News Updates - May 9, 2012
Seismic and wind load bracing calculators
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Oregon Residential Specialty Code
Seismic and wind load bracing calculators
are now available on the Residential
Structures Program page. BCD designed these calculators
to help code users with the mathematical calculations
for determining the required length of wall bracing
as required by the 2011 Oregon Residential Specialty
Code.
These calculators are not intended to teach
users how to do a lateral bracing calculation nor to
teach the technical requirements of the code. They are
intended to simply perform the math functions and to
aid in presenting work to the local jurisdiction in
an easy-to-follow format. Users need to be familiar
with the code requirements when using the calculators
to be able to take advantage of their versatility.
Microsoft Excel is needed to open and use the calculators.
The document will open in all versions of Excel. Once
completed, the forms can be printed out and included
with the applicant's documents when submitting plans
to a local jurisdiction. For more information, contact
Steve Judson at 503-378-4635 or steven.w.judson@state.or.us.
Radon updates for new public buildings approved by
board
On May 2, 2012, the Building Codes Structures Board
(BCSB) approved for public hearing certain code changes
to the Oregon Structural Specialty Code that address
statutorily driven radon mitigation standards. These
requirements are only applicable for new public buildings
constructed in Baker, Clackamas, Hood River, Multnomah,
Polk, Washington, and Yamhill counties with initial
building permits issued on or after April 1, 2013.
BCD originally worked with stakeholders in the development
of a new section 1811 addressing "slab on grade"
installations. The BCSB adopted this section in the
fall of 2010 with the understanding that further refinements
would be offered before the April 1, 2013 implementation.
The proposed code changes to chapters 1, 17, and 35
and section 1811 represent the culmination of the continued
work with the stakeholders in providing the necessary
enhancements as noted above. Highlights include:
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Exemption in section 1811 for buildings achieving
prescribed ventilation/air change rates.
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Addition of several clarifying definitions in section
1811.1.
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Deletion in section 1811.2.3.2 through 1811.2.3.6
of redundant requirements addressing concrete mixture,
handling, and placement. Topics are adequately addressed
elsewhere in the OSSC.
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Augmented prescriptive requirements in section
1811.3 for both "Active Soil Depressurization"
systems and "Gas Conveyance Piping Systems."
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Adoption of specific referenced standards in chapter
35.
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Inspection expectations for jurisdictions and special
inspectors (chapters 1 and 17).
The public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 17
in Building Codes Division's Conference Room A, located
at 1535 Edgewater Street NW, Salem, OR 97304.
For more information, contact Richard Rogers at 503-378-4472
or richard.rogers@state.or.us.
Oregon Electrical Specialty Code committee
reviewed AFCI requirements
On March 22, 2012, the Electrical and Elevator Board
asked BCD to hold a public meeting to gather information
related to Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs). The
2011 National Electric Code expanded arc-fault circuit
interrupter protection beyond dwelling unit bedrooms
into dens, living rooms, and other similar areas. When
the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code (OESC) committee
originally reviewed code proposals in 2010, they heard
a lot of testimony related to AFCIs. Participants in
the code meetings complained that AFCIs were prone to
nuisance tripping as a result of older appliances or
certain combinations of appliances mimicking the wavelength
AFCIs associate with arc faults. At the time, the committee
recommended delaying implementation of the expanded
AFCI protection until July 1, 2012. BCD reconvened the
OESC committee to make a recommendation to the board
regarding the upcoming expansion of AFCI protection.
The OESC committee met April 25, 2012 to consider maintaining
the current requirement for AFCIs in bedrooms only,
further delaying the scheduled July 1, 2012 expansion.
The committee heard testimony from contractors, manufacturers,
and representatives from National Electrical Manufacturers
Association and UL. The committee unanimously expressed
concerns about the expansion. They expressed that the
successful deployment of AFCIs should be viewed as a
partnership between manufacturers and the contractor
community, but that currently the contractor community
seemed to be bearing the bulk of the responsibility
for unwanted tripping of the AFCIs due to equipment
incompatibility. The committee is recommending to the
Electrical and Elevator Board that the expansion of
the AFCI requirement to other areas of a dwelling be
delayed for the remainder of this code cycle. The board
will meet on May 24 to consider the recommendation.
