AIA PittsburghA217

Plan Review and the Permitting Process: Recommendations for a Thorough SubmissionCourse Code: PRP_BP15

April 23, 2015

Credit(s) earned on completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

This course is registered with AIA CES

for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner ofhandling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product._______________________________________

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Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

Maura Kennedy, Chief of Building Inspection, City of Pittsburgh

Erik Harless, City of Pittsburgh BBI

Dina Snider, AIA, Strada Architecture LLC

Keith Coll, Ed Cardy, and Robert Kauer of Building Inspection Underwriters (BIU)

CoursePresenters

Maura Kennedy, Chief of Building Inspection, will provide an update on the current and proposed changes to the City of Pittsburgh plan review and permitting process.

Erik Harless, City of Pittsburgh BBI, will discuss plan review submission requirements for the City of Pittsburgh, highlighting items that are key to making a comprehensive plan review submission.

Representatives from BIU will review typical plan review submission oversights for municipalities outside of the City of Pittsburgh that utilize the 2009 International Building Code.

CourseDescription

LearningObjectives

At the end of the this course, participants will be able to:

Identify key building code requirements that must be present in

submissions to the City of Pittsburgh under the new Plan Review

Submission Process

Recognize text and drawing features that make up a

comprehensive plan review submission

Eliminate common oversights in code review and documentation

Streamline the design and documentation process to better explain

the safety and code compliance aspects of a design.

Permit, Licenses, and Inspections:A New Department for a Growing City

“BBI will be turned into a new Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections and be tasked with streamlining the city’s

building permitting processes, proactively enforcing property maintenance codes, and ensuring the highest levels of building

safety and performance.”

This new Department will be part of “the Neighborhood Reinvestment Alliance, and provide the needed capacity for a

city that no longer is managing decline, but one that is growing.”

- Mayor Bill Peduto, 2015 Budget Address

MISSIONTHE MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PERMITS, LICENSES, AND INSPECTIONS IS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIVING FOR RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PITTSBURGH BUILDING CODE, ZONING CODE, AND THE REGULATION OF VARIOUS BUSINESS AND TRADE LICENSES AS PRESCRIBED BY THE PITTSBURGH BUSINESS LICENSING CODE. THE DEPARTMENT’S MISSION IS ALSO TO PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE TO RESIDENTS AND DEVELOPERS ALIKE AS THEY DO BUSINESS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

CONSTRUCTION DIVISION – THIS UNIT REVIEWS AND APPROVES APPLICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION PERMITS AND INSPECTS BUILDINGS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY’S BUILDING CODE AND BUILDING PERMIT PROVISIONS. PERMITS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT INCLUDE BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, OCCUPANCY, DEMOLITION, FIRE SPRINKLER, AND FIRE ALARM PERMITS. THE UNIT IS ALSO CHARGED WITH THE INSPECTING THESE PERMITS TO MAKE SURE THE WORK HAPPENS ACCORDING TO CODE.

OPERATIONS DIVISION – THIS UNIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT PITTSBURGH’S EXISTING BUILDINGS AND BUSINESSES OPERATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, BUSINESS AND TRADE LICENSING, ZONING, AND FIRE CODES. IT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDEMNING UNSAFE AND STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND BUILDINGS AND MONITORING CONDEMNED BUILDINGS FOR IMPROVEMENT OR DEMOLITION.

LICENSING AND ADMINISTRATION DIVISION - THIS UNIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ISSUING BUSINESS AND TRADE LICENSESAND PROCESSING ALL PAYMENTS FOR LICENSES, PERMITS AND REGISTRATIONS. IT MANAGES THE DEPARTMENT’S TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING THE ACCELA PROJECT TO CREATE ONE ELECTRONIC DATABASE FOR ALL OF PLI’S RECORDS. THE UNIT ALSO OVERSEES ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT’S ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS INCLUDING BUDGET, PERSONNEL, AND TRAINING.

A More Efficient and Pro-active Department

Permits, Licenses, and Inspections

• More Efficient Inspections: Create new positions that will allow inspectors to be cross-trained in multiple disciplines so that they address several issues at a property at once.

