News Updates - December 4, 2009
2010 Oregon Energy Efficiency, Structural, and
Mechanical Specialty Codes effective July 1st
The division is adopting a new energy code based on the International Energy Conservation
Code (IECC). After having an "Oregon-unique" energy code for many years
as part of the Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC), the division is moving to
the adoption of a stand-alone energy code. To accomplish this, BCD brought together
a diverse group of people representing a broad spectrum of interests and experience.
After several months of work, and after further consultation with the Oregon Commercial
Energy Conservation Advisory Committee and other interested parties, the division
is nearing completion of a code that represents the best overall product. This code
will also help the division meet its statutory obligation for improvements in energy
efficiency of at least 15 percent in the commercial structural code (Senate Bill
79). The division continues to work on completion of the new code and hopes to have
a draft available by the end of the year, which is slightly later than originally
anticipated. This will result in a small delay in the effective date of the energy
code.
The 2010 OSSC, Oregon Mechanical Specialty Code (OMSC), and the Oregon Energy Efficiency
Specialty Code (OEESC) were all planned for an April 1, 2010 effective date. The
OMSC and OSSC are on target. However, the OEESC may not be ready by that date. The
division has determined that all three codes need to be adopted at the same time.
Because the provisions in the three codes are integrated, different adoption dates
would result in confusion to users and create unnecessary work. To ensure sufficient
time to complete work on the energy code, the effective dates for the OSSC, OMSC,
and OEESC have been delayed to July 1, 2010. The division still anticipates the books
for the OMSC and OSSC being available in the spring of 2010.
For further information, contact structural program chief Richard Rogers at 503-378-4472
or richard.rogers@state.or.us, or
mechanical specialist, Micheal Ewert at 503-373-7529 or mike.d.ewert@state.or.us.
Comment Period Extended for the Rules Adopting 2010 OSSC
The division held a rulemaking hearing on November 18, 2009 for the rules relating
to the adoption of the 2010 Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC). During the open
comment period, the division received requests to extend the comment deadline to
allow for more public input on the rulemaking. As a result of these requests, the
division granted an extension for an additional 21 days to 5 p.m. on December 11,
2009. All comments regarding the proposed code and draft rules must be received
in the division's office by this new deadline. No other comments will be accepted
after this date.
Please read the notice
of extension for more information on the process, including links to the proposed
code and draft rules.
To submit comments or if you have any questions, please contact division rules coordinator
Shauna Parker at 503-373-7438 or shauna.m.parker@state.or.us,
or structural program chief Richard Rogers at 503-378-4472 or richard.rogers@state.or.us.
New faces at the Building Codes Division
We would like to keep you updated on the new executive members of the BCD team.
We have two new faces at BCD, our new acting deputy administrator, Berri Leslie and
our new legislative and green building services manager, Andrea Fogue.
Leslie has been busy with her new position at BCD since October. She comes to us
from the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Division of Finance and Corporate
Securities (DFCS), where she has most recently been managing the division's implementation
of 2008 federal mortgage lending legislation. Prior to that, Leslie was manager of
Licensing and Administration at the Consumer Services Division of the state of Washington's
Department of Financial Institutions. Before moving to Washington, she worked for
six years at DFCS. She has a Master's of Public Administration from the University
of Portland, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon. Leslie brings
experience working with a wide array of stakeholders, as well as experience dealing
with a system of boards and commissions and managing a similar budget to BCD in both
dollars and number of staff.
Fogue has just taken on her position at the division this week. She comes to us
from the League of Oregon Cities, where she worked on legislative affairs for nearly
10 years. In her time at the League, Fogue also worked on a variety of energy issues
and was their lead staffer for the Local Voices program, which helps connect local
city representatives and citizens to decision makers in Salem. Prior to coming to
Oregon, she worked for the Iowa version of the League.
You can reach Berri Leslie at berri.l.leslie@state.or.us
or 503-373-7235 and Andrea Fogue at andrea.j.fogue@state.or.us
or 503-378-4150.
ePermitting - Where are We Now?
The ePermitting team is creating the base template tool, the Oregon Permit Model
(OPM), using Accela's product as a platform for the structure of the template. The
OPM will be used as a foundation when the team develops systems for interested cities
and counties. In other words, one system cannot be built that fits everyone's needs.
The ePermitting team collected information common to building permit services around
the state and will use it to construct the OPM. The next step is to get the template
modified to fit the individual needs of cities and counties because their business
practices can be very different.
A focus group assists the team in selecting and setting standards used to create
the OPM. Many members of the ePermitting focus group come from the original Business
Process Workgroup. They meet monthly to advise the ePermitting Team on issues like
inspection codes, status codes, and permit numbering. This information will be available
as a publication entitled the Guide to Full Service. The guide will outline jurisdiction
considerations to becoming an ePermitting Full Service member.
To create a system that meets a jurisdiction's individual needs, the ePermitting
team will carefully analyze and plan modifications to the OPM template's configuration
and workflow. At this point you may be asking yourself what is the template's configuration
and workflow? Configuration is the process of modifying the computer system to meet
the permitting needs of the adopting city or county. Workflow is the life-cycle and
process of each permit or project and determines what happens at each stage of the
process. Look for more information on these technical terms in our next newsletter.
If you have questions or need more information please contact Lori Graham at lori.l.graham@state.or.us
or 503-373-7755.
Regional Services Program makes presence known at conferences
A major benefit of the regional services program is placement of staff around the
state, which helps with stakeholder issues and brings feedback and ideas from their
local perspective back to Salem. As part of the continuing outreach to local jurisdictions,
regional staff joined forces as a team to staff a BCD vendor booth at two recent
conferences, the League of Oregon Cities and the Association of Oregon Counties.
Foot traffic past the booths provided numerous opportunities to establish new contacts
or to renew relationships with stakeholders from all over the state. The team also
used the event as a forum for dialogue discussing building codes in general, along
with specific details on topics like BCD's initiatives on energy efficiency and the
role of the regional program. Conference attendees included elected city and county
officials, city managers, and county administrators as well as key planning department
and public works staff.
Remember the regional coordinators are a voice for stakeholders, relaying information
and connecting them to Salem. So if there are issues or concerns you would like to
make known, please contact the coordinator for your area. They will either relay
your message to the division or help you make contact with the appropriate BCD staff.
Enforcement
Board of Boiler Rules summary of enforcement cases
Summary report: These cases were
resolved by the division's enforcement section without going to a contested case
hearing. No action was required by the Board of Boiler Rules.
Summary of enforcement cases presented
to the State Electrical and Elevator Board
Summary report: These cases
were resolved by the division's enforcement section without going to a contested
case hearing. No action was required by the State Electrical and Elevator Board.
Final orders after hearing:
These cases went to a contested case hearing. Each penalty assessment was reviewed
and approved by the State Electrical and Elevator Board.
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