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BOAT Bulletin Summer 2008 Swimming Pool And Spa Drains--Danger Zone! ICC Governance Review Ad-Hoc Committee Using Relocatable Power Taps In Health Care Facilities North Texas Chapter Training Opportunities 17th Building Professional Institute Approved Construction Documents - Can They Be Found on Site? The Structure of Building Regulations Federal Community Building Department Grant Legislation
TALENT+ During a recent trip to Austin, Texas, for a BOAT Board Meeting, I had the opportunity to discuss leadership paradigms with three of my esteemed colleagues. The subject of our discussion revolved around what it takes to be successful in managing and leading municipal departments to achieving great things for their communities. The three-hour journey seemed to have yielded some heavy discussion on this subject. And while there were differing opinions offered, the one thing we all agreed on was that talent alone was not nearly enough. Today’s corporate leaders will tell you that talent is often an overrated and frequently misunderstood element of human capacity. Successful people in every aspect of our lives achieve great things, and when they do, others often attribute their accomplishments simply to talent. This is indeed a skewed way of looking at success, but if talent alone is enough, why are talented people not always successful? Capitalizing on this personal asset gives an individual the opportunity, but neglecting to make the right choices could mean the difference between achieving success or reaching a plateau. While believing in yourself is equally important, it is passion that creates the fire and allows individuals with that certain talent to keep going on regardless of how others see them. It is this drive that provides the energy beyond the limits of talent. As you know, some of the greatest leaders and effective businesspeople throughout history illustrate that passion is contagious and is the foundation of excellence. It helps transforms talent from average to excellent. Philosopher-poet Ralph Emerson wrote, “Every great and commanding movement in the annals of the world is due to the triumph of enthusiasm.” It is true then that, in the end, people are remembered for their ultimate zeal. In our business of regulatory compliance, passion cannot alone provide success. Not everything is perfect, and no one can wait for problems and obstacles to vanish; it just won’t happen. If you want to truly be successful and reach your potential, you have to take the initiative. Seizing the right opportunities and acting on them is important but can also weigh heavily on how leadership is viewed. There are many great managers who wait for someone else to tell them what is next (MBIs – managers by in-basket, Ravi Shah). Taking the initiative opens doors of opportunity. Every one of us has great ideas and intentions, but too many a times these never get translated to action. To do so, requires initiative, which often marks the difference between success and failure. Of the three hours driving back from Austin, the Dallas rush-hour seemed the longest. While we sat in the Ravi Shah, Assoc. AIA, CBO, Carrollton SWIMMING POOL AND SPA DRAINS -- DANGER ZONE! It is that time of year again, and we must be aware of the hidden dangers in our own backyards. The swimming pool and spa drain is the danger zone for our children. We must make sure to safely replace these hazardous conditions with new, safe, approved covers. One child lost is one too many! Pools and spas are places we use for sports, recreation and exercise. They should be as safe as possible. Unfortunately, each year people are injured at public and private pools and spas. The powerful forces that circulate the water in your pool or spa are capable of sucking young children into the drains at the bottom or side of your pool or spa. Last year in Florida, four children were killed by this suction force at the pool or spa drain, while others were severely injured. The good news is that we know how to eliminate many of the hazards that commonly result in injury or death. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has created pool and spa guidelines to help identify and eliminate dangerous entrapment hazards. There are three primary ways young children can become trapped by the suction forces at the bottom or side of the pool or spa:
There are a number of things you can do to prevent a child from becoming trapped by the suction forces in swimming pools and spas:
If for any reason your child becomes entrapped by a pool or spa drain, you must immediately:
There are a number of swimming pool and safety items available that can prevent drain suction entrapment:
These devices can be easily and quickly installed on any existing or new swimming pool or spa and provide two "layers of protection." Please inform the public of these dangers. Let us not lose another child due to a faulty or unsafe pool or spa cover! ICC GOVERNANCE REVIEW AD-HOC COMMITTEE I currently serve on the ICC Governance Review Ad-Hoc Committee representing the ICC Region X Coalition. The members of the coalition are Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. This committee issued its Final Report on April 14, 2008. The committee’s work can be viewed at http://www.iccsafe.org/membership/governance/. The committee consists of representatives from all the regional chapters, along with past board members and members of the fire service. The first meeting was lively as the regional chapter concept was discussed. I think all the committee members agree with the concept but have reservations about the way the chapters were aligned and how the concept was presented to the ICC membership. The committee had a conference call and a meeting in San Antonio in February 2006. The next meeting of the committee was late June 2006. The discussions continued at the 2006 ICC Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, in September 2006. The committee also met in April 2007 and April 2008. As the April 2008 meeting ended, the committee was unanimous in its stance for a change in the way ICC governs. The committee’s recommendations are being submitted as proposed bylaw amendments. Those will be heard at the 2008 ICC Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Tuesday, September 16 at the Annual Business Meeting, which begins at 8:00 a.m. The proposed bylaw amendments can be viewed at http://www.iccsafe.org/news/annual/2008Conference/2008ProposedBylawChanges.pdf. I encourage everyone interested in the governance structure of ICC to attend the Annual Business Meeting and vote in favor of the proposed bylaw amendments. BEST PRACTICES