• Unified Permitting Process: There will now be one standard way all permits are applied, issued, and inspected. The goal is make the development process more predictable and simpler for customers to navigate.– This process will expand to include right-of-way permits and special events.

• Improved Technology: Inspectors now have access to cell phones, email, and have started to

to do some real-time data entry.–Accela project has been re-set which will allow the Department to move

forward with creating a modern, unified, accessible database.–Online permitting and licensing–Credit card payments

City of Pittsburgh Permitting

Permit Applications

• Visit our website www.pittsburghpa.gov/pli to review the application and inspection process, particularly the updated application forms.

What is a complete permit application?

• Current Application Form– Completed, Signed and Sealed by Design Professional

• (2) Sets Drawings– Final Drawings, ‘For Construction’

– Sealed by Design Professionals

• Specifications Manual

• Supplemental Reports

• Existing approvals, Certificates of Occupancy

• Conditional approvals from other regulatory agencies

• Application fee

Checklist- General application submission

• Is the permit application completed, signed?

• Drawings / Specs submitted? – 2 sets, Sealed by Design Professional– Final drawings ‘FOR CONSTRUCTION’

• Is the code compliance path identified?

• Is this project for a new or existing building?• If an existing building – research the existing

conditions!– Is this a complete change, partial change, or

continuation of a previously approved occupancy?– What is the construction type?– Current approvals based on variances?– Obtain the current Certificates of Occupancy

• Does the submission include all necessary support documents? – Energy code compliance documentation– Accessibility Cost Verification form– Statement of Special Inspections– Special Hazard Flood Area compliance– Variance decisions

Site Plan

• Have changes to the site plan been approved by the Department of City Planning?

• Is the exact location of the building dimensioned in reference to the property lines?

• Are unique site conditions identified? – Special Hazard Flood Area?

– Undermined Area?

– Landslide Prone Area?

• Have alterations or impact on the public Right of Way been approved by the Department of Public Works?– Curbcuts intersections

– Encroachments?

Architectural Plans – Code Summary Sheets

• Identify the basic understanding of the project for code compliance

• Key Plans / Diagram Floor Plans– What is new? What is being changed?

– Existing Conditions are necessary.

– Use standard drawing conventions to identify existing and new construction.

– Clearly mark the ‘Work Area’ – reconfigured spaces

– include the context of remainder of the entire floor.

– Label rooms, Identify Use Groups

– Occupant Load Calculations

– Means of Egress

– Fire and Life safety plans

– Identify Fire walls, barriers, partitions, structural fire proofing protections.

– openings and penetrations?

WORK AREA. That portion or portions of a building consisting of all reconfigured spaces as indicated on the construction documents. Work area excludes other portions of the building where incidental work entailed by the intended work must be performed and portions of the building where work not initially intended by the owner is specifically required by this code.

ICC Diagrams – 2009 IBC Commentary

Diagram Unique Conditions of Compliance

• Were area calculations necessary?

• Mixed use conditions?

• Horizontal Building special provisions?

• How was ‘grade plane’ established?

• Identify levels of exit discharge

• Levels of Fire Dept. Vehicle Access

• Number of stories – Highrise designation?

• Floor openings / atriums?

ICC Diagrams – 2009 IBC Commentary

Architectural Plans – Code Summary Sheets

• Accessibility –

– Is the accessible route identified, including areas potentially outside of the scope of work?

– Dwelling and sleeping units properly identified?

– Is the building fully compliant?

– Are exceptions being applied?

– 20% exception?

– Variances?

• Energy Code Compliance –

– Identify conditioned/unconditioned space

– Identify thermal envelope, percentage wall glazing

Structural Design• Are the appropriate design floor and roof live

loads identified? Building occupancy category?

• Are structural calculations provided?

• Is a Geotechnical Report provided for specific soil conditions? Design bearing value?

• Are new footings/ foundations clearly identified in relation to frost depth?

• Are there implications on the foundations to adjoining properties or Public Right of Ways?

• Are primary and secondary structural members identified and dimensioned?

