Code Review Committee
Co-Chair: Josh Peterson
NO AUGUST CODE REVIEW MEETING
2009 International Code Series Adoption On July 21st members of the RBD Board of Review will receive a recommendation from the Building Committee to move forward with the adoption of the 2009 International Codes to be implemented on January 1st 2011. All proposed amendments including the most recently discussed, Fire Separation Distance section are available at www.pprbd.org. Over the last several months a number of HBA members have reviewed the proposed changes and collaborate with RBD staff to settle on a practical code series that the building industry can use for the next several years.
RBD will bring the final draft of the proposed changes to each of the seven jurisdictions including El Paso County for approval before the implementation date which is planned for January 1st 2011. Look for “Lunch and Learns” in the near future covering the significant changes in each of the 2009 International Code books including local amendments.
The projected implementation date is January1st, 2011. All proposed changes and comments can be found on the PPRBD website.
PROJECTS NEEDED FOR HVAC TEST PILOT:
The HBA & RBD continue working through test pilots of the proposed HVAC plan submittal documentation and inspection requirement process suggested by RBD.
More projects and discussions are needed for the pilot program in order to determine where the problems are and solutions to them. Please let Jim Vernon know if there are any projects available for the pilot when checking in plans. See link below for the latest draft of the duct design requirements.
View Duct design #5 doc here
If you would like to be a part of these continuing discussions or have a project for the pilot please contact marla@cshba.com
2008 NEC
On April 1, 2010 RBD implemented the latest edition of the National Electrical Code (2008 NEC). This code cycle has more changes than most of the recent editions. While the vast majority of these changes are simply to make clarifications in wording, definitions, and intent of existing code, there are a number of significant changes that will affect many of the electrical installations in our jurisdiction. 3 of the most noteworthy changes include:
1. Expansion of the AFCI requirements into other areas of a dwelling unit in addition to the bedrooms.
2. The removal of the GFCI exceptions that allow for non-GFCI protected outlets for dedicated appliances in garages and unfinished basements.
3. The installation of tamper resistant receptacles in dwelling units.
These three provisions have been delayed until May of 2011 when they will be fully implemented.
A couple of other changes worth noting for the contractors primarily involved in residential construction. One is the addition of an intersystem bonding termination. This is a small ground bar manufactures are already making that allow for cable, phone, dish, and other like systems to be bonded into the grounding electrode system. It simply mounts to the outside of the home or on the meter socket with provisions for these other system grounds to terminate. Another change is the requirement for all feeders to separate structures to have an equipment ground be installed with the feeder. No longer can you run 3-wire and re-bond the neutral on that separate structure. The strict pool bonding requirements of 2005 have been revised somewhat and the requirements for commercial Photo voltaic systems have been relaxed some as well.
The 2008 NEC is in effect as of April 1, 2010. Any permit pulled after that date will fall under the new requirements. The above paragraph only scratches the surface of the many changes in the code. It is important for contractors to be aware of these changes when undertaking any electrical installation.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department, Division of the Fire Marshal is proud to announce their free Monthly Customer Information and Training Sessions. The purpose of theses sessions is to provide free monthly presentations on a variety of topics to help our customers have a more complete understanding of fire code elements commonly addressed in our plan review and inspection processes. The presentations will include a training topic, a question and answer session and will be used as a forum with the Fire Marshal to disseminate current information related to Fire Construction Services processes, procedures, changes and updates.
Builders and Developers Should Attend these FREE meetings at CSFD
Where: Pikes Peak Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle – Upstairs in the large hearing room
When: 4th Wednesday of Each Month, 3:00 to 4:00 PM
(Schedule is subject to change)
The 2010 schedule is as follows:
July 28th – Haz Mat Amounts & Control Areas
August 25th – Locking Devices
September 22nd – Construction Inspection Checklist & Knox Boxes
October 27th – Smoke Detector & Horn/Strobe Design
November 24th – Basic Fire Sprinkler Design
December 22nd – Clean Agent System
New Construction Services Hours
Construction Services-
Hours of Operation – Monday thru Friday 7:30am-12:00pm, 1:00pm- 4:30pm
Closed from 12:00pm- 1:00pm
Walk-thru Reviews
Walk thru hours for construction and water
Monday and Wednesday - 1:00pm-4:00pm
Friday- 8:00am- 12:00pm
NO AUGUST MEETING OF THE CODE COMMITTEE
The next regularly scheduled Code Review Committee will meet on Tuesday, September 21st at 7:30am, 7:15 for coffee.