The BOAT Program and Education Committee has an exciting program scheduled for BOAT Affiliates Day in San Antonio, on Thursday, October 30, 2008. There are many best practices that have been formulated and implemented by building inspection departments that have made their operations more effective and efficient. We would like to provide a venue for you to share your best practices with other cities that may benefit from your success. If you are interested in showcasing your best practices, please submit the application and supporting documents no later than September 15, 2008, to be considered. See you in San Antonio! Danny Sikorski Best Practices Submission Form USING RELOCATABLE POWER TAPS IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
Listed relocatable power taps (outlet strips) are frequently used in both home and business locations, but the appropriate application of Listed relocatable power taps in the patient care areas of health care facilities is an important safety consideration. Relocatable Power Taps Relocatable power taps have not been investigated for use with medical equipment in general or critical patient care areas of health care facilities. These areas are defined in Article 517 of the National Electrical Code® (NEC®) and include portions of a health care facility wherein patients are examined or treated, which encompasses patient and examining rooms, clinics, intensive and coronary care units, angiography and cardiac catheterization laboratories, delivery and operating rooms and other areas in which patients receive medical care. Relocatable power taps are suitable, however, for use in health care facilities in areas not defined as patient care areas, such as business offices, corridors, waiting rooms, etc. Powering Equipment in Patient Care Areas Medical facilities often use carts containing electromedical equipment that are wheeled into patient care areas and plugged into a receptacle near the patient’s bed. Again, basic relocatable power taps are not listed for use on carts used in patient care areas. UL does classify medical carts and equipment for use in patient care applications under the Medical Equipment (PIDF) category, which covers equipment that makes physical or electrical patient contact that is intended to diagnose, treat, or monitor patients under medical supervision. Some UL classified carts include relocatable power taps as an integral part of the cart. These are Recognized Component Special Purpose Relocatable Power Taps (SPRPTs), which are specifically investigated to supply power to the plugconnected equipment on the cart and to verify compliance with the Standard for Health Care Facilities, NFPA 99, Section 8.4.1.2.4.2. This standard is applicable when two or more power receptacles supplied by a flexible cord are used to supply power to plugconnected components of a movable equipment assembly that is rack, table, or pedestalmounted. SPRPTs have not been investigated for standalone use in patient care vicinities. For more information on relocatable power taps, contact Bob James at 8139568669 or Robert.J.James@us.ul. FINAL ACTION HEARINGS
It’s that time again – time for ICC code hearings. ICC’s annual meeting and final action code hearings are scheduled for September 14–23 in Minneapolis. The code hearings will be conducted from Wednesday, September 17, to Tuesday, September 23. These hearings will be different from those held in February. In those earlier hearings, proponents (and opponents) of revisions to the various I-codes presented their arguments to the codes and standards committees. The committees, in turn, voted on whether to disapprove the proposals, approve them as submitted, or approve as modified. These decisions, however, were simply recommendations to the ICC voting membership. Any interested party who disagreed with the committee action on a particular proposal could submit a public comment requesting that the ICC voting members change the action taken by the committee. Those proposals make up the final action agenda for the September hearings. Committee action on proposals that didn’t receive a public comment becomes final. The public comments to be addressed in Minneapolis are available on the ICC Web site, and printed copies will be available in August. At the final action hearings, the arguments on public comments will be made to the general audience and not to a committee. The vote of the ICC voting members in the general audience will decide the final outcome of the proposals. The September hearings will finalize the second of two 18-month code revision cycles. The revisions approved during this cycle along with those approved during the first cycle, will be folded into the 2006 editions of the I-codes, and the results will become the 2009 editions. BENCHMARK FOR SAFETY The code is a set of minimum acceptable standards establishing a benchmark for safety. All sections of the code represent life and safety matters. Most code officials think in terms of one item being of greater importance than another. It is easy to think of a fire sprinkler system, panic door hardware, smoke detector, or handrails as being a life-safety matter. What