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Certificate of Occupancy
- Thread starter gbhammer
- Start date
fatboy
Administrator
Are you talking about basically a fire inspection? If so, ICC, of course, has an inspection guide by occupancy that is pretty handy. It is IFC based.
Thanks Fatboy
What I am looking for is a checklist for my inspectors to use when an owner or tenant moves into an existing space/building and they want an occupancy permit. If there is a change in use it could create issues, and a checklist could be used by the inspectors to find the triggers that may cause the requirements for alterations due to change of use. If the checklist from the ICC will do that then I will get one.
What I am looking for is a checklist for my inspectors to use when an owner or tenant moves into an existing space/building and they want an occupancy permit. If there is a change in use it could create issues, and a checklist could be used by the inspectors to find the triggers that may cause the requirements for alterations due to change of use. If the checklist from the ICC will do that then I will get one.
FM William Burns
REGISTERED
I guess depends on what you require
simple:
old occupancy classification _____
new occupancy Classification_____
square footage ________
occupant load _________
use/ processes to be done______
what chemicals will be stored ______
any remodel yes___ no ____
etc________ _____ ______
once they find out basic info, will need to do a little research.
if a questionare can be part of the c of o application, some of the research can be done in the office before a site visit is done.
simple:
old occupancy classification _____
new occupancy Classification_____
square footage ________
occupant load _________
use/ processes to be done______
what chemicals will be stored ______
any remodel yes___ no ____
etc________ _____ ______
once they find out basic info, will need to do a little research.
if a questionare can be part of the c of o application, some of the research can be done in the office before a site visit is done.
JBI
REGISTERED
No matter how well prepared any checklist is, I can guarantee you one thing... it will never cover everything.
FM William Burns
REGISTERED
Excellent point!
BSSTG
Gold Member
Greetings all,
I'm with CDA. I was put in charge of occupancy inspections several years ago in another jurisdiction. At that place we had in place a zoning dudette that screened pertinent info before going to my boss the deputy BO and then to me. It sure helped a lot. Also at that place the occupants had to pass my inspection as well as the FM. Where I'm at now it's a different ball game in that I do all of it with no one else to help out. It's compounded by the historical district and their restrictions too. Bottom line is that I have mixed emotions about check lists. I think that you should know occ type and sq footage before going on inspections. If not the check list would be too complicated I feel to encompass all that needs checking. Besides that, it's great to have in writing what the intention of the occupant is and have them sign off on it. I have had to use that info in a court case awhile back where the occupant tried to pull a fast one.
BS
I'm with CDA. I was put in charge of occupancy inspections several years ago in another jurisdiction. At that place we had in place a zoning dudette that screened pertinent info before going to my boss the deputy BO and then to me. It sure helped a lot. Also at that place the occupants had to pass my inspection as well as the FM. Where I'm at now it's a different ball game in that I do all of it with no one else to help out. It's compounded by the historical district and their restrictions too. Bottom line is that I have mixed emotions about check lists. I think that you should know occ type and sq footage before going on inspections. If not the check list would be too complicated I feel to encompass all that needs checking. Besides that, it's great to have in writing what the intention of the occupant is and have them sign off on it. I have had to use that info in a court case awhile back where the occupant tried to pull a fast one.
BS
OH I agree, that’s the problem I am having.JBI said:
Our Director/BO wants this checklist so that the inspectors can go out and do change of occupancy inspection, and for the most part they think the IBC is written in Greek.
Sometimes checklists can do a disservice as well as they create a habit of performing with blinders on and things get overlooked. The checklist can serve as a guideline, but training an inspector to be observant is the key to performing a successful inspection.
Frank
REGISTERED
These are complex evaluations requiring substantial exercise of judgement. We usually send an experienced engineer to do these Cange of Use or CO reissue inspections.
Issues/considerations--
Old use?
New use?
Is it a change of use or CO reissue?
Is the occupant load increasing?
IF not new use or increased occupant load then it is a maintenance inspection to see that it has been maintained to the code or codes in effect when it was constructed or altered--Current service inspections on fire systems.
Is building leaking? Rot/rust?
Plumbing working?
Electrical intact and not damaged? Electrical adequate for loads? Exit signs lights working?
Door locks and latches and exits to code when installed? (ie assembly occupant load 75 unchanged without panic hardware but was built when code required panic hardware at 100) Exit paths unobstructed?
HVAC working?
Handrails/guards inplace and sound?
Accessible features maintained to standards when built? (Grab bars present/solid? Lever hardware maintained? Walking surfaces?
Work done without permits and not to code often comes to light and will need to be remediated.
Planning approval needed
IF new use or increased occupant load or storage classification then in addition to the above need change of use and compliance with current codes with respect to these issues.
Does the building meet height and area?
Floor live loads?
Sprinklers needed? Adequate for new storage arrangements or materials? (Change from storing 7-1 paper coffee cup storage to Styrofoam cup storage requires permit and substantial sprinkler upgrades)
Alarms? Egress distances adequacy doors and hardware lighting signage etc?
Accessibility?
Handrails and guards to the 4 inch sphere rule if potentially adding children to mix (A E B M I uses).?
HVAC and ventilation?
Plumbing fixture counts?
Electrical Upgrades needed? Are the services properly grouped when combining spaces or panels accessible when dividing them?
If adding conditioned space then need to meet energy code.
Also need to refer to other relevant departments for signoffs including planning (is it permitted use?, parking etc) public works, public utilities (water sizing and FOG concerns) and sometimes Fire.
Most of the time on a substantial change of use this inspection will be rejected and the applicant told to prepare construction documents to obtain permits to make the neccesssary changes with RDP as needed and go through the plan review and inspections process. A few don't need work and can get new CO for new use.
Issues/considerations--
Old use?
New use?
Is it a change of use or CO reissue?
Is the occupant load increasing?
IF not new use or increased occupant load then it is a maintenance inspection to see that it has been maintained to the code or codes in effect when it was constructed or altered--Current service inspections on fire systems.
Is building leaking? Rot/rust?
Plumbing working?
Electrical intact and not damaged? Electrical adequate for loads? Exit signs lights working?
Door locks and latches and exits to code when installed? (ie assembly occupant load 75 unchanged without panic hardware but was built when code required panic hardware at 100) Exit paths unobstructed?
HVAC working?
Handrails/guards inplace and sound?
Accessible features maintained to standards when built? (Grab bars present/solid? Lever hardware maintained? Walking surfaces?
Work done without permits and not to code often comes to light and will need to be remediated.
Planning approval needed
IF new use or increased occupant load or storage classification then in addition to the above need change of use and compliance with current codes with respect to these issues.
Does the building meet height and area?
Floor live loads?
Sprinklers needed? Adequate for new storage arrangements or materials? (Change from storing 7-1 paper coffee cup storage to Styrofoam cup storage requires permit and substantial sprinkler upgrades)
Alarms? Egress distances adequacy doors and hardware lighting signage etc?
Accessibility?
Handrails and guards to the 4 inch sphere rule if potentially adding children to mix (A E B M I uses).?
HVAC and ventilation?
Plumbing fixture counts?
Electrical Upgrades needed? Are the services properly grouped when combining spaces or panels accessible when dividing them?
If adding conditioned space then need to meet energy code.
Also need to refer to other relevant departments for signoffs including planning (is it permitted use?, parking etc) public works, public utilities (water sizing and FOG concerns) and sometimes Fire.
Most of the time on a substantial change of use this inspection will be rejected and the applicant told to prepare construction documents to obtain permits to make the neccesssary changes with RDP as needed and go through the plan review and inspections process. A few don't need work and can get new CO for new use.