| (7) Other space requirements should be developed from
school district design criteria as required to meet educational program
needs.
(e) Educational adequacy. A proposed new school facility
or major space renovation of an existing school facility meets the
conditions of educational adequacy if the design of the proposed project
is based on the requirements of the school district's educational
program, the educational specifications, and the student population
that it serves.
(f) Construction quality.
(1) Districts with existing building codes.
(A) A school district located in an area that has adopted
local construction codes shall comply with those codes (including
building, fire, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy conservation,
and electrical codes). The school district is not required to seek
additional plan review of school facilities projects other than what
is required by the local building authority. If the local building
authority does not require a plan review, then a qualified, independent
third party, not employed by the design architect or engineer, shall
review the plans and specifications for compliance with the requirements
of the adopted building code. The plan review shall examine compliance
conditions for emergency egress, fire protection, structural integrity,
life safety, plumbing, energy conservation, and mechanical and electrical
design. The review shall be conducted prior to the commencement of
construction and must be conducted by a qualified building code consultant
or a third party architect or engineer. A qualified building code
consultant is a person who maintains, as a minimum, a current certification
from the ICC. Associated fees shall be the responsibility of the school
district. The reviewer shall prepare a summary list of any conditions
not in conformance with the provisions of the adopted building code
and is required to send a copy to the school district, design architect,
or engineer. The design architect or engineer shall revise the plans
and specifications as necessary and certify code compliance to the
district. The reviewer, in his or her reasonable judgment and with
the approval of the local building authority, may allow a limited
number of variances from the codes if such variances do not negatively
affect the quality or safety of the facility. Any disputes shall be
a matter for contract resolution.
(B) For school facilities projects subject to these
standards, and where not otherwise required by local code, fire alarm
systems shall be provided. Fire alarm systems shall be designed and
installed in accordance with applicable portions of the latest edition
of the International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code
(IFC).
(C) As part of their school facilities projects and
where not otherwise required by local code, school districts should
consider providing automatic sprinkler systems for fire protection,
fire suppression, and life safety. In absence of a local code, each
automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in accordance with the
latest edition of the IBC and IFC.
(D) If the local building authority does not conduct
reviews and inspections during the course of construction of the facility,
then a qualified, independent third party, not employed by the design
architect or engineer or contractor, should perform a reasonable number
of reviews and inspections during the course of construction for compliance
with the requirements of the adopted building code. The reviews and
inspections should examine compliance conditions for emergency egress,
fire protection, structural integrity, life safety, plumbing, energy
conservation, and mechanical and electrical design. A qualified code
inspector is a person who maintains, as a minimum, a current certification
from the ICC as a combination commercial inspector and commercial
energy inspector.
(2) Districts without existing building codes.
(A) A school district located in an area that has not
adopted local building codes shall adopt and use the building code
and related fire, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, and energy conservation
codes from the latest edition of the family of International Codes
as published by the ICC; and the National Electric Code as published
by the NFPA. As an alternative, a school district may adopt the building
code and related fire, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, and energy
conservation codes as adopted by a nearby municipality or county.
A qualified, independent third party, not employed by the design architect
or engineer, shall review the plans and specifications for compliance
with the requirements of the adopted building code. The plan review
shall examine compliance conditions for emergency egress, fire protection,
structural integrity, life safety, plumbing, energy conservation,
and mechanical and electrical design. The review shall be conducted
prior to the commencement of construction and must be conducted by
a qualified building code consultant or a third party architect or
engineer. A qualified building code consultant is a person who maintains,
as a minimum, a current certification from the ICC. Associated fees
shall be the responsibility of the school district. The reviewer shall
prepare a summary list of any conditions not in conformance with the
provisions of the adopted building code and is required to send a
copy to the school district, design architect, or engineer. The design
architect or engineer shall revise the plans and specifications as
necessary and certify code compliance to the district. The reviewer,
in his or her reasonable judgment, may allow a limited number of variances
from the codes if such variances do not negatively affect the quality
or safety of the facility. Any disputes shall be a matter for contract
resolution.
(B) For school facilities projects subject to these
standards, fire alarm systems shall be provided. Fire alarm systems
shall be designed and installed in accordance with applicable portions
of the latest edition of the IBC and IFC.
(C) As part of their school facilities projects, school
districts should consider providing automatic sprinkler systems for
fire protection, fire suppression, and life safety. Each automatic
sprinkler system shall be installed in accordance with the latest
edition of the IBC and IFC.
(D) A qualified, independent third party, not employed
by the design architect or engineer or contractor, should perform
a reasonable number of reviews and inspections during the course of
construction of the facility for compliance with the requirements
of the adopted building code. The reviews and inspections should examine
compliance conditions for emergency egress, fire protection, structural
integrity, life safety, plumbing, energy conservation, and mechanical
and electrical design. A qualified code inspector is a person who
maintains, as a minimum, a current certification from the ICC as a
combination commercial inspector and commercial energy inspector.
(3) Special provisions for portable, modular buildings.
Any portable, modular building capable of being relocated that is
purchased or leased for use as a school facility by a school district,
whether that building is manufactured off-site or constructed on-site,
must comply with all provisions of this section. Effective September
1, 2007, the following additional provisions shall apply to any portable,
modular building that is purchased or leased for use as a school facility
by a school district.
(A) A school district located in an area that has adopted
local construction codes shall have the portable, modular building,
including the construction of the foundation system and the erection
and installation of the building on the foundation, inspected by the
local building authority for compliance with the mandatory building
codes or approved designs, plans, and specifications. The school district
is not required to seek additional inspection of the portable, modular
building other than what is required by the local building authority.
If the local building authority does not perform inspections, then
a qualified, independent third party, not employed by the design architect,
engineer, contractor, or manufacturer, shall inspect the facility,
including the construction of the foundation system and the erection
and installation of the facility on the foundation, for compliance
with the mandatory building codes or approved designs, plans, and
specifications. The inspections shall be performed within 30 days
of the completion of the construction, erection, and installation
of the facility on the site, and the school district shall not occupy
or use the facility until the independent third party makes a final
determination that the facility is in compliance with all provisions
of this section. For a manufactured portable, modular building that
is an industrialized building as defined by the Texas Occupations
Code, §1202.003, the factory inspection performed under the oversight
of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shall suffice
to determine compliance of the building envelope with the mandatory
building codes or approved designs, plans, and specifications in lieu
of an inspection by the local building authority or an independent
third party for a portable, modular building constructed on or after
January 1, 1986; however, an inspection of the construction of the
foundation system and the erection and installation of the portable,
modular building on the Cont'd... |