• Is fire-proofing necessary, identified?

City of Pittsburgh Structural Design requirements:• Design Ground Snow Load: 30 psf• Frost Depth: 36 inches• Design wind speed 3-sec gust: 90mph• Seismic Design Category: A

Fire Protection Systems Alterations may require installations of fire protections systems.

• Are systems required? existing? proposed? • To what extent?

– Partial? – Throughout the building?

• Sprinkler systems –– What standard? NFPA 13, 13R, 13D, P2904?

• Fire alarm system- Manual, automatic?

• Are standpipes necessary? which class?

• Is a fire pump required?

• Are Smoke control systems required?

Electrical, Mechanical Plans• New or alterations to existing electrical system?

• Multiple services proposed?

• Are required Emergency, Standby, optional standby systems identified?

• Are service phase, breaker ampacity, maximum voltage identified?

• Hazard class areas clearly identified?

• Receptacle and lighting circuitry identified?

• Does the proposed scope of work include any equipment exterior of the building?

– City Planning / Zoning requirements may apply

– Visual / Noise screening implications

• Does the proposed work include commercial cooking hood and exhaust system?

• Are HVAC system penetrations of fire-rated assemblies identified?

• Are the plans coordinated with Energy Code summary documents?

Tips for a Better Application / Faster Review

• Know the starting point – Research the current Certificates of Occupancy– Identify existing Use Group Classification – determine if change in use, or alterations only

– Identify the correct Construction Type

– Existing conditions to be maintained – previous variances, conditions of approval

– Existing fire protection systems

• Clearly Summarize the project – Code summaries make for a faster review:– Provide Fire and Life-safety Key Plans

– Show existing conditions and proposed new construction, uses

– Show your code compliance path

– Diagram critical components for basic understanding

– Identify accessibility compliance

• Submit final, stamped construction drawings, intended ‘For Construction’.

REQUIRED INFORMATION ON CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

1. DRAWINGS MUST BE STAMPED BY A PA DESIGN PROFESSIONAL

• Every page must be stamped

• Stamped for Construction

REQUIRED INFORMATION ON CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

2. CONSTRUCTION DATA

• Construction type, Use group, and Occupancy load

• Appropriate Building Codes (The design professional shall choose either 2009 IBC chapter 34 or 2009 IEBC)

• Square footage, building height, and number of stories

REQUIRED INFORMATION ON CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

3. DESIGN CRITERIA

• Snow and Wind load

• Building Category

• Soil Testing

• Special Inspections Reports

• Site Plan showing Legal lot lines

REQUIRED INFORMATION ON CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

4. MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING DRAWINGS

• Design Build leads to issues

• Allegheny County Health Department reviews plumbing drawings

REQUIRED INFORMATION ON CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

5. 2009 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CODE

• Review will be based on the Prescriptive method or a Comcheck

• For the Prescriptive method provide R and U values for all assemblies and fenestration, efficiency ratings of all mechanical equipment, wattages of all lighting fixtures.

• 50% lighting reduction controls or occupancy sensors where there are more than 2 luminaires.

• Provide accurate information on the Comcheck.

REQUIRED INFORMATION ON CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

6. 2009 EXISTING BUILDING CODE

• For interior renovations provide the level of the alteration

• The 20% rule for accessibility applies to Level 1,2,and 3 alterations, a Partial change of use in a mixed use building, and additions.

• Provide a cost breakdown on how you are achieving the 20%

• Intent is to not require full accessibility compliance immediately in existing buildings

• Provide the change of use information.

REQUIRED INFORMATION ON CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

7. ACCESSIBILTY

• Show the accessible route from the parking lot to all the primary function areas, and this includes the toilet rooms and drinking fountains.

REQUIRED INFORMATION ON CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

8. CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS

• Legal documents

• Provide a minimum of 2 sets of drawings.

• Must be stored by the municipality for the life of the structure.

This concludes The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems Course

AIA PittsburghThe Bruno Building

945 Liberty Avenue, Unit 3Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Tel: 412-471-9548Fax: 412-471-9501

Email: info@aiapgh.org