20.02.145 Submittal documents.
A. Submittal documents consisting of construction documents, statement of special inspection and structural observation programs, engineering reports and calculations, diagrams 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 where required by the state of Washington. Where special conditions exist, the building official is authorized to require additional construction documents to be prepared by a registered design professional.
EXCEPTION: The building 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 review of construction documents is not necessary to obtain compliance with this code.
B. Construction documents shall be dimensioned and submitted electronically. Construction documents printed on suitable material are permitted to be submitted when approved by the building official. Construction documents shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature, and extent of the work proposed in the proper orientation and layout as it is intended to be constructed and show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of this code and relevant laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations, as determined by the building official.
C. Shop drawings for the fire protection system(s) shall be submitted to the fire code official to indicate conformance with this code and the construction documents and shall be approved prior to the start of system installation. Shop drawings shall contain all information as required by the referenced installation standards in Chapter 9 of the International Building Code. Shop drawings shall be prepared by a certified individual as required by the state of Washington.
D. 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 this code. In other than IRC regulated structures, the construction documents shall designate the number of occupants to be accommodated on every floor, and in all rooms and spaces.
E. Construction documents for all buildings shall describe the exterior wall envelope in sufficient detail to determine compliance with this code. The construction documents shall provide 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 include manufacturer’s 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.
1. Building Enclosure Design Requirements of Chapter 64.55 RCW. Building enclosure design documents of new or rehabilitated multifamily buildings that are subject to regulations of Chapter 64.55 RCW must be submitted at the time of permit application. All applications for building construction or rehabilitation shall include design documents prepared and stamped by an architect or engineer that identify the building enclosure (building enclosure documents), including, but not limited to, waterproofing, weatherproofing and/or otherwise protected from water or moisture intrusion, unless a recorded irrevocable sale prohibition covenant is submitted to the city. The city is prohibited from issuing a permit for construction or rehabilitative construction unless the building enclosure documents contain a stamped statement by the person stamping the building enclosure design documents in substantially the following form: “The undersigned has provided building enclosure documents that in my professional judgment are appropriate to satisfy the requirements of RCW 64.55.005 through 64.55.090.” The city is not responsible for determining whether the building enclosure design documents or the inspections performed are adequate or appropriate to satisfy the requirements of Chapter 64.55 RCW.
EXCEPTION: Subject to the approval of the building official, IRC regulated structures may be exempt from the detailing requirements of this section. In addition to these requirements, multi-unit structures as defined in RCW 64.55.010 shall comply with the submittal requirements as listed in RCW 64.55.020.
Where balconies and other elevated walking surfaces are exposed to water from direct or blowing rain, snow, or irrigation, and the structural framing is protected by an impervious moisture barrier, the construction documents shall include details for all elements of the impervious moisture barrier system. The construction documents shall include manufacturer’s installation instructions.
F. The construction documents submitted with the application for permit shall be accompanied by a site plan showing to scale the size and location of new construction and existing structures on the site, distances from lot lines, the established street grades and the proposed finished grades and, as applicable, flood hazard areas, floodways, and design flood elevations; and it shall be drawn in accordance with an accurate boundary line survey. In the case of demolition, the site plan shall show construction to be demolished and the location and size of existing structures and construction that are to remain on the site or plot. The building 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.
G. The building official shall examine, or cause to be examined, the accompanying submittal documents and shall ascertain by such examinations whether the construction indicated and described is in accordance with the requirements of this code and other pertinent laws or ordinances.
H. Whenever review of a building permit application requires retention by the jurisdiction for professional consulting services, the applicant shall reimburse the jurisdiction the cost of such professional consulting services. This fee shall be in addition to the normal plan review and building permit fees. The jurisdiction may require the applicant to deposit an amount with the jurisdiction estimated in the discretion of the building official to be sufficient to cover anticipated costs of retaining professional consultant services and to ensure reimbursement for such costs.
I. When the building official issues a permit, the construction documents shall be approved, in writing or by stamp, as “Approved.” One set of construction documents so reviewed shall be retained by the building 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 building official or a duly authorized representative.
J. The building official is authorized to issue a permit for the construction of foundations 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 this code. 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.
K. When it is required that documents be prepared by a qualified registered design professional, the building 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 building 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. The registered design professional in responsible charge shall be responsible for reviewing and coordinating submittal documents prepared by others, including phased and deferred submittal items, for compatibility with the design of the building. Where structural observation is required by Section 1710 of the International Building Code, the inspection program shall name the individuals or firms who are to perform structural observation and describe the stages of construction at which structural observation is to occur (see also other duties specified in Section 1704 of the International Building Code).
L. For the purposes 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 building official within a specified period. Deferral of any submittal items shall have the prior approval of the building official. The registered design professional in responsible charge shall list the deferred submittals on the construction documents for review by the building official. 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 building official with a notation indicating that the deferred submittal documents have been reviewed and been found to be in general conformance to the design of the building. The deferred submittal items shall not be installed until the deferred submittal documents have been approved by the building official. The building official is authorized to charge an additional plan review fee to evaluate deferred submittals under the provisions of this section.
M. Work shall be installed in accordance with the approved construction documents, and any changes made during construction that are not in compliance with the approved construction documents shall be resubmitted for approval as an amended set of construction documents. The building official may authorize minor field changes subject to the approval of the field inspector.
N. One set of approved construction documents shall be retained by the building official for a period of not less than 180 days from date of completion of the permitted work, expiration of the permit, or as required by state or local laws. (Ord. 2344 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 2052 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010; Ord. 1986 § 1, 2007; Ord. 1926 § 4, 2004).