overview of today’s agenda welcome, housekeeping, & … · 2017-05-30 · residential...

Residential Building Consistency Meeting Minutes – 11.2.16

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MECKLENBURG COUNTY - CODE ENFORCEMENT

Public Attendance (Contractors, Architects, Engineers): 19

MCCE Staff Attendance: 45

Overview of Today’s Agenda • Today’s agenda items: 4 recap, 9 new.

• Today’s training topic – Icynene in Residential Applications.

Welcome, Housekeeping, & Customer Service • The Dec 6th Commercial Bldg consistency Mtg has been cancelled due to a conflict w/ room

scheduling.

• The entire time allotted for the Dec 7th Residential Bldg Consistency Mtg (8am-12pm) will be

devoted to our first ever Product Fair. Several vendors / suppliers will be here to introduce us to

their products. Each will have a 20-minute presentation but will also have a table set up where

they can discuss their products further. Among them is Simpson, MiTek, Icynene, Fastenmaster,

Hilti, AAA Firestop, FiFoil, GAR Engineering, STI and 3M.

• Consistency meetings in all trades have adopted a 4-hour format with 2-hours for consistency

items and 2-hours allotted for ISO & CE. With regard to staff ISO hours, these meetings &

trainings are able to be counted as Mentoring ISO time if one chooses, but any time counted as

Mentoring could not also be counted as any other ISO time.

Trade consistency meetings are scheduled as follows:

o Building Consistency (Comm) – 1st Tuesday of every month @ 8am.

o Building Consistency (Res) – 1st Wednesday of every month @ 8am.

o Electrical Consistency – 2nd Wednesday of every month @ 8am.

o Mechanical Consistency – last Tuesday of every month @ 8am.

o Plumbing Consistency – last Wednesday of every month @ 8am.

• Reminder of deadline established for topic/question submissions to building consistency team:

o Third Wednesday of every month.

o Deadline set to allow team time to research/explain code logic behind decisions.

o Submit by email to Jeff Vernon, Bldg Code Administrator

[email protected]

o Submit online:

http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/LUESA/CodeEnforcement/Tools/Forms/Pages/

ConsisTopicSubmit.aspx

• Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement is abbreviated as MCCE throughout the minutes.

• Training topics for future building consistency meetings, Comm (C) & Res (R). Topics in bold are

approved to count toward CE credit hours; all topics count toward ISO hours.

o Dec 6 – Meeting has been cancelled

o Dec 7 - (C & R) – Product Fair

o Jan 3 - (C) – ESR’s & Significant Changes to the 2015 IBC (Vaughn Wicker, ICC)

o Jan 4 - (R) – Deck Construction (Jeff Griffin, Code Enforcement Manager)

o Feb 1 - (R) – Wall Bracing (Patrick Biddy, Plans Examiner)

o Feb 7 - (C) – Accessibility Q & A (Laurel Wright, NC DOI)

o Mar 1 - (R) – TBD

o Mar 7 - (C) – Meeting cancelled due to conflict w/ LUESA University for staff


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• NCBIA Winter Code Seminars:

o Building

� 1.23.2017 – Greenville

� 2.20.2017 – Aberdeen

� 3.13.2017 – Wake County (Bldg Only)

� 3.27.2017 – Hickory

o Mechanical


� 2.21.2017 – Aberdeen

� 3.28.2017 – Hickory

o Plumbing


� 2.22.2017 – Aberdeen

� 3.29.2017 – Hickory

o Electrical


� 2.23.2017 – Aberdeen

� 3.30.2017 – Hickory

• Building code qualification classes at CPCC

o 2016 Oct 14-16; 28-30 – Level I

o 2016 Dec 2-4; 16-18 – Level II

o 2017 Jan 27-29; Feb 18 & 19 – Level III

o 2017 Mar 24-26; Apr 8 & 9 – Level II

o 2017 April 28-30; May 12-14 – Level I

o 2017 July 21-23; Aug 5 & 6 – Level III

o 2017 Sep 22-24; Oct 7 & 8 – Level II

o 2017 Nov 17-19; Dec 1-3 – Level I

• Joelle Jeffcoat, Architect & Attorney, will be returning for four sessions of Legal training in Jan.

Residential Consistency (4 review items, 9 new items) – 2hrs of Tech ISO

1. Open items or unresolved questions from last meeting:

a. What is the requirement for access to crawl areas under porches?

- See attached DOI interpretation for R408.1.5 regarding separation between vented &

unvented spaces; revised 10.15.15.

- This interpretation does not eliminate the req’mt for access to all under-floor spaces

per R408.8 or R409.11. If solid separation is req’d between the crawl space of the

house & the crawl under the porch, then a separate, exterior access opening would be

req’d for the crawl space under the porch.

b. Are sheathing (SH) inspections required?

