News Updates - September 14, 2011
BCD’s ePermitting program receives national award
On Sept. 1, 2011, BCD's ePermitting Program received a Digital Government Achievement Award from the Center for Digital Government. The Digital Government Achievement Awards recognize outstanding agency websites and applications nationwide.
The ePermitting program was recognized in the government-to-business category for delivery of building program services through the Internet.
“The goal of every government website is to provide online services and information to constituents,” said Cathilea Robinett, executive director of the Center for Digital Government. “However, this year’s winners have taken the power of the Web to the next level – combining clear communication, design aesthetic, and easy navigation. Their foresight and leadership is creating unforeseen opportunities in government-to-citizen interaction and positioning the portal as a critical piece of public service delivery. The center thanks them for their continuing innovation and congratulates them on their achievements!”
“We are honored to receive this award which gives strength to our continued effort to provide a single statewide portal for our customers that allows access to permitting 24/7 from anywhere the Web is available.” said Pat Allen, BCD administrator.
The Center for Digital Government is a research and advisory institute that provides information about technology policies and best practices in state and local government.
For more information on the ePermitting program, please contact Lori Graham at 503-373-7755 or at lori.l.graham@state.or.us.
BCD updates earthquake, flood, and
windstorm inspector contact list
BCD is updating our list of earthquake, flood, and windstorm inspectors. In the upcoming weeks, we will be asking for your contact information if you are current with the ATC 20 training or the ATC 20/45 training. It is essential that we have your current contact information to ensure that we will be able to respond appropriately in case of a statewide emergency or natural disaster. After we update our list, we will make it available to all building officials.
2011 legislative training for inspectors,
plans examiners and building officials
BCD is in the process of developing legislative training for inspectors, plans examiners, and building officials on bills passed during the 2011 Oregon legislative session. BCD is creating a free online course and webinar that will be available from the main website starting in late October. Similar to 2009, the online course will include summaries of new legislation and questions relating to these summaries.
Certified individuals who attended the Oregon Building Officials Association class at its annual meeting in Bend, July 20 through 22 were given credit for that class and do not have to take the course.
Inspectors, plans examiners, and building officials are required to take this legislative training (law change) course as part of their continuing education requirements as specified in OAR 918-098-1450. The online class will be accessible from BCD’s website for up to a year.
If you have any questions about this course please contact Tiffani Alexander at tiffani.k.alexander@state.or.us or 503-373-1248.
HB 3462 Specialized Inspector training
As participants of the Specialized Solar Inspection course gear up to take their certification exams, the division is getting ready for the second round of HB 3462 training. Plumbing Chief Terry Swisher wrapped up the final two-day live Specialized Plumbing session in Salem late last month. The division is working to incorporate feedback on the first series of the HB 3462 trainings before finalizing the second series. Beginning Sept. 26, the division will be offering another Specialized Plumbing Inspector course and a Specialized Electrical Inspector course. There is still room available in both courses.
The Specialized Inspector courses focus on the training that current residential inspectors need to expand to certain simple commercial inspections. The courses are offered through Chemeketa Community College’s online learning system. With the exception of a two-day live component, they are self-paced courses that inspectors can access 24/7. If you are interested, contact Aeron Teverbaugh at aeron.teverbaugh@state.or.us or Tiffani Alexander at tiffani.k.alexander@state.or.us for more information or an application.
Structural program issues statewide interpretation
regarding emergency lighting in warehouses
Have you ever reviewed a set of plans for a warehouse and wondered how to apply the emergency power illumination requirements of Chapter 10 of the Oregon Structural Specialty Code? In partnership with our industry partners, BCD recently developed a statewide interpretation that answers several common questions and provides a code analysis of how to apply the emergency illumination requirements in these spaces.
The Emergency Power Illumination in Warehouse Applications interpretation and other statewide interpretations can be found on BCD’s Commercial Structures Interps page.
For more information on this interpretation, contact Steve Judson at 503-378-4635 or steven.w.judson@state.or.us.
Hazelnut shells fuel biomass boiler
Going green is as much about creative problem solving as it is about new technology. According to a recent article, a Forest Grove hazelnut farmer replaced his propane-guzzling hazelnut dryer with an energy-efficient boiler fueled by hazelnut shells – a readily available biomass fuel. The shells are now an energy source, instead of being a waste product that he had to pay to dispose of.
Kudos to BCD Boiler Inspector Mario Ramirez for suggesting an extra vent to make the system unpressurized. The double venting that he helped design will make the boiler safe to operate without the need for, and cost of, annual inspections.
Generating heat using locally available biomass has benefits ranging from reduced
energy costs to fostering energy independence. Beyond farm biomass opportunities
like hazelnut-shell-fueled boilers, the state’s forestry sector produces more
than 500,000 tons of forest biomass each year. In fact, Oregon has been dubbed the
“Saudi Arabia of biomass.” The continued increase in oil cost and the
Oregon Boiler Board’s decision in 2009 to allow high-performance boilers and
pressure vessels built to internationally recognized standards to be installed, should
help the state take full advantage of the biomass potential and create plenty of
opportunity for creative problem solving.
BCD's fall training update
The 1% Training program is going strong, sponsoring classes on the 2011 Oregon Residential
Specialty Code (ORSC) for both inspectors and contractors. There are currently code
change classes available for the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code (OESC), and soon
code change classes on the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code (OPSC) will be available.
There is currently a specialized class on wall bracing and in a couple of months
there should be a specialized class on wet venting. Most of these courses can be
found on BCD's online calendar.
The Brown Bag Lunch online presentations will continue with a series on the new
Oregon Reach Code. The first of this two-part presentation given by Mark Heizer is
scheduled for noon Tuesday, Sept. 20. The one-hour presentation will begin with background
information on the International Green Construction Code (IgCC). This session will
include a look at the code structure and how the electives fit into the use of the
code. The presentation will feature a general overview of the permitting process
for a Reach Code project, including what to submit, who should be involved, and the
plan review and construction inspection process by issuing a Certificate of Occupancy.
The second part of this presentation will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at noon.
This one-hour session will include a more in-depth overview of the core sections
of the code: chapters 3-12. There will also be time to concentrate on Chapter 6,
Energy Conservation. You can register online
for both of these sessions.
The 2010 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code will be available online at Chemeketa
Community College from Sept. 26-Dec. 6. The link to access the class will be opened
on Sept. 26 for anyone who would like to register.
If you have any questions about these training opportunities or need more information
please contact Sherri West, training coordinator, at 503-373-7509 or sherri.d.west@state.or.us.
Enforcement
Plumbing License Suspensions
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