News Updates - March 11, 2009
Oregon Commercial Energy Conservation Advisory Committee
Beginning in early April, BCD will convene the Oregon Commercial
Energy Conservation Advisory Committee (OCEC). The 12 member committee
will advise the division on how to substantially increase the
energy efficiency of commercial buildings. The OCEC will review
proposed code changes and provide input for the division to consider
forwarding to the appropriate advisory board(s).
To receive updates on the committee's progress and public meeting notices via email, please log onto the
committee Web page and select the link for updates
at the top of the page. For further information, you can contact either Richard Rogers, 503-378-4472, Richard.Rogers@state.or.us
or Shane Sumption, 503-378-4635, Shane.R.Sumption@state.or.us.
OAR Compilation- Updated for 2009!
Throughout the year, the division takes part in different rulemaking activities. When a rule is adopted,
amended, or repealed you receive an email notifying you of the division's newly adopted rules. This
is all done in an effort to keep your OAR (Oregon Administrative Rule) compilation as up to date as
possible. At the end of the year, we combine the previous year's changes into a brand new compilation
so that we can start the year with a nice, clean copy of OARs. This new and improved version is now
available on our rule and rulemaking Web page and printed copies are available for purchase
from the division. This 2009 OAR compilation
includes all rules filed through January 31, 2009. As changes occur throughout 2009, we will continue
to update our rule Web page, which is your resource
for the most up to date information on the division's rulemaking activities. If you have not done
so already, you may wish to sign up for "Notify" located at the top of the rule Web page,
which allows you to receive emails whenever the page is updated.
Task force on ORSC Section R703.1 to hold meeting
The division will reconvene the task force established to explore new language in the 2008 Oregon
Residential Specialty Code (ORSC), Section R703.1. This section of the 2008 ORSC requires that a wall
assembly must provide a means of draining water that enters the wall assembly to the exterior. This
new language has led to many questions from contractors and local governments alike. The purpose of
the task force is to develop recommendations clarifying how to achieve the performance expectation
of this new language which was adopted as part of the 2008 ORSC. The task force held two meetings
late last year and will hold a third meeting on March 16 in the Building Codes Division's conference
room A. Meeting times and materials are available on the division's Web
site and, as always, the division will stream the meeting live over the Internet.
Questions on Appendix N relating to low rise apartments
Between changes in the codebook location and changes to the provisions
of the appendix, Appendix N generates many questions. The three
that we hear the most often are:
1) Where is it?
Currently, Appendix N is only found in the 2007 Oregon Structural
Specialty Code (OSSC). Last fall the newsletter included an article
on the history of Appendix N, which helps explain this move.
2) Are sprinklers now required?
All structures built under Appendix N are required to be sprinkled. This new sprinkler requirement
is one of the amendments made during the residential code adoption process and became effective April
1, 2008. Another notable change that took place at the same time was the reduction in fire wall requirements.
All of the April 1, 2008 amendments
can be printed and inserted into your copy of Appendix N.
3) Are all small apartments required to be designed to it?
Designing a low-rise apartment structure to the provisions of
Appendix N is purely a design choice left to the discretion of
the design professional. Apartment structures falling within the
scope of Appendix N can also be designed under the main portion
of the 2007 OSSC.
We hope answering these question clears up some of the confusion.
If you have any questions regarding this article or Appendix N
please feel free to contact Richard Rogers at 503-378-4472 or
richard.s.rogers@state.or.us.
ePermitting
Quick Permits is morphing to basic ePermitting services
The basic services of ePermitting, coming in April, will replace
the Quick Permits program. Nevertheless, because Accela used Quick
Permits to pattern the design of the new system, many things have
stayed the same. In each bi-weekly edition of the newsletter,
we are using this section to talk about the things that are different
between the two systems. The last newsletter discussed the requirement
for contractor login and what new features are made possible with
this change. In this issue, we want to let you know about a new
application feature for purchasing permits.
New selection process for service types and features
The new basic ePermitting services system will allow a user to
customize their permit application through a selection process.
When a contractor logs into their account, they make choices from
a series of lists that leads them to the necessary permit. For
example, if a plumber were working on a single family home, they
would choose the service types that only apply to a one-or two-family
dwelling. The contractor would continue to choose service types
that narrow the list of permits available.
If a city or county chooses not to sell a particular fixture
or service through the ePermitting system, that service or fixture
will not show up as an option to the contractor. This decreases
the opportunity for error in the permit purchasing process.
Look for more information on the changes from Quick Permits to
ePermitting in our next issue.
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