- Sheathing inspections are voluntary. They were created to allow the exterior cladding

to begin prior to a complete framing inspection, as well as allow inspection of the bare

framing behind tubs & showers that are installed @ the rough plumbing stage.

- If the Contractor does not specify in their request notes that concealed spaces are

part of the desired items to be inspected during the SH inspection, then the Field

Inspector will only look at the exterior of the project. Those concealed spaces then

MUST be visible at the Framing inspection. Only after those areas are inspected &

passed can tubs/showers, insulation, & encapsulation be installed.

- The house should be dried in when SH inspection called; windows can be out as long

as house wrap covers their openings.

- See attached doc from Jeff G. about SH inspection guidelines.

- Brian Hall with Classica Homes asked if portal framing was inspected during an SH

inspection. His portal frame details require OSB on the inside of the portal frame. Can

they install that OSB after the SH inspection & have it ready to be inspected @ the

Framing inspection? Brandon Burgin, Inspection Supervisor, said yes. It is very


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important, however, to communicate to your Field Inspector that you desire them to

look at that portal framing during the SH inspection.

c. What are the requirements for pool barriers on waterfront lots?

- Low water levels can create a beach area beyond the end of a pool barrier fence that

typically stops at the water’s edge. In this situation the length of fence needs to be

increased in order to maintain the req’d protection of a pool barrier, but to what point?

- MCCE will inquire with Duke Energy to find out where they establish the lot line along

the water side of a property. MCCE will enforce protection up to that lot line. This

item will be put on a future meeting agenda after the info from Duke is obtained.

d. Please see attached sub-grade letter with modified instructions to include footings &

thickened slab areas that are interior to the foundation perimeter.

- This letter is also available on the Forms page of MCCE’s website:

http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/LUESA/CodeEnforcement/Tools/Forms/Page

s/default.aspx

2. What is our policy on insulation (IN) inspections on unfinished spaces above a garage?

MCCE does not perform insulation inspections on unfinished spaces because they are not

part of the heated sq.ft. listed on the permit, and therefore are not included in the scope of

work to be insulated. Also, insulating & inspecting these unfinished areas increases the

potential for them to be finished without the req’d permits or inspections after the house

receives the C.O.

3. What is MCCE looking for on inspections of Demo permits?

a. Sections 3303.4 thru 3303.6 in the 2012 NC Bldg Code cover what gets inspected on a

demo permit.

• 3303.4 – Vacant Lot. Where a structure has been demolished or removed, the vacant

lot shall be filled and maintained to the existing grade or in accordance with the

ordinances of the jurisdiction having authority.

• 3303.5 – Water Accumulation. Provision shall be made to prevent the accumulation

of water or damage to any foundations on the premises or the adjoining property.

• 3303.6 – Utility Connections. Service utility connections shall be discontinued and

capped in accordance with the approved rules and the requirements of the

applicable governing authority.

b. In the 2018 NC Residential Code, there is planned language to be added regarding demo

projects. Until then, the 3303 language from the 2012 NC Bldg Code is what will be

enforced.

c. There is no Bldg Code req’mt for seeding & straw of a site.

4. At an existing slab, where is the measurement taken for depth of a ftg below grade or the height of

a foundation wall above grade?

This measurement is taken from the bottom of the slab and not the top of the slab:

interior exterior

slab Foun. height

Ftg depth


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5. How do we result inspections on work that is designed and inspected by an Engineer under House

Bill 255?

a. HB 255 mandates the Design Professional (DP) who sealed the design has to physically

observe & inspect the work being done.

b. MCCE’s inspection policy for these projects is still being developed with the Mecklenburg

County Attorney, and we need to make clear, precise notes on the permit and upload any

documentation to the permit.

c. Marcel Papineau, Eng'r w/ Intelligent Design, said his understanding through

conversations with David Tuttle of the State Licensing Board for Engr’s was that the

inspections could be performed by staff under his employ. Jim Bartl, Director of Code

Enforcement, says per Marvin Bethune, Mecklenburg County Attorney, anyone invoking

use of HB 255 will need the DP to personally inspect the work. This is not the same as

other work performed by the Eng'r or their staff that does not invoke the provisions of

HB 255. Jim Bartl said if David Tuttle & Marvin Bethune need to discuss the issue further,

MCCE will follow the County Attorney’s direction.

• Section 107.4 of the NC Admin Code allows jurisdictions to authorize inspection by an

Eng'r or their staff, but it does not replace the jurisdiction’s inspections, and it

requires pre-coordination with the Inspections Dept of the jurisdiction. Jeff Griffin,

Code Enforcement Mgr, said MCCE has only typically authorized this section for

helical piers.

d. Jim Bartl asked the attendees present from the construction industry to provide MCCE

examples of when & what components for which they would use HB 255. MCCE will send

that list up to NC DOI for clarification & a better definition of what is a “component”.

e. This topic will be discussed further at a future consistency meeting.

