MODEL # 98-18
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP:
THE BOEING COMPANY
AND WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION OF BUILDING OFFICIALS (WABO)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Jurisdiction Statistics:

• Population: 5.6 million (State of Washington)
• Size (square miles): 71,303

Regulatory Areas:

• Administration & Enforcement

PROBLEM:

Public/Private Sector Communication - Building Regulation

The Boeing Company, with many project sites and facilities throughout the State of Washington, sought to develop a better working relationship with the jurisdictions in which the company operates.

SOLUTION:

Partnering - Cooperative Problem Solving

Boeing and the Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO) formed a partnership to improve the building regulatory process by cooperating to resolve code and inspection issues and to create consistent and uniform operating procedures.

DESCRIPTION:

WABO and Boeing formed the partnership because the company has projects and facilities in 19 jurisdictions within the State of Washington. By working together to resolve common regulatory concerns, both entities hope to increase the efficiency of the process and enhance the quality and safety of the company's facilities.

The partnership identified four major goals for the effort and established action plans to meet the goals:

• Continuity of process and personnel. To work towards consistent permitting processes and to retain valuable and knowledgeable employees in key positions.
• Understanding each other's goals and objectives. To obtain a permit and final occupancy in a timely manner.
• Co-op (or work) together to make codes industrially friendly. To create a code change process to recognize high bay manufacturing process.
• Resolution/advisory committee- regional, nonbinding, focused upon industrial/commercial. To establish a WABO Code Committee to advise jurisdictions and industry on industrial/commercial issues.

Included in the submission package are summaries of the above action plans, outlining the anticipated barriers to achieving the desired goal, specific "torchbearers" who will carry out the action plans, the due date for meeting the goal, and supplementary notes.

The partnering agreement also identified certain specific measures that can be used in each project, where necessary, to meet the partnership's identified goals. Included among these measures are:

• Designate a single Project Manager for the jurisdiction to handle change orders, code issues, and scheduling of inspections
• Schedule regular meetings between Boeing and the jurisdiction
• Create a problem solving committee of Partnering Team members to resolve code and inspection issues.
• Use a Special Inspector for unlisted equipment
• Involve the jurisdiction in the partnering and evaluation process

The focus of the partnership's goals and action plans is to improve communication by involving both parties in all aspects of the regulatory process. With open communication and cooperation, Boeing is able to convey their needs more effectively and the local building departments are able to address these needs in a more efficient manner.

EVALUATION BY STREAMLINING COMMITTEES:

Advantages

• The program removes the perceived adversarial atmosphere between the public and private sectors;
• It reduces time, cost, and complexity;
• A good program for cities with large institutional facilities such as hospitals and universities;
• Problems are solved very quickly;
• Team values are promoted, as are mutual goals and objectives.

Limitations

• The partnership is not binding; the jurisdiction has the choice of opting out;
• Need to ensure continuity of leadership in the face of personnel turnover.

IMPLEMENTATION:

This program was made possible through the independent efforts of Boeing and WABO. Information was not provided by the submitting party as to whether any administrative action was necessary by any of the 19 jurisdictions involved in the partnership.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE IN CONSIDERING THE USE OF THIS MODEL, PLEASE CONTACT:

Terry Beals
Facilities Project Administrator
The Boeing Company
P.O. Box 3707, M/S 97-11
Seattle, WA 98124-2207
Phone: (425) 237-5232
FAX: (425) 237-5487
Email: terry.m.beals@boeing.com

Or NCSBCS Staff:
Carolyn Fitch
National Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards
505 Huntmar Park Drive, Suite 210
Herndon, VA 20170
Phone: (703) 467-2048
FAX: (703) 481-3596
Email: cfitch@ncsbcs.org