Partners in Building Safety

Realtors and Building Officials

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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Partners in Building Safety

– Your Questions?