Connecticut State Building Code

TOPICS

• Update on the Current Code Adoption

• Code Adoption Process

• Appeals Process

• Services from the Office of the State Building Inspector

• Discussion / Questions

Connecticut State Building Code

• Proposed 2015 State Building Code• 2015 Connecticut Supplement• 2012 ICC - International Building Code• 2012 ICC – International Residential Code• 2012 ICC – International Plumbing Code• 2012 ICC - International Mechancial Code• 2012 ICC – International Energy Conservation Code• 2012 ICC – International Existing Building Code• 2014 NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code

BUILDING CODE ADOPTION101

Hierarchy of Law

• Federal Law – CFR,USC, etc.– 40 CFR 220

• Connecticut General Statutes (CGS)– 29-252

• State Regulations (RSCA)–29-252-1

• Local Law & Ordinances

The Players

• State Building Inspector

• Codes & Standards Committee

• State Fire Marshal

• Legislature

• Public

C.G.S. 29-252

• Creates the position of State Building Inspector– Governor’s Appointment– Must be a R.A. or P.E. with 10 years experience– Authority to interpret State Building Code– Authority to Review a local building officials decision

• Adoption of a State Building Code– Based on a national standard– Develop Amendments to the model

• Administrative• Geological and weather• Statutory Requirements• Any other issue deemed necessary

– 18 Months after Publication of the model code

C.G.S. 29-253

• Applicability of State Building Code– Applicable to all municipalities– May not be changed locally• No local additions or exceptions

– Related Laws• Zoning regulations and ordinances• Wetlands regulations and ordinances• Fire Safety and Fire Prevention Codes

Regulation

• RCSA 29-252-1 – State Building Code– Adopts • ICC & NFPA Model Codes• Connecticut Supplement

– (Amd) Amendments – changes to model code language– (Add) Additions - entire sections or a few words– (Del) Deletions – sections, appendixes

• Amendments

+ = SBC

Adoption Process

• Technical Review and Supplement Development

• Code Change Proposal Process• Approval of the Final Draft• Regulatory Adoption Process

Technical Review

• Technical Review and Supplement Development– Review of proposed model codes• Subcommittees with OSBI staff

– Draft Supplement• Section revision and coordination• Add new statutory requirements• Remove incorporated items

Code Change Proposals

• May be submitted by anyone– Form and instructions on Adoption Website• Proposer Information• Code Section(s) with proposed language• Background and supporting information

• May Request to do a Presentation to the committee– Limited to 10 minutes– Unlimited Q&A with the committee

Regulatory Approval• Administrative Approval

– Governor’s Office/OPM• Formal Public Hearing

– Catalog all comments– Develop Responses– Make Revisions

• Attorney General Review and Approval• Regulation Review Committee

– Legislative Commissioner Office Review – Regulation Review Committee Hearing– Approval

• Submission to the Secretary of the State– It is law!

Appeals

General Appeals Process

Municipal Board of Appeals or Chief Executive

BO Decision

Review by OSBI

State Codes & Standards Committee

State Superior Court

Avenues for Appeal

• C.G.S 29-252(d) SBI review of an LBO decision– Limited to misinterpretation or misconstrue

• C.G.S 29-252a(g) Refusal to issue a permit or Certificate of Occupancy

• C.G.S 29-254(b) Appeal of modification decision by SBI• C.G.S 29-266(b) Appeal of a LBO decision• C.G.S 29-269(b) Appeal of an Accessibility Waiver

ModificationsFormal Interpretations

and other Services provided by OSBI

Modifications

• Building Code Modifications C.G.S 29-254(b) – State Building Inspector may grant a modification if

• Practical Difficulty• Unnecessary Hardship• Otherwise adjudged unwarranted

• For a specific property or project– ONE TIME ONLY - not part of the code

Municipal Building Officials are NOT empowered to make Code modifications!

Building Code Modification

• Application– Available through local BO– Online at the OSBI Website

• Submission– To Local BO to comment– LBO sends to OSBI for action

• Review and Approval– May contact LBO or requester– Research, discuss with ICC

• Approval (or denial) – Returned to applicant and LBO

Modification Form

Other Modifications

• Accessibility Exemptions C.G.S. 29-269(b)– Joint decision – OSBI and Office of Protection &

Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities• Educational Sprinkler Waiver C.G.S 29-315– Joint decision – State Building Inspector and State

Fire Marshal• Urban Homesteading and Historic Structures– C.G.S. 29-259

Elevators and Lifts

• Elevators• CGS Chapter 538

• Limited Access Lifts• Special handling when part of

‘accessible path’

Formal Interpretations

• SBI or designee may issue C.G.S. 29-252(c)• Required to compile and index (on website)• Becomes part of the code

OSBI Services

• Code Questions, informal interpretations– Please do your homework first

• Conflict Resolution– LBO enforcement– Interagency

• Support for Local building offices

Questions?Contact Information:

Office of the State Building Inspector165 Capitol Ave. Room 265

Hartford, CT 06106

Telephone: 860-713-5900

Website: www.ct.gov/dcs/osbi

Email: Joseph.Cassidy@CT.gov

Thank you for the opportunity to talk with you tonight!