The City of Dublin

Building Standards

 

May is Building Safety Month

When you enter a house or building, most likely you assume it is safe and was properly constructed in accordance with building codes. Fortunately, your local safety experts work hard to assure building safety and fire prevention every day. To help raise awareness of building safety, the City of Dublinproudly celebrates Building Safety Month this May.

“Public safety is our number one concern,” said Jeff Tyler, City of Dublin Director of Building Standards. “During Building Safety Month and all year long, building safety and fire prevention officials are here to help protect you, your family and our community.”

Week 2: Be Prepared if Disaster Hits

Jeff Tyler, City of Dublin Director of Building Standards

Do you know what to expect should Dublin suffer a major disaster like wind and/or flood damage? There are three basic steps which take place during the recovery period should a disaster strike our community.

• Understanding Safety Evaluation Procedures and Postings.

If a building in which you reside, work or own is damaged by a wind or flood event, it should be inspected by safety evaluation personnel working for the local government building inspection agency. This may not be possible until a few days after the event, depending on the extent of local damage and number of available qualified inspectors and engineers assigned to your area.

• If significant damage is apparent, do not wait for an official evaluation of the building. Discontinue use and occupancy of the building.

• Cooperate with an evaluation team when they do arrive. There may be a Rapid Evaluation which requires a few minutes in order to determine quickly if a building is safe enough to occupy. The result of the inspection will be posted near the entrance of the building.

• A building may be deemed unsafe and posted, however, a “red tag” posting does not automatically mean that the property has been condemned or will require demolition.

• Steps to Take to Ensure Damage is Properly Repaired

In the aftermath of disasters in which large numbers of buildings are damaged or destroyed, there are likely to be opportunists posing as legitimate contractors willing to assist you in making repairs. Some guidelines to help protect you:

• Ask for proof of a current contractor’s license and certificate of insurance to cover workers and liability insurance. This does not guarantee you will receive top workmanship but it is a first step in eliminating other problems that can result from using the services of either uninsured or unlicensed individuals.

• In the event of a disaster many communities may pass an ordinance requiring special registration of contractors. Contact local authorities for that information.

• Prior to signing any repair contract, be sure that it contains a complete description of the scope of work and that the contractor will secure a building permit.

• Contractors often require a percentage of the full contract price be paid prior to commencing work. Do not pay the entire amount in advance. Check with your legal advisor to determine how best to proceed with a deposit amount and “draws” as work progresses.

• The Building Standards office will be very busy and perhaps a confusing place to go for permission to initiate repairs after a major disaster, however, it will always be the best source of repair and permit information.

• Guidelines for Securing Disaster Assistance

The best source for current information will be the locally established disaster center, the local emergency management agency or Dublin Building Standards office located at 5800 Shier-Rings Road. Your first step should be to contact the claims office of your insurance company to determine if your loss is covered. You may also be eligible to make a claim for federal or state assistance to cover uninsured losses or deductibles that may apply to your coverage.

Whether or not insurance coverage applies to your losses, you should document all the visible damage with photographs and a narrative of what each shows. Also keep a record of the nature and extent of any emergency repairs made by yourself or others immediately after the event. The importance of such documentation cannot be overstressed, because the full amount of any insurance settlement or financial assistance will require significant proof regarding both damage and repairs.

Information obtained from the Field Manual: Safety Evaluation of Buildings after Windstorms and Floods

 

Week 1: Tips to Improve the "Green Factor" of Your Home

Jeff Tyler, City of Dublin Director of Building Standards

Building green means living better, smarter and healthier. Just by choosing energy-efficient building materials and supplies, homeowners can make positive changes to both inside and outside environments, creating homes that are better for you and our world.

Building green does not necessarily mean starting from scratch or spending more money. There are many ways to improve the green factor in existing homes by using longer-lasting and sustainable materials.

• Turn off lights when not in use.

• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips, and turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use as TVs and DVDs in standby mode still consume several watts of power.

• Close curtains and shades at night to keep warmth in and keep them open during the day.

• Replace ordinary light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs. If every household replaced just one light bulb with a CFL bulb, America could save enough energy to light nearly three million homes.

• Try new lighting control technologies like motion-sensitive or timed off switch lighting. Using these new options can reduce lighting use by 50% – 75% and save the lighting portion of energy bills that account for 11% of overall household energy consumption.

• Seal air leaks.

• Install a programmable thermostat to keep your home comfortably warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer.

• Upgrade windows, heating and air conditioning equipment. Replacing windows can save between 7% and 24% of the household heating and air conditioning costs.

• Change filters frequently. Regularly change the filters in the heating and cooling system of your home or office as dirty filters can cost up to $5 a month extra, overwork the equipment and result in dirtier indoor air. Consider purchasing “electrostatic” filters, which are washable, long lasting, and provide cleaner air. Clean or change filters more often if smokers or pollution sources are present.

• Install more insulation in walls and attics.

