I wanted to submit my…

I wanted to submit my comments and concerns specifically regarding section 1.4 of the Discussion Paper “Using Coordinating Professionals.” The code is an essential tool for protecting public safety. This is what is mentioned throughout the webinars and seminars that have been hosted and promoting public safety is the key factor noted in the code and throughout this proposal. However, I believe that the proposal of utilizing architects and engineers to create the plans, perform the plans review and all the inspections would in fact put public safety in jeopardy. First, architects and engineers do not have the building code knowledge required. Just this year for example in reviewing a four storey building with a basement completed by a fairly well know architect in the area, I had to issue a refusal letter with over 40 code deficiencies. Some items were small in nature but there were some that were big ticket items as we call them. And this is not an uncommon thing.
Secondly, architects and engineers do not spend as much time on site for inspections. They do not do near the thorough inspections as a building official would do. In speaking with a site superintendent on one of the large buildings I have on the go, I had asked him how often the architects and engineers come on site. His response was surprisingly once in about two months. In contrast there are times when I am on site everyday in up to a two-week period. I am walking with the site superintendent and other contactors ensuring that every penetration firestopped for example. I am the one working through site challenges and ensuring that deficiencies from the previous site visit are completed at the next. There is a lot of changes in a two month period and I find that depending on the stage of construction, there are a lot of things that can be missed if you are not there for even as many as a few days. I understand that not every architect does as little site visits as two months apart but they vary from two weeks to three months and even at two week intervals they are not doing the level of inspections building officials do. They are looking more at progress rather than the specifics of certain details. Further to this architects and engineers are not always physically close to the job site. The architect for one particular project is two hours away and so the feasibility of them performing inspections when they are required and at the rate they are required is not possible.
Lastly and most importantly, architects and engineers are working for the best interests of their client. This is seen time and again as they propose and approve as well as strive to convince building officials of items that are in contravention to the code and are ultimately better for their clients’ pocketbook. This is what puts public safety in the background rather than in the forefront.
These experiences ultimately set my confidence in architects and engineers very low when it comes to catching building code issues and ensuring that public safety is the most important factor in a project. In making the decision of implementing this, please ask yourself where you are placing the importance of public safety.