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November 16, 2021 | Issue # 1 |
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Welcome to Our First Plumbing & Gas Newsletter
 November 16th, 2021
Our new Plumbing and Gas (P&G) Newsletter will provide information and updates on the P&G program for our customers and stakeholders. The Newsletter will be sent via email about once a month. Subscribers can unsubscribe at any time.
PHSKC Plumbing and Gas Program (AHJ) Collaborates with the Industry in an Unprecedented Approach
by Michael Curtright, Seattle ASPE Vice President of Legislation
For decades, the Public Health, Seattle & King County (PHSKC) Plumbing, and Gas Program issued over the counter (OTC) plumbing permits. There was, effectively, a “no plan review” process for plumbing and gas permitting in Seattle/King County.
The nature of this permitting for plumbing and gas was unheard of in the nation. In fact, there was no “best in class” city that had such a policy.
Over the last five years, all of this has changed. With the collaboration of industry and the AHJ, a robust plan review process has been gradually implemented. What is the result? Clear on-line guidance that helps determine if your project is at a sufficient low health risk that plan review is not required. This applies to a very limited number of projects.
For the most part, PHSKC will require plumbing and gas plan review. What support is there for the engineer/permit applicant? Well, they are not guessing at what the AHJ will require for a complete submittal. There is detailed guidance found on the PHSKC website to help the applicant to navigate through the process. It is specific to occupancy and commensurate to health risk.
Has there been some industry push back? Of course, as with any change in life.
Having said the above, I return to the title of this article, “PHSKC Plumbing and Gas Program (AHJ) Collaborates with the Industry in an Unprecedented Approach.”
The Seattle plumbing engineering community was invited to collaborate with the AHJ in an unprecedented way. Specifically, the Seattle American Society of Plumbing Engineers Chapter (ASPE) Board of Directors as well as the chapter membership provided countless hours of pro bono input to shape and support the development of the PHSKC Plumbing and Gas Program plan review implementation and guidance.
What is the measurement of success of this program? Better designs, improved code compliance, clarified expectations of the AHJ’s requirements, no costly surprises in the field.
But there is more to come. In the immediate future, the Seattle plumbing engineering community will provide to PHSKC example drawings of code compliant designs. These will include a complete plan depiction of the information that is required to effect the most expedient plan review.
Can the engineering community and the AHJ work collaboratively to improve public health and safety? Look no further than the unprecedented collaboration with Public Health Seattle King County.
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Expedited Plan Review Ending December 31, 2021
Expedited plan review will end December 31, 2021, due to the economic disparity of this process. Beginning January 1, 2022, the turn-around time for all plans will be targeted for less than 16 weeks. The review process will continue to separate large complex projects from small scale projects of single digit fixtures and work to review these smaller scope projects in less time than the larger complex projects. The Plan Review team is currently advancing multiple approaches to shorten this timeline, including hiring more staff, partnering with industry to provide example plans guidance for plan submission so plans do not need corrections when they are submitted, and making enhancements to the software we use to track and process plans. We appreciate your patience and partnership in reducing timelines.
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Minimum Plumbing Fixture Review
Seattle Department Construction and Inspections (SDCI) currently reviews all projects permitted under the 2018 code cycle. P&G Program will continue to review only projects permitted under the 2015 code cycle for minimum plumbing fixtures.
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Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) Plumbing Inspector Job Announcement
The Environmental Health Services Division is seeking diverse applicants who are representative of our King County population, to fill a position(s) for Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) Plumbing Inspector. The role of the TLT Plumbing Inspector is to protect public health and the environment from the hazards of improper plumbing and gas piping installations. This position also works to improve the delivery of county programs in accordance with King County’s Equity and Social Justice Ordinance through service excellence, financial stewardship, public engagement, and maintaining a quality workforce. Environmental Health Services Division’s mission is to identify and sustain environmental conditions that promote healthy people and healthy communities. The section strives for and values fair and culturally competent service delivery, innovative, effective, and efficient application of resources, building a culture of performance, and expanding opportunities to seek input, listen and respond to industry and residents.
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During the past two years there have been a lot of changes in our lives. COVID has changed how we all work and do business. The P&G program would like to collect information on their processes for working with industry with a focus on the past two years of services.
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