Partners in Building Safety

1. Partners in Building Safety Realtors and Building Officials

2. Partners in Building Safety • Areas of common interest: • Safety in buildings • Sanitation in buildings • Customer Satisfaction • High Quality Professional Reputation • Partnership to achieve common goal • Maintain property values • Realtor’s Interests? • Timely Response to requests for assistance • Accurate information upon request • Building Official’s Interests? • Timely Response to requests for assistance • Accurate information upon request

3. Partners in Building Safety • Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code • Adopted throughout the state through the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC) • Adopts by reference the International Series of Codes • IRC, IBC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, etc • Differences based on geography or climate • Enforced at the City, County or Town • Local Building Official • Permit Technicians • Plans Examiners • Inspectors

4. Partners in Building Safety • General requirements for a permit? • Application • Site plan • FEMA form (if applicable) • Construction Plan (Blueprints) • Floor Plan • Foundation Plan • Structural Plan • Elevation Views • Details of Connections

5. Partners in Building Safety • Permit Costs • Varies by Jurisdiction • Varies according to the type of work and the valuation of the work • The VUSBC allows, through legislative approval, for localities to charge fees to pay for the administrative costs of the review and inspection

6. Partners in Building Safety • Permit Procedures • Applicant has idea for construction • Applicant either draws plan or hires architect • Applicant hires contractor or will do the work himself • Contractor or owner apply for permit (contractor must meet State license requirements) • Plans are submitted for review • If plans are deficient, we ask for more information • Plans are stamped: APPROVED • Permit is issued to the applicant • Contractor or owner begins work • Contractor or owner call for periodic inspections

7. Partners in Building Safety • Inspection Procedures • Contractor or owner call for periodic inspections • Footing inspection with reinforcement • Foundation inspection • Pre concealment Concrete • Structural members or fasteners before concealment • Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing systems before concealment • Energy conservation material (insulation) • Final Inspection • A Certificate of Occupancy is issued usually within 48 hours of final inspection

8. Partners in Building Safety • Major differences in application of the Code between jurisdictions? • Virginia is a Dillon-Rule State…so, there shouldn’t be any except those due to geography, weather or climate: • Wind speed: • Virginia Beach 110 mph wind speed • Norfolk & Chesapeake 100 mph wind speed • Procedures may vary across jurisdictions • Permit procedures • Plan Review time • Inspection routine

9. Partners in Building Safety • How to reach us? • Norfolk: Lynn Underwood, CBO • 664-6511 office • 641-7275 cell • Chesapeake: Pat Hughes, CBO • 382-6018 office • Virginia Beach: Cheri Hainer, CBO • 385-4211 office

10. Partners in Building Safety • Upcoming changes in the building safety world? • 2009 adoption in Virginia scheduled for Fall, 2010 • Significant changes that may (or may not) be adopted • Residential sprinklers one and two family dwellings and townhomes. • Energy efficiency requirements are increased around 20%...more in next code cycle!

11. Partners in Building Safety • Important topics that are emerging in this profession: • Green Building • ICC - National Green Building Standard • ICC – International green Construction Code • USGBC – LEED • Southface - Earthcraft • Gray water • Hydrogen – Fuel Cells • Solar photovoltaic • International Outreach

12. Partners in Building Safety • Your Questions?