Examination Development and…

Examination Development and Delivery:

Q: How could the current examination design and/or delivery be improved?

A: Examination questions should be reviewed to ensure they are clear and people writing the exams understand the questions. Questions that trick people need to be removed.

Pre-Qualification Training:

- To ensure building officials are up to date on code changes and competent, mandatory training should be linked to continuing professional development. All building officials should be required to complete CPD over a period. This can be administered through the AA or OBOA.

Using Coordinating Professionals:

Q: Do you think the use of a Prime Consultant, under certain circumstances, would support a more streamlined building permit application process?

A: I believe we are already seeing this. Often applications are made by the project Architect who is the lead consultant on a project.

Q: Do you think the use of Certified Professionals, under certain circumstances, would support a more streamlined building permit application process?

A: Thinking that an Architect or Engineer can complete a building design for their customer and then have a building permit issued without municipal review because of their professional expertise I don't think is providing a service to building owners or the public. Required Building Code items will get missed and designers working on behalf of their clients wishes will try to interpret the Code in ways to exclude items. It is not uncommon for us to complete a plan review for a Part 3 building and send back a deficiency list with large impact items.

Q: If the ministry decides to move forward allow use of such professionals, what do you think needs to be considered in implementing this change?

A: How will this impact fee revenue for municipal building departments to allow us to retain our qualified staff? I would imagine building owners will not want to continue paying our full permit fees if municipal staff are not completing the plan review (or even possibly inspections). This feels like municipalities will be forced to make cuts to our staffing levels due to loss in workload and fee revenue. The focus should be on getting more qualified building officials industry ready and finding jobs for them, not the opposite.

Public Registry and Registration Process:

- Municipalities should have the ability and access to list their staff within Quarts and make changes.
- Options should be provided for deputy CBO, Managers, etc.

Continuing Professional Development

- The OBOA has recently amended this CPD requirements for CBCO designation. This model or one similar should be adopted for all building officials.

Promoting a Consistent Application of Code Requirements

- technical bulletins, code interpretations and illustrated guides are needed for clarity to help building code practitioners.

Digital Service Transformation

- the option to view the code on cell phones and tablets would be helpful. The electronic version of the code online is too large and is not searchable.