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 foundation shall still be performed.
(B) A school district located in an area that has not
adopted local building 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 a
qualified, independent third party, not employed by the design architect,
engineer, contractor, or manufacturer, 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 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 foundation shall still be performed.
(C) A qualified, independent third party inspector
is a person who maintains, as a minimum, a current certification from
the ICC as a combination commercial inspector and commercial energy
inspector.
(D) A school district that has purchased or leased
a portable, modular building for use as a school facility on or after
September 1, 2007, and before the effective date of this section,
shall have the inspections required by this subsection performed within
60 days of the effective date of this section; any items of noncompliance
identified during the inspections shall be brought into compliance
by the school district within 90 days of the date of the inspections.
(4) Other provisions.
(A) For school facilities projects subject to these
standards, an adequate technology, electrical, and communications
infrastructure shall be provided. To ensure the adequacy of the infrastructure,
the school district and the architect or engineer shall seek the input
of the school district staff, including, but not limited to, the technology
director, the library director, the program directors, the maintenance
director, and the campus staff, in the planning and design of the
infrastructure.
(B) As part of their school facilities projects, school
districts should consider the use of designs, methods, and materials
that will reduce the potential for indoor air quality problems. School
districts should consult with a qualified indoor air quality specialist
during the design process to ensure that the potential for indoor
air quality problems after construction and occupancy of a facility
is minimized. School districts should use the voluntary indoor air
quality guidelines adopted by the Texas Department of State Health
Services under the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 385. School
districts should also use the "Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools"
program administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
(C) As part of their school facilities projects, school
districts should consider the use of sustainable school designs. A
sustainable design is a design that minimizes a facility's impact
on the environment through energy and resource efficiency.
(D) School district facilities shall comply with the
"Texas Accessibility Standards" as promulgated under the Texas Government
Code, Chapter 469, Elimination of Architectural Barriers, as prepared
and administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
(E) School district facilities shall comply with the
provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title I
and Title II).
(F) School district facilities shall comply with all
other local, state, and federal requirements as applicable.
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