Photos of projects plan checked or inspected by Willdan

News for California Building Departments
Issue 10, April - June 2006

Index to all issues of The Willdan Letter

Important Dates

April 18-22, 2006	100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference, San Francisco.	www.1906eqconf.org
May 7-13, 2006	Building Safety Week, sponsored by the ICC Foundation "to recognize the importance of safe places where people can live, work and play".
May 17, 2006	Building Standards Commission hearing	Watch the Commission's website for the agenda.
May 19, 2006	IAPMO training seminar on the 2001 CPC in Ontario, CA	See IAPMO’s website for registration.
June 8-9, 2006	IAPMO seminar in Sacramento on DWV, Gas and Water Pipe sizing.	See IAPMO’s website for registration.
June 5 -8, 2006	CALBO Week San Diego, CA	See CALBO website
June 16, 2006	Last date to submit applications for IAMPO code certification examinations held in several locations in California on July 22, 2006.	Get more information and apply at IAPMO’s website.

What's Up With The State?

On January 31, 2006, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Rosario Marin as Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency. As such, she will also chair Building Standards Commission hearings. Since 2004, Rosario served as a member and chair of the Integrated Waste Management Board. She was US Treasurer of the United States between 2001 and 2003, and previously she served as a member of the city council and as mayor of the City of Huntington Park from 1994 to 2001.
On March 22 and 23, the Building Standards Commission conducted public hearings on the 2004 Code Adoption Cycle proposals by several state agencies and other matters. An agenda listing the code proposals is available at the BSC website. The BSC approved several proposals that will become part of the California Building Standards Code in Title 24 when ratified at the May 17, 2006 hearing. Among the most noteworthy were:

- HCD's rewrite of CBC Chapter 11A on accessibility for multifamily dwellings was accepted with amendments.
numerous changes to the 2001 California Building Code by the Division of the State Architect relating to accessibility;

- numerous changes to the 2001 CBC by HCD, DSA, SFM and BSC

- adoption of the 2003 Uniform Mechanical Code with amendments.

The BSC rejected the proposed adoption of the 2003 Uniform Plumbing Code in favor of the 2006 edition to be considered at the May hearing. State agencies are expected to submit the proposed adoption of the 2006 UPC on May 1, 2006.

The BSC called on the state agencies for a progress report in regard to their preparation of the 2006 International Building Code adoption due to the BSC on May 1, 2006. DSA and OSHPD reported that they might not be able to meet the due date. HCD and SFM expect to meet the due date.

On March 23, 2003 Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Lynn Jacobs, of Ventura, as Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development. Lynn has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of affordable housing and community development. She is currently the president of Ventura Affordable Homes, a developer of ownership housing under affordable housing programs in Ventura County.
Susan Dowty, of Laguna Nigel, has been appointed by the Governor to the Building Standards Commission. She is currently a project manager for S.K. Ghosh Associates Inc., a seismic and building code consulting firm. Susan previously served in a variety of engineering positions for the International Conference of Building Officials from 1986 to 1999. She is a member of the Structural Engineers Association of California and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.
Christina Jamison, of Camarillo, has been appointed by the Governor to the Building Standards Commission. She is the fire prevention officer for the Ventura County Fire Protection District where she has served in a variety of capacities since 1995, including senior fire inspector, fire inspector, and fire specialist.

2006 Legislation of Interest to Building Departments

It is early in the year and there are several bills proposing changes that will impact building departments. The most noteworthy are listed below but remember, it is very early in the legislative process. Many bills will die, or be amended substantially, through the process.

Assembly Bill 1469, if enacted as last amended on March 27, 2006, will impose continuing education requirements on managers of mobilehome parks.

Assembly Bill 2496, introduced on February 23, 2006, proposes to reduce the allowable 1.6 gallons per flush in a tank type toilet to 1.3 gallons after January 2008, and 0.5 gallons in urinals after January 2009. Other related changes are proposed.

Senate Bill 1, if enacted as last amended on September 2, 2005, would establish the Million Solar Roofs Initiative to be administered by the Energy Commission, with the goals of placing 1,000,000 solar energy systems on new and existing residential and commercial customer sites establishing a self-sufficient solar industry in 10 years, and placing solar energy systems on 50% of new home developments in 13 years.

Senate Bill 516, if enacted as amended on May 2, 2005, will require an automatic fire sprinkler system approved by the State Fire Marshal in residential care facilities for the elderly licensed to care for more than 6 persons. Other conditions will apply.

Senate Bill 1231, if enacted as amended on March 27, 2006, will extend the mobilehome park inspection program by replacing the January 1, 2007 sunset date with a new sunset date of January 1, 2014.

Bills to watch for amendments and impact include AB1953, AB2160, and AB2977. Watch future issues of The Willdan Letter for developments later in the year.

Did You Know?

Did you know that those office trailers used at construction sites and as temporary offices, are "commercial modulars" (CM) subject to state codes and standards? A CM, once known as a commercial coach, must meet standards enforced by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). A CM, as defined in Health and Safety Code (HSC) section 18001.8, is “a structure transportable in one or more sections, designed and equipped for human occupancy for industrial, professional, or commercial purposes, which is required to be moved under permit, and shall include a trailer coach as defined in Section 635 of the Vehicle Code”, and the term "Commercial coach" has the same meaning as "commercial modular".

HSC sections 18025 through 18030.5 establish that CMs must bear insignia of approval issued by HCD when offered for sale, rent or lease, to indicate compliance with the model codes established by HSC 18028, remain in compliance while used, and have HCD approval for any alterations including changes of use. CMs need not meet any local standards in conflict with the HSC standards. Unlike manufactured homes, there is no statewide installation inspection regulation. The manufacturer is required to provide printed installation instructions. CMs may be installed on foundation systems in accordance to HSC18551 and California Code of Regulations, section 1333, or as temporary installations on piers and pads. Locals may require plans, installation permits, and conduct installation inspections. CMs may be used as modules to form permanent buildings, including multistory buildings.

Another type of transportable unit is the special purpose commercial modular (SPCM), once known as a special purpose commercial coach. It is a vehicle however and not subject to structural standards. A SPCM is not of a size requiring a permit to be moved on the highway (less than 8½’ x 40’). When installed on a foundation, or as a module of a permanent building, the SPCM must meet the standards for CMs. See HSC 18012.5 for the definition. Read all the laws referenced herein for yourself at www.leginfo.ca.gov/.

Contact HCD with any questions about these units.

Other News
The Energy Commission’s "Blueprint", issue #84 dated March 6, 2006, is available.	On April 1, 2006, PattersonWheeler, LLC, began serving as CALBO staff responsible for administration of the education program, lobbying state government, and managing the overall affairs of CALBO. CALBO’s phone number will remain the same, but the new CALBO office is located at 1225 Eighth Street, Suite 425 Sacramento, CA 95814.	44th Annual CALBO Business Meeting Awards: - Building Official of the Year: Stuart Tom, City of Glendale - Building Department of the Year: Costa Mesa (Khanh Nguyen, Building Official) - Educator of the Year: Robert Keefe, Willdan - Industry Achievement of the Year: Willdan, Northern California offices with Nancy Springer, Paul Klein and Robert Keefe named specifically. - Fire Official of the Year: Christina Jamison, Ventura County Fire Prevention - President’s Individual Achievement of the Year: Dan Kaiser, City of Palm Desert - Hall of Fame Inductee: James Barthman, retired