I like the idea of "requesting that the AHJ" justify the requirement. I
believe that it needs to be more than a request. Even a written request from
a "Contractor" may not get them to look at the issues other than to scribble
"its says so in 13"
I think that this is another area where AFSA can help us. If AFSA and NFSA
created a joint form for Identifying code provisions, and local ordinance
applications, it would carry a lot more weight. (On-line Down-loadable)
Because they are National Associations local authorities may be more
responsive. Especially if this is presented as an education tool for All the
Associations member contractors.
It might go something like this
Date: ______________________________
Location;
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Authority:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Enforcement officer:
________________________________________________________________________________________________
AHJ 's Direction to
contractor:_____________________________________________________
Specific code reference: Code:__________ Edition or year:_________________
Chapter / Para. section:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If this is a Local adoption or modification of the code listed above please
complete the following:
Ordinance
:__________________________________________________________________
Date of Adoption:
_____________________________________________________________
Specific wording relevant to the direction given above:
_______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The AFSA appreciates your time and effort to complete this questionnaire,
and thanks you for allowing this information to be used in the education and
training of our members.
I'm sure there will need to be some other legal; disclaimer type language
added, but I think this could really help where you really don't want to
"Fight" the AHJ, but still need them to realize that there are limits, and
that they need to be aware of them.
Thom McMahon
Firetech, Inc.
2560 Copper Ridge Dr
Steamboat Springs, CO 80488-2136
Tel: 970-879-7952
Fax: 970-879-7926
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Greenman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 10:31 AM
Subject: Re: Telling an AHJ "No" ?
Good boy. Good boy.
We've all been in the situation where one person or another, usually
an chitect or AHJ or both, have bestowed omnipotence on themselves. I
just got done with one where the architect didn't want pipes run under
a soffit, in the soffitt or above the soffit. Another recent one I was
called incompetent because the architect sent me the wrong
structarural plans twice and when I finally got correct plans from the
structural engineer (at no extra cost--she took pity) she warned me
that they hadn't been accurately built to. The GC on this job told me
to quit asking questions and just do the design. My son got a set that
the architect had attached the wrong title block to and then was told,
after going to the site and confirming a different footprint, number
of stories, room layout, orientation,etc, on the building under
construction and the plans he had, that he was wrong and must not know
how to read plans. And of course any of us can go on and on with this
but I've found that most AHJs are aware of their limitations, as I
hope we all are, and are more than willing to collaborate as long as
they're treated respectfully and in a collaborative manner. It's
architects that are oftyen impossible. And of course there are any
number of exceptions and derivations to such braod generalizations.
On 8/1/07, Matsuda, Richard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
City of Dallas tries to treat all persons as "customers" including
public citizens, builders, architects, and contractors. We even have to
take mandatory customer service training classes which is a great help
for all of us.
I agree with Ed.
If you have a problem with me, then I encourage you to speak to my
supervisors or even to city council members to voice your complaints. I
think I've learned most of my knowledge from listening to the many
patient sprinkler contractors in the area who were willing to take the
time to explain things to me.
However, if I'm doing a good job, then please also voice your
appreciation.
Scold me and praise me like a dog...and I'll happily do my best to do
what's right.
rick matsuda, city of dallas
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ed Vining
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 10:46 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Telling an AHJ "No" ?
Travis, the AHJ may have been at the top of the food chain for the FD,
but not at the top of the code authority. He gets his authority from
someone higher up, City council, county supervisors, or whatever.
I once had a deputy state fire marshal tell me we had to sprinkler a
noncombustible stairway, when the code said we didn't. He was adamant.
I told him I would do it because the client had to get along with the
project, but that I would take it up with his superiors. Several weeks
afterward he called me with apologies, saying he had been wrong.
In another case an AHJ said we had to treat a medical office building as
a hospital. This time we had time, so I went unofficially to his
leaders, suggesting that he needed a bit of training, both on the code
and customer relations. We won.
George is right. Stand up and fight, even if it has to be after the
fact.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Ed Vining
4819 John Muir Rd
Martinez CA 94553
925-228-8792
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--
Ron Greenman
at home....
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