Meet Alberto Fuentes, Senior Plans Examiner - "Alberto Fuentes, bilingual veteran building trades Plumbing Foreman, has over 26 years of diverse industry experience. His career spans pivotal roles at industry-leading companies such as Hawk Mechanical, MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions, Apollo Mechanical and Auburn Mechanical. Alberto's comprehensive expertise in team management, project drawing review, compliance assurance, and liaising with inspectors and across trades is well-demonstrated. He is committed to safety, superior workmanship, and adherence to plumbing codes, as showcased in projects like the Aspira tower, Harborview Norm Maleng bldg., Swedish Hospital, 9th and pine, Microsoft villages and Port of Seattle IAF, restaurant-tenant improvement port projects. Outside work, Alberto is a devoted husband and father of two daughters, aged 7 and 8, and he enjoys ATV’s, skiing, kayaking, old cars, traveling and exploring the Pacific Northwest with his family."
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Meet Scott Stennes, Field Plumbing Inspector - "My plumbing and mechanical career started a little over 25 years ago. First large project was working on Navy housing in Snohomish County. Through the next 11 years I was involved with several “Street of Dreams” projects, multifamily, large custom home builds, and some commercial projects. I eventually worked my way towards starting my own Plumbing company for the next 12 years. I specialized in remodel and custom home builds and crossed over into radiant hydraulic heating systems. Wanting to pursue my commercial license I had the privilege to work with an independent contracting company specifically working for U.S. Government facilities as a service technician and providing oversight on large projects for facilities such as JBLM, Seattle and Tacoma’s Veterans hospitals, FAA, SSA, and GSA. I’ve been told I may have too many hobbies, but I enjoy life so much I feel I can’t let any go. I’ve been a guitar musician for over 35 years, I love working with wood and turning bowls on my lathe, I enjoy salmon and steelhead fishing, hunting in eastern Washington. If I’m not working in the yard in the summer, the fiancé and I are glamping in our travel trailer north of Mt. St. Helens area. On weekends I like to take my Kodiak 700 and trail ride through the local ORV parks. Snow skiing, hiking, and just being outdoors in general."
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Meet Nick Flusher, Plan Review Plumbing Inspector - "I have been in the plumbing world for 11 years now. I started off in the US Air Force for 7 years. My wife and I had some trouble picking a place to move to after the military. We visited the PNW, fell in love with the region, and decided to settle in. Since getting to Seattle, I have worked for a few different plumbing companies running residential, multifamily, and some commercial plumbing jobs. I also did a tour in Antarctica as the plumbing foreman at McMurdo Station. With my free time I spend time together with my family, ride my motorcycle and do anything and everything I can outdoors."
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Meet Chris Sexton, Field Plumbing Inspector - "I have been a Local 32 member since 2000, after beginning my commercial apprenticeship in March 1999. I am a Building Trades Journeyman PL 01, having worked and ran major projects. I spent the last 10 years working in the T.I. sector. The coolest thing I've done in the industry was in 2012, I worked O.C. as a pipefitter in Prudhoe Bay Alaska for 4 months on the retrofit of flow station 1 and pump station 1. I have always enjoyed the industrial side of the business, and am eager to learn new aspects of the pipe trade. In my spare time I coach and umpire high school baseball and spend time with my two kids." |
2021 Construction Codes delayed – Both the Washington State Building Code Council and City of Seattle have postponed the effective date of the 2021 construction codes to no earlier than October 29, 2023. This delay allows for further review of proposed Energy Codes and for other administrative approval processes to take place.
Insulation inspections on hold – We are postponing the implementation of insulation inspections for commercial plan reviewed projects until further notice. This decision comes after the initial May 24, 2023 stakeholder meeting and a subsequent internal discussion. We are continuing to coordinate with SDCI regarding this policy. We will announce any policy updates when they're available in this newsletter.
Draft Plan Review Guidance available for review – We have updated and rewritten our plan review design guidance for commercial plumbing projects. Now, this draft document is with Policy Advisory Committee members and local trade groups for review. Comments from stakeholders are due no later than this Friday, June 23. We will schedule a follow-up meeting once comments are received and processed. Note: The more lenient provisions outlined in this updated document are currently in effect for projects under review as of June 6, 2023.
Water System Disinfection Policy updates – On May 17, 2023, we posted an update to our water system disinfection policy on our website. This updated document clearly indicates which types of projects require disinfection. The document also provides updated procedural guidance that better aligns with UPC 609.9 and Washington State Department of Health guidelines currently under development. We will post another update to this document in the near future to address flushing and disinfection procedures for occupied buildings.
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