6. What is the difference between a Y1 & Y2 level for High Failure Rate?

a. The difference is mainly the req’mt for supplementary documentation to be uploaded.

• Y1 level – Contractor req’d to wait two days before scheduling re-inspection.

• Y2 level – Contractor req’d to wait two days AND provide a Pre-Inspection form

(upload or by hand onsite) to the Inspector when scheduling the re-inspection; if

nothing uploaded or no hard copy onsite, the inspection is failed again.

b. High Failure Rate FAQ’s:

http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/LUESA/CodeEnforcement/Tools/Contractors/

Documents/HFRContractorsFAQs.pdf#search=hfr

c. Pre-Inspection Form:

http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/LUESA/CodeEnforcement/Tools/Forms/Docu

ments/PreInspectionForm.pdf

7. What is the new code interpretation for re-inspection of under slab changes?

See the attached interpretation that goes into effect Jan 1, 2017.

8. Who is the contact for asbestos and/or lead abatement?

a. Asbestos & lead abatement are governed by the Division of Public Health under the NC

Dept of Health & Human Services (NC DHHS). Use the following links:

• Asbestos - http://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/asbestos/demolition.html

• Asbestos brochure -

http://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/asbestos/pdf/demolition_renovation_requirements.p

df

• Lead - http://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/lead/abatement.html


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9. What is an allowable alternate method of soffit protection?

a. Protection for aluminum or vinyl soffits is supposed to be horizontal, but MCCE has

discussed allowing 5/8” Type X on tails with a vent strip in the middle. No official position

has been made at this time on this possible alternate; it is still being evaluated.

10. Are PEX bend protectors allowed to be installed?

a. These devices prohibit the installation of insulation where they are used, therefore, they

are not currently allowed in 2x4 exterior framed walls at this time.

b. They can be used in other wall locations or in exterior walls that are min 2x6 framing.

11. Questions / clarifications / comments from the floor:

a. Brian Hall of Classica Homes asked what had changed in the Plan Review dept that has

sped up the turnaround time recently. Patrick Biddy, Plans Examiner, said we have been

receiving plans that are more compliant & require less re-review.

b. Tony Kiser, Bldg Inspector, asked about adding a stem wall on a thickened slab at the

common wall of a townhome. Patrick Biddy, Plans Examiner, said the soil bearing under

that thickened slab would have to be verified. The attached sub-grade verification letter

mentioned in part 1b of these minutes informs Customers of the req’mt to include these

interior footing/foundation areas in their testing.

Training Topic – Icynene in Residential Applications – 2hr of Technical ISO • Presenter: Randy Nicklas, Industry Rep

• Total in attendance:

o 28 – MCCE staff

o 0 – from outside MCCE

CODE

MECKLENBURG COUNTY

Building Code Enforcement

INTERPRETATION CODE: 2012 NC RESIDENTIAL CODE SUBJECT: SHEATHING/PARTIAL FRAME OPTIONAL INSPECTION- ENCAPSULATION AREAS REVIEWED: BUILDING CONSISTENCY TEAM Question: What inspections are required prior to encapsulation of thermal envelop walls behind tubs, fireplaces and chases that may not visible at frame inspection. Can I request this to be looked at during a sheathing inspection? Code reference: NCRC Section N1102.2.12 Frame cavity walls & NC Administrative code section 107. Answer:

Recent energy code requirements of encapsulation behind the above mentioned areas has created the need for some additional inspections unless the contractor holds off on setting appliances or fixture until after frame approval. These are relatively minor areas and in order to meet the requirements of Chapter 11 of the NCRC and the required inspections under section 107 of the NC administrative code the following options are allowed:

1. No Sheathing Inspection - An approved clear air barrier can be installed on the interior face of these exterior walls after insulation has been installed, this will allow for some visibility and no additional inspection request will be needed. Encapsulated areas will be checked at full frame inspection with fixtures/appliances already set.

2. Sheathing Inspection (optional) - Using other types of approved air barrier systems such as t-ply, wraps, sheetrock, etc… will require a partial frame inspection prior to insulation which is typically an extra trip not covered in the basic permit fee schedule. We would allow for a contractor to install insulation in these minor areas without any additional partial insulation inspection however the framing needs to be verified. Available options would be handle these inspection requests under the sheathing inspection we currently have, this is an optional inspection request to help keep a project moving before the full frame inspection is ready. Sheathing request can be scheduled as follows: Request for sheathing inspection without any customer comment

notes indicates that this is the typical exterior inspection of window/doors, wraps and flashings so that exterior cladding material can be installed (vinyl, lap siding, brick, etc..). There will be a $50 charge for homes and duplexes and $25 for each townhouse unit.

