Webinar for Local Building Permit Issuing Agents

The State Fire Marshall's Office is holding an informational webinar on July 29th for persons who may be interested in serving as local building permit issuing agents.

In October of this year, the State Fire Marshal’s office will begin permitting and inspecting new construction of one and two family residences and townhomes. The state program will not apply in jurisdictions that enforce their own building codes (having elected to continue local enforcement) or that opt out of state residential building code enforcement. The State Fire Marshal desires to contract with local government officials and electrical permit issuing agents to serve as issuing agents for these permits.

Under contracts with the state, local issuing agents will be paid a fee of $15 for issuing a building permit and collecting and transmitting permit fees to the state. The State Fire Marshal’s office is seeking issuing agents in every county participating in the state program. Issuing agents could be electric departments or other issuing agents currently serving as electrical inspection issuing agents, or a city or county office. All inspections will be scheduled through the State Fire Marshal’s office using an automated system and not through the issuing agent.

The State Fire Marshal’s office will be conducting an informational webinar to outline the process for building permit issuance for any who might be interested in becoming an issuing agent. You may pre-register for this interactive webinar or ask questions relating to the webinar by emailing greg.adams@tn.gov. Written materials for the webinar will be emailed to you for printing prior to the webinar’s start time.

If you want to participate, on July 29, log on to http://stateoftennessee.na6.acrobat.com/residentialpermits/ at 9 A.M. (CST) to attend the webinar. To hear audio for the webinar, call 615-532-2242 (outside area code 615, call 877-436-2482). While additional training will be offered for issuing agents, anyone who is possibly interested in serving as an issuing agent should participate in this informational webinar.

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Residential Building Codes Presentation

At the TCSA annual conference in Chattanooga last month, there was a class dealing with building codes, planning and other land use issues. Members have requested copies of the power point presentations used in that class. We have copies of most of them. If you are interested, e-mail me at tcca.connor@tncounties.org and I'll be happy to forward them to you.

Request for Public Comment on Residential Sprinkler Systems

The Department of Commerce and Insurance has sent out the following notice seeking input from the public relating to the cost and effectiveness of sprinkler equipment in one-family and two-family dwellings in areas where residential sprinklers are in use.

"As directed by the General Assembly, the Department is conducting an analysis regarding the cost and effectiveness of sprinkler equipment in one-family and two-family dwellings in areas where residential sprinklers are in use and will report the results of such analysis to the general assembly on or before May 1, 2010.
The Department is specifically requesting input from nonprofit and business groups or organizations including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association and the Home Builders Association of Tennessee.
It is requested that all written materials be provided to the Department by December 31, 2009."

If this issue has been of interest to your county you may send comments or concerns by e-mail, addressed to Jim.Pillow@tn.gov or by mail addressed to:

Jim Pillow
Assistant Commissioner
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
ATTN: Residential Sprinkler Analysis
500 James Robertson Parkway, 3rd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243.

Public Hearings on Residential Building Codes

The Department of Commerce and Insurance is holding a series of public hearings for comments on proposed residential building codes. The dates are as follows:

• October 8, 1 p.m. UT Conference Center, 600 Henley Street, 4th Floor Dining Room, Knoxville, Tennessee
• October 9, 9 a.m. Chattanooga Marriott at the Convention Center, Two Carter Plaza, Ballroom HIJ, Chattanooga, Tennessee
• October 13 1 p.m. UT West Tennessee Agricultural Center, 605 Airways Blvd, Room 150, Jackson, Tennessee
• October 15 1 p.m. Davy Crockett Building, 500 James Robertson Parkway, Room 160, Nashville, Tennessee

The meeting on October 9th is being held in conjunction with the TCSA Annual Fall Conference in Chattanooga. County officials attending that conference can easily attend that hearing which will be in the same facility where our conference is held. No specific code is being proposed at these meetings. The meetings are for the purpose of hearing public comments. As you know, legislation passed this last year that provides for the implementation of statewide residential building codes unless a county or municipality opts out of the law. In those cities and counties that do not opt out, the responsibility for enforcement may rest with the local government, or if the local government chooses not to enforce the codes, the building codes will be administered by the State Fire Marshall's Office.