Agenda - 12-01-2003-9d - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 Enhanced State Building Code The State has adopted new improved life- safety building codes and delegated their implementation to Orange County. As part of this State mandate, the Inspections Division must function with staffing levels appropriate to both adequately, and in a timely manner, complete the necessary functions as outlined by the N.C. General Statutes. These codes entail more numerous and more time consuming inspections. For example: • Enforcement of the 2002 N.C. State Building Codes (adopted 2003) increased the average number of required inspections for single - family construction from 11 to 18. Many of these codes, although existing in some form for years, have not been the practice by some independent contractors and in turn, diplomatic communications with field personnel are necessary. In addressing the large and increasing workload with existing staff, the Inspections Division has used a strategy of multi -trade training for staff.. Presently, with current staff levels, it has been the only way the Inspections Division can manage the workload, but some of the disadvantages are significant. Most Inspectors have one trade in which they are more experienced. The other trades have to be learned on the job. In addition, the staff works with a very high number of inspection requests per day. This keeps all field Inspectors under constant pressure to perform in sometimes- unfamiliar areas at a high frequency. Other Inspections Departments of comparable size generally have one trade Inspectors rather than those trained in multiple trades. This allows the Inspector to master his or her understanding of the job. The Orange County future objective is to assign two trade areas of responsibility to each Inspector, but for now, the staffing levels and workload with multi -trade Inspections must be balanced. The chart below reflects status activity of both field inspections and plans review, as they are integral to the functioning of this division. Level of Services August Through Mid - November, 2003 • October thru November reflects 4 temporary part-time personnel, 2 in Plans Review and 2 in field Inspections • Three of these temporary employees are on a day -to -day basis depending on time available, as they are full time employees working for other jurisdictions or private firms. They are available to assist Orange County, as they are able to obtain vacation days from their current full -time jobs, or work on weekends. • One temporary Inspector has obligated 40 hours per week, to Orange County through July 2004. Level of Services (Processing Time) August With 5'h Inspector With temporary/ October Targeted/ September 6 Inspectors November 8 Inspectors and 2 Plans Examiners Plans review Residential 6 weeks 4 weeks 3 weeks 2 5 weeks 3 days Commercial 9 weeks 7 weeks 5 weeks 6 weeks 2 weeks Inspections Footings 1 day 1 day same day 1 day same day Other Inspections 5 — 6 days 3 - 4 days 3 days 3 days 1 day • October thru November reflects 4 temporary part-time personnel, 2 in Plans Review and 2 in field Inspections • Three of these temporary employees are on a day -to -day basis depending on time available, as they are full time employees working for other jurisdictions or private firms. They are available to assist Orange County, as they are able to obtain vacation days from their current full -time jobs, or work on weekends. • One temporary Inspector has obligated 40 hours per week, to Orange County through July 2004.