• Choose energy efficient appliances. Choosing energy-efficient products can save families approximately $400 a year while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Chose ENERGY STAR® certified products when you buy or replace household appliances.

• If you are building new, consider the best position on the lot for trapping light and energy, and make use of energy-efficient foundation, framing, plumbing, wiring and HVAC systems now available.

Green homes are also healthier homes, reducing mold, mildew and other allergens that contribute to asthma and other significant health issues. Below are tips for keeping your home dry and mold-free:

• Keep it dry: install a drain pan under the water heater; place dehumidifiers in basements and other damp areas; position downspouts away from the house; repair any water damage.

• Keep it clean: use track-off mats at all doorways; clean up dust to eliminate contaminants such as lead dust and allergens.

• Keep it ventilated: install or replace exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens (make sure they vent to the outside).

• Keep it contaminant-free: use wire shelving that doesn’t collect dust; have your home tested for radon and lead-based paint.

• Heating and cooling uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in the home. Approximately 43% of utility bills cover heating and cooling.

Information from the International Code Council.

 

A New Way of Doing Business

Electronic Plan Review or "ePlan" Building Standards will soon begin accepting building permit applications using an online permit application called "ePlan." This service will allow any commercial or residential building permit applicant to file all plans and applications forms online. Some of the many benefits of ePlan include:

• Green - the need for paper and related printing expenses is essentially eliminated

• Convenience - building permit applications can be filed 24/7/365 from any computer

• Efficient - the application, plan review, permitting and inspection processes are streamlined

• Cost savings - travel time and related expenses for applicants are eliminated

• Smart - the need for storage space (for applicants and the City) is greatly reduced

• Customer-centric - communication between the applicant and the City is greatly enhanced

• Secure - all approved permits and drawings are issued via the Internet using secure PDF formats

• Easy - property owners can generate as many permit sets as needed for use on site

Limited ePlan testing will begin in early 2012. Full access to ePlan for all applicants will be available by 2nd Quarter 2012.

IVR Phone System Will Improve Customer Service

We will be implementing an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) phone system to streamline our operation and improve customer service. How it works:

• System prompts will ask series of questions re: permit number, inspection info, date, etc.

• You will also be able to leave a voice message.

• When finished, the IVR system will confirm your inspection with a confirmation number.

The City of Dublin will continue to use the web-based Click2Gov for online inspection requests by clicking here. You can choose the method that works best for you.

Questions about ePlan? Please contact Dave Marshall 614.410.4664 | dmarshall@dublin.oh.us

 

New Fees and Changes for 2012

Based on an annual analysis of fees, we have determined the need to increase fees in 2012.

Effective January 1, 2012, all Commercial Plan Review fees including the 3% surcharge will be due upon submission. All other fees will be due when the permits are issued.

Effective January 1, 2012 - the new fee schedule is as follows:

• Conditional Occupancy Fee is $355.00 for each 6-month period

• Fire Revision fee is $50.00

• Fire Protection Fee is $165.00, plus the cost of outside review services, if applicable, at $60.00 per hour

• Change of Use Permit is $255.00

• Sanitary Sewer Inspection Fee is $140.00

2012 Fees (PDF)

Commercial Fees

Commercial Fees Schedule D

Residential Fees

Residential Fees Schedules B & C

Water & Sewer Schedule A

 

Building Code

On November 1, 2011 the following state building codes will go into effect for commercial construction:

• 2011 Ohio Building Code

• 2011 Ohio Mechanical Code

• 2011 Ohio Plumbing Code

• 2011 National Electrical Code

This includes construction of multi-family residential four-family and above. Residential construction three-family and below will continue to be enforced under the 2004 Residential Code of Ohio. The City of Dublin's effective date corresponds with the effective date given by Ohio. For further information please visit the Ohio Board of Building Standards website at http://com.ohio.gov/dico/BBS.aspx .

More information from the City of Dublin Building Standards will be forth coming. Contact Jeff Tyler, Director of Building Standards at 614-410-4600 or jtyler@dublin.oh.us

 

 

Office of Building Standards

Jeff Tyler, Director of Building Standards

The City of Dublin Building Standards is dedicated to ensuring public safety in the built environment through the adoption of both state and local construction codes and standards. Within the parameters of those codes, Building Standards issues permits to construct to approved plans and provides on-site inspections. 

Our technical staff (inspectors, plans examiners and building official) maintains state required certifications that ensure that we provide a staff that is competent, responsive and customer service oriented. Building Standards provides the following services for both our residential and commercial customers:

• Permit Administration

• Review Services

• Inspection Services

• Contractor Registration

 

Contact Information:

Address:

5800 Shier-Rings Road
Dublin, Ohio 43016

Phone:

Permit Window: 614-410-4670
Review Services: 614-410-4608
Inspection Scheduling: 614-410-4680

Fax:

Building Standards: 614-761-6566
Review Services: 614-718-4346

Permit Window Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Inspector Phone Availability:

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.; 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.