MODEL # 97-6 PRIVATE/PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP TO ENSURE
BUILDING CODE COMPLIANCE REGULATORY AREAS: PROBLEM: Lack of adequate government staffing resources to conduct all inspections and high cost to private sector of inspections. SOLUTION: A partnership was established between the local building department and APL. The partnership, which encompasses the Administration & Enforcement and Construction Codes regulatory areas, was established to save time and money within the permit and building code compliance processes for non-major interior renovation projects involving only the APL. Since these are relatively small projects, only the Department of Inspections is involved, not Zoning, Public Works, or other agencies usually concerned with the regulatory process. DESCRIPTION: Much of the program is based on procedures followed by the modular construction industry, which incorporates rigorous self-inspection and third-party compliance inspections. To ensure accountability, the county reviews the third-party inspection materials and has the right to conduct unannounced random inspections. A Building Code Compliance Assurance Manual was designed in order to facilitate the quality assurance process. This document is comprised of several sections corresponding to the construction phases of a typical renovation project. This includes process flow overview, plan review, construction inspection, occupancy inspection, documentation, personnel qualifications, and applicable codes and manuals. EVALUATION BY STREAMLINING COMMITTEES: The Administration & Enforcement Task Group found providing a service through partnering, owner empowerment, and promotion of trust between the owner and regulator to be the strengths of this program. The Group's overall recommendation is that it would serve as an excellent tool, partnered with Model # 97-7, In-Plant Program/Trust Account. IMPLEMENTATION: The partnership was made possible through an agreement between the Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses & Permits and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. The agreement was based upon assurances of code compliance by conditions set forth in a code compliance manual, developed by the Applied Physics Laboratory. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE IN CONSIDERING THE USE OF THIS MODEL, PLEASE CONTACT: David M. Hammerman, P.E. |
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