If you would like to sponsor breakfast for our next meeting please contact marla@cshba.com
JOBSITE SAFETY COMMITTEE
Chair Bob van Maarth
NO August 10th meeting!
OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) intends to increase its enforcement inspections, and home building and other construction job sites are a primary target, U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis announced on Aug. 20 in response to a new Bureau of Labor Statistics report showing that fatal occupational injuries decreased to 5,071 in 2008, down from 5,657 in 2007.
In the residential construction industry, the average fatality rate is 8.35 deaths per 100,000 full-time employees, according to NAHB’s study, “Residential Construction Industry Fatalities 2003-2006.” The rate for all construction is 11.59 deaths per 100,000.
OSHA Inspection Focus aimed at Roofing Jobs on Weekends.
The weekend work program is a subset of OSHA’s Regional Emphasis Program on Fall Hazards in Construction (see attached). The weekend work aspect falls under the “supplemental plan” described in par. VII.B. on page 7 of the attachment and states as follows:
B. The Area Director (AD) may develop a supplemental plan as an addendum to this REP to focus resources of areas of high construction activity for the purpose of identifying fall from elevation hazard sites within those areas as far as reasonably possible. Any such supplemental plan will set forth the reasons for selecting the area(s) to be focused on, and such reasons to be based upon objective data justifying the selection.
A recent supplemental plan developed under this program is OSHA’s inspection focus aimed at roofing jobs on weekends in areas affected by last years hail storm. In past years they have focused on other areas of high construction activity due to other factors and in each of the past 5-6 years that has involved a weekend work component.
Fall final w/sign
OSHA's Colorado Compliance Assistance Network Newsletter is published quarterly and is designed to help Colorado employers and others stay "up-to-date" on OSHA issues and "in compliance" with OSHA regulations.
Colorado Compliance Assistance Network Newsletter (Spring 10)
Remodelers Council
Chair: Paul Finch
Remodelers Council BBQ is August 12th! This is the most popular and well attended Remodelers happening and you can be a part of this fun event. Cornhole board and bag making contest and prizes! Contact Marla for details. If you’d like to sponsor the event or join the BBQ Committee contact marla@cshba.com.
EPA to Delay enforcement of training and certification requirements for Lead-Based Paint rule
Last Friday, NAHB scored a clear victory when EPA announced that it would delay enforcement of the worker training and firm certification requirements for the Lead-Based Paint (LBP) rule. Although the rule became effective April 22, this new directive effectively gives remodelers until Oct. 1, 2010 to file for firm certification, until Sept. 30 for workers to register and Dec. 31 for workers to take the required training course. However, they will still be required to use lead-safe work practices during this time. As you recall, NAHB has been urging EPA to delay the rule for a number of reasons, including the lack of training providers and training opportunities.
EPA’s action is in direct response to NAHB’s continued involvement in the LBP rule, NAHB’s petition to delay the rule, NAHB’s work with the HBA of Tennessee to provide relief in areas damaged by the recent flooding, NAHB’s strong support of Senator Collin’s amendment to the Supplemental Appropriations Act that would delay the rule’s effective date, and NAHB’s efforts to educate the Members of Congress on the rule and its ramifications. Indeed, EPA’s memo acknowledges that the delay was necessary because of concerns raised by the regulated community. Now that EPA has heard and acted on our concerns, it is incumbent on NAHB to continue to provide support to remodelers to increase their awareness of the rule and inform them of the opportunities to get the necessary training and certification.
It is very rare that we are able to claim clear victories in the regulatory arena, yet EPA’s delay of enforcement of the LBP rule is exactly that. Unfortunately, there are still a number of uphill battles ahead in the LBP arena related to clearance testing and removal of the “opt-out” provision – battles that staff and the members will continue to fight.
Contact
marla@cshba.com for more information or if you are interested in becoming certified.