Request for sheathing inspection with a customer comment note that states “interior only for energy inspection or wall framing behind tubs/fireplaces” will be an inspection just for that interior encapsulation area to view framing in order to allow the contractor to insulate, apply air barrier on the interior and set tub/fireplaces as needed. There is a $50

charge for this optional trip for houses and duplex units and $25 for each townhouse.

The 3rd sheathing inspection option is that the request can have customer comment note that states “this is for exterior and interior behind tubs/fireplace encapsulation areas”, this will allow an inspector to review both in one trip with a single $50 charge for homes/duplexes and $25 for townhouses.

Customer comments must be specific when requesting a sheathing inspection other than the typical exterior sheathing inspection. Example of encapsulation areas:

Approved By ___ _________________________ Date _______5/15/2014__________

CODE INTERPRETATION

NC Department of Insurance

Office of the State Fire Marshal - Engineering Division

1202 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1202

919-661-5880

Porch and Dwelling Unit Crawl Space Separation Vents

Code: 2012 Residential Code Date: July 13, 2015

Section: R408.1.5 Revised: October 15, 2015

Question:

Section R408.1.5 requires a solid separation wall between the building crawl space and the porch

crawl space. Is a solid separation wall between the building crawl space and the porch crawl

space required if both the porch and building crawl spaces have foundation vents and the porch

floor deck is a solid material such as concrete?

Answer:

No. The intent of Section R408.1.5 is to assure separation between vented and unvented spaces.

If both the dwelling and porch foundations are vented, there is no need to separate the two. The

required separation would be between those spaces that are vented and those that are unvented.

The vented spaces would each require compliance with Section R408 which includes an 18 inch

by 24 inch minimum access opening.

If the porch floor is constructed of a material such as decking boards that would allow rain to run

into the space below the porch deck, separation of the space below the porch and the crawl space

below the main structure of the dwelling is required. The code does not intend to or provide

provisions for removal of the amount of moisture that could be introduced into a crawl space

through porch decking.

ONE/TWO FAMILY SUBGRADE VERIFICATION FORM FOR MECKLENBURG COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY

Date: _______________

Project Information: Subdivision: ______________________________________________ Lot Number: ______________________________________________ Street Address: ______________________________________________ Building Permit #: ______________________________________________ Builder/General Contractor: Company Name: ______________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Phone Number: _____________________________________________ Soil Engineering Company: Name: ______________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Phone Number: ______________________________________________ Project Manager: ______________________________________________ Project Number: ______________________________________________

Allowable Bearing Pressure: ________________ psf (Includes any interior footings such as piers and slab footers)

Personnel from our firm have verified the bearing capacity of soils intended to support the residence noted above. Where appropriate, we have monitored proofrolling of residual soil prior to fill placement, conducted laboratory Proctor and field density tests on fill soil, and/or conducted dynamic cone penetrometer tests on subgrade soils. This work was performed in accordance with accepted engineering practice as required by the North Carolina State Building Residential Code for One and Two Family Dwellings.

_______________________________ Signature/Seal of licensed professional engineer Form revised: March 23, 1999

May 20, 2005 October 7, 2016

CHECK AS APPROPRIATE: [ ] RESIDUAL SOILS [ ] STRUCTURAL FILL Approx. Depth: _______ft.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY

Land Use and Environmental Services Agency Code Enforcement

CODE

INTERPRETATION Mechanical/Plumbing

Code Volume Reference: Policy

Code Chapter Reference: Policy

Subject: Re-Inspection of Underslab Changes

Effective Date: 1/1/2017

Prepared/Revision Date: October 2016

Policy:

This policy only applies to one- and two-family and townhouses.

If part of the slab needs to be removed to make changes to the plumbing system, the following

shall apply:

1. If cumulatively more than 4 sq ft is of slab is removed

a. The underslab plumbing system will need to be retested/inspected (either the

section that was altered or the entire system if the section cannot be isolated)

b. A slab inspection will be required for the section being poured back. The vapor

barrier will need to be installed and the new slab pour must atleast be the same

thickness as the surrounding slab.

2. If cumulatively equal to or less than 4 sq ft of slab is removed

a. No additional underslab test/inspection will be required. It will be the

contractor’s responsibility to leak test the altered section of plumbing.

b. No slab inspection will be required before pouring back. It will be the

contractor’s responsibility to verify the vapor barrier is installed and the new slab

pour must atleast be the same thickness as the surrounding slab.

Approved By: ____________________________________________________________________

Tommy Rowland, M/P Code Administrator