For questions on the process, contact Aeron Teverbaugh
at 503-373-1354 or aeron.teverbaugh@state.or.us.
For questions on AFCI requirements, contact Dennis Clements
at 503-378-4459 or dennis.l.clements@state.or.us.
Update on the Specialized Finals Inspector
course
BCD announced the dates and locations for the two-day
live portion of the Specialized Finals Inspector course.
The division scheduled the two-day class in two different
locations to maximize the convenience for as many participants
as possible. Participants in the Specialized Inspector
training must complete the two-day class in order to
sit for the certification exam. One two-day session
will be held in Salem at BCD on June 7 and 8. A second
opportunity will be held in Springfield at the Springfield
Justice Center on June 28 and 29. Participants can take
both days at the same location or take day one in Salem
and day two in Springfield. The two-day live class is
an opportunity to ask questions of the instructors,
see examples of final inspections, and take a practice
exam. Participants in the course must also complete
40 inspections before sitting for the examination. To
sign up for a location or if you have any questions
about the course, contact Aeron Teverbaugh at 503-373-1354
or aeron.teverbaugh@state.or.us.
Oregon Reach Codebooks now available
Your patience has been rewarded! Copies of the 2011
Oregon Reach Code are now available to purchase from
the International Code Council (ICC) website.
Based on the International Green Construction Code
(IgCC), Oregon's optional Reach Code contains both the
commercial provisions, which became effective July 2011
and the residential provisions, which became effective
Oct. 1, 2011.
As you may recall, the Oregon Reach Code is the result
of legislative direction (SB 79) passed in 2009. The
bill directed BCD to develop and adopt an optional code
that is more energy efficient than the statewide mandatory
code.
As an optional code, designers can choose to follow
the entire code, resulting in a reach code building,
or use any one of the many individual components covered
in the Reach Code such as passive design, daylighting,
and vegetative roofs.
For more information, contact Mark Heizer at 503-373-0205
or mark.r.heizer@state.or.us.
2010 OSSC Chapter 11 Accessibility Revisions course
BCD's spring quarter edition of the 2010 OSSC Chapter
11 Accessibility Revisions course, provided through
Chemeketa Community College's eLearn system, will be
available for registration until June 1, 2012. If you
are already registered or planning on registering for
this course, you will have until June 16 to complete
it. Remember that if you register for the course during
the spring term and do not complete it, you will have
to retake the whole course, including the registration
fee and process, to receive credit. For more information,
contact Sherri West, training and public affairs coordinator,
at 503-373-7509 or sherri.d.west@state.or.us.
New statewide permitting program for using graywater
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) began
accepting permit applications for sub-surface irrigation
of landscaping with graywater in April 2012. The agency's
new graywater permit program is the result of House
Bill 2080, which passed in 2009. The legislation refers
to graywater as nonpotable or "used" water
from bathtubs, showers, sinks, and washing machines.
BCD participated on the graywater advisory committee,
the group that came up with recommendations for rules
to regulate graywater for beneficial outdoor use. The
rules, which were approved by Oregon's Environmental
Quality Commission in August 2011, define three types
of graywater based on level of treatment and purpose.
In addition to treatment, the rules establish monitoring
requirements, setbacks, access and exposure controls,
and site management practices to protect public health
and the natural environment.
Information on how to obtain a graywater permit is
available on DEQ's
website or by contacting the following program staff:
DEQ's graywater program complements BCD's statewide
alternate methods (SAMs) on rainwater harvesting and
water conservation systems, which focus on using graywater
for flushing toilets. Approved in 2008, the SAMs apply
across the state to both residential and commercial
construction. Rainwater harvesting and graywater for
flushing toilets systems are regulated by the Oregon
Plumbing Specialty Code and require a plumbing permit
from the authority having jurisdiction.
For copies of Oregon Smart Guides on rainwater
harvesting or water
conservation systems, contact Gabrielle Schiffer,
BCD's green building coordinator at 503-373-7418 or
gabrielle.m.schiffer@state.or.us.
Enforcement
Summary of enforcement cases presented
to the State Plumbing 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 Plumbing Board.
Plumbing
License Suspensions and Revocations
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