about all the other sections of the code? Are they important? The fact of the matter is that all sections of the code have relevance to the health, safety, and welfare of users of any structure. Users take for granted that the air is clean, the water is safe, and the structure will withstand the environmental impacts placed upon it daily. The smallest of details can have vast implications. As an example, flashing does not appear, on the surface, to be a health-related issue, but it is. If flashing is not installed, or installed improperly, the building envelope is compromised. Water intrusion has negative effects on a structure in a number of ways: the framing members of a structure are compromised, rotting building materials may create an environment for insects, and the moisture “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today” The users of buildings take for granted that all the building’s components are safe, the air is healthy, the electric does not present a hazard, and the water is sanitary. Code officials must be diligent in the responsibilities bestowed upon them. The inspection of the built environment is an imperative function and, for the most part, an unseen performance; therefore, all sections of the code are vital. CREATIVE PROCRASTINATION
Creative procrastination is one of the most effective of all personal performance techniques. It can change your life. The fact is that you can't do everything that you have to do. You have to procrastinate on something. Therefore, procrastinate on small tasks. Put off eating smaller or less ugly frogs. Eat the biggest and ugliest frogs before anything else. Do the worst first! Everyone procrastinates. The difference between high performers and low performers is largely determined by what they choose to procrastinate on. Since you must procrastinate anyway, decide today to procrastinate on low-value activities. Decide to procrastinate on, outsource, delegate, and eliminate those activities that don't make much of a contribution to your life in any case. Get rid of the tadpoles and focus on the frogs. Learn To Say...No! One of the most powerful of all words in time management is the word no! Say it politely. Say it clearly so there are no misunderstandings. Say it regularly, as a normal part of your time management vocabulary. Say “no” to anything that is not a high-value use of your time and your life. Say no graciously but firmly to avoid agreeing to something against your will. Say it early and say it often. Remember that you have no spare time. As we say, "Your dance card is full." For you to do something new, you must complete or stop doing something old. Getting in requires getting out. Picking up means putting down. Creative procrastination is the act of thoughtfully and deliberately deciding on the exact things you are not going to do right now, if ever. NORTH TEXAS CHAPTER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Do you seem to be always looking for educational opportunities in order to keep your certification and keep up with changes in our industry? The North Texas Chapter of International Code Council administers monthly educational opportunities that focus on specific topics. August training will be presented by Ms. Rachael Green, LEED AP, project manager at MHPM Project Managers, Inc. She will provide an overview of LEED®, LEED® credits, and what type of items could have an impact on plans examiners and inspectors. Ms. Green offers areas of expertise in sustainable design through past and current project experience. She has experience in green building (design, technical, construction) and assisting projects to achieve LEED® certification, including educating owners and project team members about sustainable building practices and designs to provide quality control and assurance. Her presentation will be sponsored by MHPM Project Managers, Inc. Other upcoming training includes:
It is our goal to identify and provide training that will benefit our chapter members. If you are interested or have comments, contact sana.touma@ci.mansfield.tx.us for additional information. ONLINE REGISTRATION
coming in February 2009 Announcing
May 18-22, 2009 Presented By
University of Texas at Arlington
Web Sites:
DIVERSITY FROM WITHIN
The other day as I was on my drive home I got to thinking about the diversity that we have in BOAT. For this brain trickle, when I use the term “diversity” I don’t mean ethnic or cultural diversity, and although we have that in BOAT, I mean diversity in the way we approach our jobs. As I drove, I thought about a number of the building officials that I know and how they approach problems, challenges they face, and just their everyday jobs. Some seek out the “cause” of a problem and attack it there, while others find fixes for “effects.” Some will ask everyone they know how they address an issue, while others will “fix it” themselves. Some want a higher power, the state or federal government, to step in, while others want to leave decisions to local officials. Some of these building officials have advanced degrees, while others have worked up to the position from a tradesman, but all have the same goal: the safety of the people who live, work, play, and learn in their communities. Now we don’t always agree on an approach to an issue, but we do recognize that our diversity is a strength, not a weakness. Here in Texas, we are in a unique position when it comes to the “power” that is given to local government and to the building official. I have visited with professionals from many other states where the local municipality, as well as the building official is limited in the decisions that he or she can make, even in regards to public safety. Here, with the “power” that we have been given comes an equal amount of responsibility for public safety in the built environment. It is understood that this responsibility should be weighed against seemingly competing