News Updates - August 13, 2008
Permits Protect is getting a lift
The Permits Protect consumer awareness program provided by BCD
is getting energized. PacWest has been contracted to put a new
coat of paint on the program. BCD is still counting on their partners
in industry and local government to make their public aware of
the advantages of acquiring building permits and hiring licensed
contractors. The updates to the Permits Protect program should
make this easy. If you haven't had a chance to look at the changes
to the Permits Protect
Web site lately, take a look and keep looking because it's
only going to get better.
Electrical and Elevator Board recommends
energizing electrical installations rule
At its meeting on July 24, the Electrical and Elevator Board
reviewed and recommended for adoption a rule implementing HB 2475
(2007), which was codified as ORS 479.570(4). The
proposed rule creates a standard process by which general
supervising electricians can request electric utilities to energize
a completed electrical installation before the installation has
been inspected by a local building official.
The authority allowing a supervisor to make a request has existed
for some time, but the lack of standard process led to inconsistency
and confusion. This rule remedies this by establishing a process
that assures all parties, jurisdictions, utilities, and contractors,
have the necessary information.
2008 Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code (OPSC) Errata
In the period between BCD submission of language for the OPSC
to the publishers and the actual print version of the code, errors
inevitably seep in. The errata provides corrections to the published
code. The
new errata is available for the 2008 OPSC, first edition.
Contents of the errata include administrative rule corrections,
pages that were inadvertently skipped by the publisher, and an
updated IAPMO reference. Additionally, references to "gray
water systems" were changed to "water reclamation systems"
for clarity. The errata was approved on July 30, 2008. Please
contact the Chief Plumbing Inspector, Terry Swisher at 503-373-4788
or at terry.l.swisher@state.or.us
if you have any questions.
International Existing Building Code
Introduced to Building Codes Structures Board
The Building Codes Division introduced the 2006 International
Existing Building Code (IEBC) to the Building Codes Structures
Board at its August 6, 2008 board meeting. The division hopes
to have the IEBC with Oregon amendments in effect as a statewide
alternate method to Chapter 34 of the Oregon Structural Specialty
Code (OSSC) effective October 1, 2008. The
draft alternate method and the Oregon amendments are available
on the BCD Web site.The IEBC is a comprehensive code promulgated
by the International Code Council that expands upon the provisions
in OSSC Chapter 34 and regulates alterations, repairs, additions
and changes of occupancy to existing buildings. The IEBC is intended
to provide flexibility while ensuring public health and safety.
The Building Codes Structures Board will be ruling on the scientific
and technical facts of the IEBC alternate method at its upcoming
meeting scheduled for September 4, 2008. If you have any questions
or comments please contact Richard Rogers, Structural Program
Chief at (503) 378-4472, or Richard.Rogers@state.or.us.
Regional Program Services
More regional forums coming soon
The Regional Program Services team is planning a regional forum
near you. These forums are designed to provide information and
promote collaborative problem solving for contractors, local building
department staff, design professionals, and anyone else in the
community interested in participating.
These regional forums are aimed to:
- Educate participants regarding code changes; facilitate contractor
training
- Address region-specific code application issues
- Enhance BCD staff sensitivity to local issues
- Emphasize the value of a state-local partnership in code application
- Update participants on BCD's perspective on important issues
The first regional forum, recently conducted in southern Oregon
focused on changes in the 2008 Oregon Residential Specialty Code,
renewable energy tax incentives, and "green" building
design.
The regional services team plans the next forum in Central Oregon.
The date will be announced in your next Local Building Department
newsletter. Other regional forums are planned in the Northwest,
Eastern and Mid-Valley/Coast regions.
Have ideas? Contact
your regional coordinator with suggestions for future topics.
E-permitting
Oregon eBuildingPermits is taking off
Drivers, start your engines! The Department of Consumer and Business
Services, Building Codes Division has announced that it has signed
a contract with Accela Inc. to customize software for the statewide
e-permitting program, Oregon eBuildingPermits. The project team
will be converting Quick
Permits to the new system during the spring of 2009. Jurisdictions
already using Quick Permits will see a new look to the Web site.
The cities of Eugene and Springfield will serve as test jurisdictions
for the new system in 2009 with other cities and counties coming
on board in 2010.
Contact Gary Basin at (503) 373-7159 or gary.p.basin@state.or.us
to find out how this system will meet your IT needs.
|
