News Updates - February 11, 2009

Green building and the building code

The 1% Training Program has contracted with the Cascadia chapter of the Green Building Council to present the course "Green Building and the Building Code." This course will cover the use of green building techniques in commercial building and how new technology fits building code requirements. At this time, Cascadia has scheduled four of these classes. They will be held on: March 24 in Salem, March 31 in Medford, Sept. 22 in Hood River, and Sept. 23 in Hillsboro. To get more information, check out Cascadia's flyer and Web site.

Rulemaking Hearing for COPS

In the last newsletter, we mentioned that the division was working on clarifications to Article 708 in the 2008 OESC, Critical Operations Power Systems. The division, working with the Electrical and Elevator Board, has drafted amendments to the section. The proposed changes clarify that the building owner, and not the building official or other state or local government entity, designates an area as needing a critical operations power system. The proposed changes also remove requirements for maintenance, documentation, and continued monitoring, because those are generally outside what the building code regulates. A rulemaking hearing on the proposed changes will be held on March 17, 2009 at 9:30 a.m.

Oregon Smart Guides

BCD has started a new series of informational booklets for consumers called Oregon Smart Guides. The first two guides in the series are on Water Conservation and Rainwater Harvesting. The publications are aimed to provide basic information on new technology, alternate methods, and some "how-tos" about specific topics that consumers are interested in. Through these guides, we hope to promote best practices so consumers can make informed choices. Take a look at this new series.

Answers to questions on requirements for electrical receptacle locations

The division receives a number of questions each day on a variety of topics. We try to highlight some of the most commonly asked questions by preparing helpful articles to provide some guidance.

The 2008 National Electrical Code has requirements for convenience outlets in dwellings. The code language addresses the need for outlets that serve kitchen island countertops. These countertops are designed and built in an infinite variety of sizes, shapes, and configurations. This article helps interpret the requirements for receptacle location.

ePermitting

Quick Permits Moving Soon to Accela Citizen Access
The Quick Permits system will be moving to the Accela Citizen Access format later this spring. The new format is the first step in the overall development of the state's new full service ePermitting system.

Along with all of the current Quick Permit features, the new system will expand the permit offerings for mechanical permits by allowing a city or county to offer commercial mechanical permits that do not need a plan review. The new system will also allow a contractor to purchase multiple permits from multiple participating cities and counties with a single credit card transaction.

Development of the full service ePermitting option will begin after the revised Quick Permit system has been deployed. The full service system will have many additional features to the Quick Permits or basic system. These include:

• Use a proven commercial software package developed by Accela, adapted to Oregon's needs.
  

• Replace the need for building departments to invest in an individual system.

• Enhance customer service. With routine communications and customer transactions, automated staff is available to address higher-value, more complex customer issues.

• Help local building departments share and implement best business practices across Oregon.

• Cities and counties that have already purchased systems will have the ability to interface with the state's ePermitting system and add features that their local system may not have.

• Support revenue collection locally as permit revenue flows directly to the jurisdiction.

A city or county will have the ability to choose their desired participation level with either option making buying and selling building permits a lot easier for everyone. Over 30 jurisdictions will be using the basic service option by the end of April 2009. Three building departments in Oregon have agreed to be the first full service users with an expected startup in late 2009. Thereafter, cities and counties will be brought on to the system in small groups. This helps Accela custom fit the system to each city or county's individual needs.