issues such as affordability and innovation but, should we fail to use our diversity as an organization to analyze and measure each facet of our profession (as well as industry issues to find a balance that blends public safety with technology and affordability) we could easily lose the power to make those decisions. All of us need to stay engaged in local builders’ organizations, professional groups, as well as our own local chapters. The understanding that comes with face-to-face communication with other professionals, as well as participation in topical discussions, cannot be replaced with reading an article or two on a subject. If we take our diversity for granted, if we ignore what the builders are telling us, or if we stick our fingers in our ears and sing “la,la,la,la” until the noise stops, we will only have ourselves to blame for the mess we will leave for next generation of building officials. If we can call them “officials”? APPROVED CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS – CAN THEY BE FOUND ON SITE? Have you ever wondered what happens to the construction documents once they are reviewed and approved by the building department? Unfortunately, they do not always make it to the construction site. Doesn’t make much sense, does it? One would think that those responsible for performing the construction would want ready access to the approved drawings. Additionally, if the approved plans are not on site, it is extremely difficult for inspectors to adequately verify compliance. Section 106.3 of the 2006 International Building Code addresses this situation by providing for the review of construction documents before a permit is issued. This section also states that the approved construction documents are to be stamped by the building department. One set of the approved construction documents must be kept at the construction site and made available for review by city inspectors. The other stamped approved set of construction documents should remain on file in the building department. If a change is necessary, either before or during construction, the change should be submitted by the design professional for approval as an amended set of construction documents. Keep in mind that each change must be stamped and signed by the design professional before it is submitted for review and approval. Unless the proposed change is relatively simple, an e-mail, phone conversation, or letter is not typically acceptable. Until the change is reviewed and approved, the final inspection should not be performed, nor a certificate of occupancy issued. Building department personnel should be asking to see the approved construction documents as part of the inspection process. If they are not available, ask that they be provided before continuing the inspection. If necessary, request that the work cease until the issue is resolved. Consistent enforcement of this code section increases communication, provides accurate inspections, and ultimately results in better customer service. 2009 LEGISLATIVE SESSION The 2009 Legislative Session is quickly approaching. Pre-filing of bills happens in November 2008. If you would like to be part of the BOAT Bill Analyst Group, please email me at randyc@ci.waco.tx.us. THE STRUCTURE OF BUILDING REGULATIONS The Nordic Committee on Building Regulations considered the structure of building regulations and outlined a hierarchy for the components in building regulations. The hierarchy starts with a broad societal goal at the topmost level and, through increasing levels describes provisions for building in terms of functional and operational requirements. The NKB hierarchy is outlined below:
The structure allows the intent of building regulations to be more clearly defined while still allowing greater flexibility in design solutions. Not all levels of the hierarchy are required to be addressed by a single code or regulatory document. This allows for flexibility in the adoption and implementation of the structure. There are two types of regulations – performance and prescriptive. A performance regulation states the purpose to be accomplished and allows design and engineering professionals to select the alternative methods and materials, as long as they meet minimal health, safety, and welfare requirements. The term “performance code” is commonly used because the code generally tells what is to be accomplished or what the intent is, rather than telling the designer how to meet specifically the intent of the code. A prescriptive regulation describes exactly what method and materials are to be used, as well as the size and location of components. This type of code is specific. The prescriptive code provides specific information, charts, and standards to which a material, method, or component must conform. The code limits, to a degree, the designer’s ability to substitute materials or methods that may be as good as, or better than, those specified in the code. Objective of a Performance-Based Building Regulatory System
Reference: International Code Council (ICC), Building Department Administration, 3rd Edition, ICC Publications, 4051 W. Flossmoor rd., Country Club Hills, IL 60478, June 2007. FEDERAL COMMUNITY BUILDING DEPARTMENT GRANT LEGISLATION The Federal Community Building Department Grant Legislation has passed the House of Representatives in DC. Bill now in Senate. It is now important that everyone go to this web link and contact their Senators in Washington DC to support this bill. September 13-23, 2008 September 26, 2008 October 27, 2008 October 28-31, 2008 October 30, 2008 February 24-27, 2009 May 18-22, 2009
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produces an excellent environment for mold development. So does flashing have a health-safety related concern? Of course it does. Just remember – although short-term effects may appear to have greater importance, long-term effects may actually have a greater impact. 
