WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR A BUILDING PERMIT ?
The basic premise for obtaining a building permit for all the USA codes is that the permit applicant (owner, owner's design professional or contractor) be able to demonstrate that the proposed construction complies with the building code for that specific project. The building officials have very broad authority on what evidence they require to be submitted. They can and often request additional evidence at any time during the construction process.
The State of Florida has approximately 470 permit jurisdictions that are responsible for the interpreting and enforcement of the two sections of the Florida Building Code. (Note: The Florida Building Code is based on the International Building Code but contains many modifications.)
The other 49 states are using or moving toward using the International Code Council's family of building codes as their base codes but almost all states and local jurisdictions adopt modifications to the model codes. Thousands of permit jurisdictions review submitted evidence of code compliance for each specific project and have the responsibility to issue building permit approval for construction.
The permit process has two steps -
Step one is the product manufacturer's responsibility. The manufacturer should have testing and evaluation to show compliance with the standards or intent of the code. Mandatory Florida envelope products are included in step one. This step establishes a base of engineering data with limits of use. This step is performed one time.
Step two is the responsibility of the permit applicant to demonstrate that the proposed use of a product complies with the building code for that specific project. This is often called site-specific design. This step is repeated for each building.
WHAT ARE THE BASIC PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR A PRODUCT WITH A FLORIDA MANDATORY ENVELOPE PRODUCT APPROVAL?
In step one the product manufacturer is required to obtain a product approval based on technical test criteria with limits of use and produce a product under an audited ISO quality assurance program. The manufacturer may offer engineering design data for estimating and preliminary site specific design. Florida Engineering law (and many other states) prohibit non-engineer certified companies from submitting sealed engineering design for permitting.
In step two the permit applicant (contractor, design professional, building owner) is responsible for the verification by demonstrating that the proposed use of the product is within the approved limits of use for the specific project and complies with the code structural design loads. If the design loads exceed the limits of use, design professionals can often develop site specific engineering to meet the required design loads. This site-specific design is then subject to the approval of the local building official.
For more on the Two step process see Memorandum from Chairman of the Florida Building Commision
WHAT ARE THE GENERAL PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR
ANY NON-MANDATORY ENVELOPE PRODUCT?
Step one is the manufacturer's responsibility to provide standards testing, evaluation research reports, certifications, engineering data, etc. on their products for specific uses and limits of use.
Step two is the responsibility of the permit applicant (contractor, design professional, building owner). The applicant must be able to demonstrate that the intended use of any product used on a specific project complies with the local building code. The building officials approve the use of the products and systems for specific projects and issue building permits.
GENERAL WIND REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITTING
SITE SPECIFIC DESIGN FOR PERMITTING:
The party that is applying for a permit is responsible to demonstrate to the building officials that the proposed construction complies with the building code.
Permits are usually applied for by a licensed contractor on behalf of the owner. In limited circumstances permits can be obtained by home owners, but they are then responsible for supervision and code compliance.
A number of contractors and individual building-owners may not be aware that in the absence of a design professional taking responsibility on a project, the contractor/owner is in effect performing the duties for a design and build project. In many cases they will need to engage professional services to design for code compliance for the specific project.
A product approval by itself is only one of the documents needed to meet the building code requirement for demonstrating code compliance on any specified permit application. The manufacturer is required to have a product approval stating a resistance to wind pressure for a specified attachment method. Section 1603 of the Florida Building Code 2004 and Section 1603.1.4 of the International building Code (USA) 2006 require cladding design pressures for each building and different wind zones for that building. The design wind pressures are based on Standard ASCE 7 (Minimum design loads for buildings). This is a brief outline of the procedure.
(A) Determine velocity Pressure in(PSF).
Variables
- Design Wind Velocity at the Specified location on a wind contour map in MPH
- Wind Region Based on Hurricane Risk.
- Building Classification Based on Building Use
- Importance Factor Based on Use Category
- Exposure Category based on surrounding terrain roughness, both natural and man made
- Directional Factor based on load combinations used in the design
- Topographic Factor determined by formulas based on topographic elevation differences
(B) Determine Design Pressure, location, and size for different zones on the structure (PSF)
Variables
- The wind velocity pressure from step "A" (PSF)
- Design Height
- Design Width
- Slope or Vertical
- Roof Overhang
- Design Internal Pressure based on the enclosure classification which is based on the rated resistance, size, and location of personal doors, windows, louvers, Garage doors, etc. in the envelope
- Determine zones and zone size(ie. Field, Edge, Corner)
Wind Design Pressures (for each specific project), Product Approval engineering data or product evaluation reports and often enhanced attachment for edge zones are typically required for permiting to show that the proposed construction will meet or exceed the design pressures. This is the responsibility of the permit applicant and/or project designer.
If a manufacturer (that is not a State Certified Engineering Firm) submits engineering data for permitting on its letterhead, that would be considered “practicing engineering” without a license in many states. If a manufacturer desires to participate in site specific design, the best method is to work with a state design professional.
CBUCK has been providing solid site specific design that is easy to review by clients and most importantly, building officials for faster permitting and more profitable projects for 10 years on a statewide basis,
Due to heavy workload with existing clients, new clients are accepted based on current workload status.We naturally give priority to our existing repeat clients but we are expanding our capacity to add new repeat firms.
Click on the information form that best describes your product and application and let us help you get your permits so that you can go to work:
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