Third Party Program Quarterly News | 3.2.2020

District of Columbia sent this bulletin at 03/02/2020 12:00 PM EST

View as a webpage / Share

Third Party Program News Email Header Image

March 2, 2020 | Issue 1 | Volume 1

Meet Our New Employees
Third Party Program Reminders
Frequent Issues Found During Oversight
A Deeper Dive into Handrails
Track Our Performance

Meet Our New Employees

Asa Foss, Supervisor

Asa joins the Third Party Program after spending the last 10 years at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). As the residential technical director, he was responsible for developing and implementing LEED in the US and international residential construction markets, growing the program to over 1.5 million dwelling units. He wrote and then enforced rating system requirements, and oversaw the verification network of 30 LEED Provider Organizations and 300 credentialed LEED Green Raters. He is a national expert on the single family and multifamily green building and energy efficiency industries, regularly presenting at conferences around the country.

Prior to joining the USGBC in 2009, Mr. Foss designed and implemented Maryland Energy Administration's (MEA) award winning Maryland Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program, launched in December 2007. He lives in Mt Pleasant with his wife and two young children.

Tamika Hooks, Building Inspector II

A Native to the DMV, growing up mainly in Silver Spring, MD, Tamika Hooks graduated from Howard University in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture. Tamika joins the team after spending the last 12 years working for Arlington County Government with six of those years as a Construction Codes Inspector III. Her primary focus in Arlington was new construction both Commercial and Residential with a specialty in Building. Now at DCRA, Tamika’s primary concentration will be oversight inspections with our Third Party Program.

Third Party Program Reminders

Failed Inspections

Agencies must enter all failed inspections into ACCELA Mobile Office (AMO) within 3 days of the inspection. The inspection should be resulted as “Third Party Failed.”

Sprinkler Shop Drawings

Projects that do not have approved shop drawings for their sprinkler systems may not close in their sprinkler systems. Inspectors should clearly communicate this on the inspection record cards when relevant.

Frequent Issues Found During Oversight

Two Unit Row-houses

All attached and semi-attached two unit row-houses must follow the IBC, per DCMR 12A 101.2.3 Scope. Only detached two-family dwellings and attached single-family dwellings (townhouses) meet the requirements of Exception 1. If you go on an Inspection and see IRC on plans for a project that is outside scope, require plan revision and disapprove the inspection.

Fire Rated Assemblies

Poor fire caulking and using non-approved products (i.e. Orange Foam that is a Fire Block NOT a Fire Stop.) Verify the UL listed assemblies.

Permit Scope

Inspectors shall verify the plans and permits on every project to ensure the scope of work has not been exceeded. Third Party Inspection Agencies (TPIA) may be fined if DCRA finds that a project exceeds scope AND the TPIA does not provide notice to DCRA for exceeding the scope of the plans or permits.

Green and Energy

Energy inspections are required for all projects. Please ensure you certify the Energy inspection with your rough and final certifications. DCRA has increased oversight of energy inspections and verification.

A Deeper Dive into Handrails

The International Codes cover just about all of the standards for the construction of stairs and handrails. Sometimes it can be a bit confusing trying to keep the different requirements for Residential (1&2 Family) and Commercial handrails straight. Here are some reminders of the different requirements.

Commercial Handrails in the IBC 2012

IBC 1011.11: Stairways shall have handrails on each side, which comply with section 1014.

IBC 1011.11 Key Exception: Stairways within dwelling units are permitted to have handrail on one side only

IBC 1012.6: Handrails shall return to a wall, guard or the walking surface or shall be continuous to the handrail of an adjacent stair flight or ramp run.

IBC 1012.8: Ramps with a rise greater than 6” shall have handrails on both sides. Handrails shall comply with section 1014.

IBC 1014.2: Handrail height, measured above stair tread nosing’s, or finish surface of ramp slope, shall be uniform, not less than 34” and not more than 38”.

IBC 1014.3.1 Part 1: Circular handrails shall have an outside diameter of not less than 1.25” and not greater than 2”.

IBC 1014.3.1 Part 2: Where the handrail is not circular, it shall have a perimeter dimension of not less than 4” and not greater than 6.25” inches with a maximum cross-sectional dimension of 2.25” and minimum cross-sectional dimension of 1”.

IBC 1014.4: Handrail gripping surfaces shall be continuous, without interruptions by newel posts or other obstructions (Handrails within dwelling units are permitted to be interrupted by a newel post on turns and landings)

IBC 1014.4 Key Exception: Handrail brackets or pickets attached to the bottom of the handrail that do not project horizontally beyond the sides of the handrail within 1.5” of the bottom of the handrail shall not be considered obstructions

IBC 1014.7: Clear space between a handrail and a wall or other surface shall be not less than 1.5”.

IBC 1607.8.1: Handrail shall be designed to resist a linear load of 50 pounds per linear foot a.

IBC 1607.8.1.1: Handrail shall resist a concentrated load of 200 pounds.

Residential Handrails in the IRC 2012

Handrails Profiles and Landing Guard Heights Diagram

IRC 311.7.8: If there are four risers or more then there must be a handrail on at least one side. Ramps on a slope steeper than one inch per foot must have one on at least one side.

IRC 311.7.8.1: Handrails must be at a height between 34″ – 38″. This is measured vertically from the finished surface of the ramp or along a straight edged line from the finished noses of the steps.

IRC 311.7.8.2: They must remain continuous for the full length of the steps starting at the lowest riser and ending with the highest riser. They must be no less than 1 1/2″ from the wall. Handrail ends shall be returned or shall terminate in newel posts or safety terminals.

IRC 311.7.8.3 Part 1: Type I Circular rails must have a grip size between 1 1/4″ – 2″. Other shapes must have a circumference between 4″ – 6 1/4″. The cross section cannot exceed 2 1/4″. Edges must have a minimum radius of .01″.

IRC 311.7.8.3 Part 2: Type II Rails with a circumference greater than 6 1/4″ must a graspable finger hold on both sides of the profile.

IRC 312: Railings can also serve for guard rails. Guard rails are fall protection on decks, porches, exposed landings, ramps, and all walkways where the height exceeds 30″. Be careful, this height can be measured at a point 36″ out from the open side. Guard rails must be solid or have spindles spaced close enough to not allow the passage of 4″ sphere. Guard rails must have a minimum height of 36″.

Track Our Performance

Our Agency Dashboard

We are committed to providing information that offers a candid look at our agency’s efficiency and performance.

If you have any questions regarding this newsletter, please contact us. We actively use feedback to improve our delivery and services. Please take a minute to share your feedback on how we performed in our last engagement. Subscribe to receive DCRA news and updates.

Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs

1100 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024 ǀ 202.442.4400 ǀ dcra.dc.gov

Subscriber Preferences

Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe | Help | Contact Us