Section 6-4 Application Construction Documents.

§ 6-4.1 Submittal Documents.

Construction documents, special inspection and structural observation programs, and other data shall be submitted in one or more sets with each application for a permit. The construction documents shall be prepared by a registered design professional as defined by the statutory requirements of the professional registration laws of the State of Maryland. Where special conditions exist, the code official is authorized to require additional construction documents to be prepared by a registered design professional, the cost of which shall be borne by the owner or developer. All construction documents shall be submitted with sufficient clarity and detail to show the nature of the work to be performed. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

Exception: The code official is authorized to waive the submission of construction documents and other data not required to be prepared by a registered design professional if it is found that the nature of the work applied for is such that reviewing of construction documents is not necessary to obtain compliance with these codes.

§ 6-4.2 Design Professional.

When it is required that documents be prepared by a registered design professional, the code official shall be authorized to require the owner to engage and designate on the building permit application a registered design professional who shall act as the registered design professional in responsible charge. If the circumstances require, the owner shall designate a substitute registered design professional in responsible charge who shall perform the duties required of the original registered design professional in responsible charge. The code official shall be notified in writing by the owner if the registered design professional in responsible charge is changed or is unable to continue to perform the duties. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.2.1 Submittal Documents.

The registered design professional in responsible charge shall be responsible for reviewing and coordinating submittal documents prepared by others, for compatibility with the design of the building. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.2.2 Structural Observation.

Where structural observation is required, the inspection program shall name the individual firms who are to perform structural observation and describe the stages of construction at which structural observation is to occur. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.3 Information on Construction Documents.

Construction documents shall be dimensioned and drawn upon suitable material. Electronic media documents are permitted to be submitted when approved by the code official. Construction documents shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed and show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of these codes and relevant laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, as determined by the code official. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.3.1 Fire Protection System Shop Drawings.

Fire protection system requirements may be concurrently covered in the state Fire Code, Article 38A, oo3-67 (State Fire Prevention Code, Public Safety Article, §§6-101—6-202), and COMAR 29.06.01. The State Fire Code is enforced by the State Fire Marshal or authorized fire official. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.3.2 Means of Egress.

The construction documents shall show in sufficient detail the location, construction, size and character of all portions of the means of egress in compliance with the provisions of these codes. The construction documents shall designate the number of occupants to be accommodated on every floor, and in all rooms and spaces. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.3.4 Exterior Wall Envelope.

Construction documents for all buildings shall describe the exterior wall envelope in sufficient detail to determine compliance with these codes. The construction documents shall provide the details of the exterior wall envelope as required, including flashing, intersections with dissimilar materials, corners, end details, control joints, intersections at roof, eaves, or parapets, means of drainage, water-resistive membrane, and details around openings. The construction documents shall, only as required by the code official, include manufacturing installation instructions that provide supporting documentation that the proposed penetration and opening details described in the construction documents maintain the weather resistance of the exterior wall envelope. The supporting documentation shall fully describe the exterior wall system, which was tested, where applicable, as well as the test procedure used. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.3.5 Site Plan.

The construction documents submitted with the application for permit shall be accompanied by a site plan, including existing and proposed structures on the site, distances from lot lines and between buildings and dwellings, grades, including all utilities, water, sewer, electric, telephone; and it shall be drawn in accordance with an accurate boundary line survey. In the case of demolition, the site plan shall show the size and location of construction to be demolished and existing structures and construction that are to remain on the site or plot. The code official is authorized to waive or modify the requirement for a site plan when the application for permit is for alteration or repair or when otherwise warranted. If applicable, the site plan shall first be submitted and approved by the Easton Planning and Zoning Commission before submittal to the Building Inspection Division. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.3.5.1 Information for Construction in Areas Prone to Flooding.

For buildings and structures in flood hazard areas as established by the current revised edition of the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) as revised by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

Delineation of flood hazard areas, floodway boundaries, and flood zones, and the design flood elevation, as appropriate.
The elevation of the proposed lowest floor, including basement; in areas of shallow flooding (AO zones), the height of the proposed lowest floor, including basement, above the highest adjacent grade; and if design flood elevations are not included on the community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), the applicant shall obtain and reasonably utilize any design flood elevation and floodway data available from other sources.

§ 6-4.3.6 Deferred Submittals.

For the purpose of this section, deferred submittals are defined as those portions of the design that are not submitted at the time of the application and that are to be submitted to the code official within a specified period. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.3.6.1 Deferred Submittal Approval.

Deferral of any submittal items shall have the prior approval of the code official. The registered design professional in responsible charge shall list the deferred submittals on the construction documents for review by the code official. Submittal documents for deferred submittal items shall be submitted to the registered design professional in responsible charge who shall review them and forward them to the code official with a notation indicating that the deferred submittal documents have been reviewed and that they have been found to be in general conformance with the design of the building. The deferred submittal items shall not be installed until their design and submittal documents have been approved by the code official. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.3.6.2 Manufacturer’s Installation Instructions.

Manufacturer’s installation instructions as required by these codes shall be submitted to the code official prior to the request for a required inspection that involves those installation instructions and shall be available on the job site at the time of inspection. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.4 Examination of Documents.

The code official shall examine or cause to be examined the accompanying construction documents and shall ascertain by such examinations, whether the construction indicated and described is in accordance with the requirements of these codes and other pertinent laws or ordinances. The code official may decide to have an outside plan review professional review the plans for projects such as major medical buildings, education institutions, etc. The costs for such outside plan review professional shall be borne by the applicant. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.4.1 Approval of Construction Documents.

When the code official issues a permit, the construction documents shall be approved, in writing or by stamp, as “Reviewed for Code Compliance.” One set of construction documents so reviewed shall be retained by the code official. The other set shall be returned to the applicant, shall be kept at the site of work and shall be open to inspection by the code official. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.4.2 Previous Approvals.

These codes shall not require changes in the construction documents, construction of designated occupancy of a structure for which a lawful permit has been heretofore issued or otherwise lawfully authorized, and the construction of which has been pursued in good faith within 180 days after the effective date of these codes and has not been abandoned. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)

§ 6-4.4.3 Phased Approvals.

The code official is authorized to issue a permit for the construction of foundation or any other part of a building or structure before the construction documents for the whole building or structure have been submitted, provided that adequate information and detailed statements have been filed complying with pertinent requirements of these codes. The holder of such permit for the foundation or other parts of a building or structure shall proceed at the holder’s own risk with the building operation and without assurance that a permit for the entire structure will be granted. (Ordinance 562 effective November 8th 2009)