments thereto, shall be applicable to every one and two family dwelling and one family townhouse not more than three stories in height in the Virgin Islands pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the designed wind loads for all buildings or structures within the Virgin Islands shall be determined in accordance with the minimum basic wind speeds shown in figure 1609, and exposure D, as defined in Section 1609.4 of the International Building Code, 2003 edition, and any subsequent updates. A basic wind speed of 145 miles per hour is adopted as a minimum standard for the entire territory of the Virgin Islands.
(j) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the design earthquake loads for all buildings or structures within the Virgin Islands shall be determined in accordance with Seismic Zone 4 as found on figure 1615(9) of the International Building Code 2003, the Seismic Zone Map of the United States, as amended, and subsequent updates.