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This website publishes administrative rules on their effective dates, as designated by the adopting state agencies, colleges, and universities.

Chapter 4101:7-1 | Board Certifications, Recognition, and Authorizations

 
 
 
Rule
Rule 4101:7-1-01 | General.
 

As authorized by the Revised Code, the board of building standards has adopted rules for the certification of building departments, building department personnel, local boards of building appeals, and fire protection system designers as specified in paragraphs (A) to (D) of this rule. Additionally, the board has adopted rules for the recognition of accreditation bodies, conformity assessment bodies, and industry trade association certification programs as specified in paragraph (E) of this rule. The board has also adopted rules which address the fees charged by building departments and prescribe the fees charged by the division of industrial compliance as specified in paragraph (F) of this rule. Applications for certification or recognition shall be submitted to the board of building standards and shall be made on forms prescribed by the board and found on the board's website at http://www.com.ohio.gov/dico/bbs/.

(A) Building department certification. Before exercising authority in the enforcement of the rules of the board in accordance with rule 4101:1-1-01 of the Administrative Code, including the acceptance and approval of plans and the performance of inspections, municipal, township, and county building departments shall be certified by the board of building standards as required in division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-2-01 of the Administrative Code.

(B) Building department personnel certification. Before exercising authority in the enforcement of the rules of the board in accordance with rule 4101:1-1-01 of the Administrative Code, including the acceptance and approval of plans and the performance of inspections, municipal, township and county building departments' required personnel shall be certified by the board of building standards as required in division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code.

(C) Boards of building appeals certification. Before hearing and deciding adjudication hearings, local boards of building appeals shall be certified by the board of building standards as required in section 3781.20 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-4-01 of the Administrative Code.

(D) Fire protection system designer certification. Before designing an automatic sprinkler system or other water-based fire protection system, a fire alarm system, or a special hazards suppression system for submission to a certified building department for approval, an individual must be certified by the board of building standards as required in section 3781.105 of the Revised Code and rules 4101:7-5-01 of the Administrative Code.

(E) Criteria for board recognition of accreditation bodies, conformity assessment bodies and industry trade association certification programs. Before providing services, any accreditation body, conformity assessment body, or industry trade association certification program shall be recognized by the board as authorized by division (C) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and as prescribed in section 114 of rules 4101:1-1-01 and 4101:8-1-01 of the Administrative Code and as specified in rule 4101:7-6-01 of the Administrative Code.

(F) Fees. The fees for examination of construction documents and for conducting inspections when performed by the division of industrial compliance are as prescribed in rule 4101:7-7-01 of the Administrative Code.

Last updated October 15, 2024 at 4:41 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3781.10(E), 3781.105, 3781.20, 3783.05, 3791.07
Amplifies: 3781.10, 3781.105, 3781.19, 3781.20, 3783.05
Five Year Review Date: 10/27/2023
Prior Effective Dates: 3/26/1971, 7/1/1977, 12/30/1977, 7/16/1979, 5/1/1980, 1/1/1981, 3/10/1982, 1/1/1983, 10/1/1990, 9/1/1992, 1/1/1994, 4/1/1999, 12/1/2000, 4/1/2001, 1/1/2003, 4/1/2003, 9/6/2005, 7/1/2006, 1/1/2009, 7/1/2009, 6/8/2012, 3/1/2013
Rule 4101:7-1-02 | Definitions.
 

Unless otherwise stated, the following terms, as used in division 4101:7 of the Administrative Code, shall have the meanings shown herein.

(A) Automatic sprinkler system. An integrated system of underground and overhead piping designed in accordance with fire protection engineering standards. The system includes a suitable water supply. The portion of the system above the ground is a network of specially sized or hydraulically designed piping installed in a structure or area, generally overhead, and to which automatic sprinklers are connected in a systematic pattern. The system is usually activated by heat from a fire and discharges water over the fire area.

(B) Automatic sprinkler system designer. See "Water-based fire protection system designer."

(C) Board of building standards. The administrative board established in section 3781.07 of the Revised Code and referred to as "the board" or "BBS."

(D) Building inspector. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of work with the approved construction documents.

(E) Building official. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to enforce the rules of the board and is responsible for the overall administration of a building department relating to the construction, arrangement, and the erection of buildings or parts thereof.

(F) Building plans examiner. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to perform the examination of construction documents related to all general building construction and associated structural work to determine compliance with the rules of the board.

(G) Electrical plans examiner. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to perform the examination of construction documents related to electrical systems to determine compliance with the rules of the board.

(H) Electrical safety inspector. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 and section 3783.03 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of electrical system work with the approved construction documents.

(I) Evidence. Proof of the statements or claims made that can consist of contracts, affidavits, agreements, letters, transcripts, certificates, certification cards, diplomas, awards, invoices, published data, photographs, legible reproductions of the same, or any other such documentation useable or required as a part of any consideration or action by the board of building standards.

(J) Fire alarm system. A system or portion of a combination system consisting of components and circuits arranged to monitor and annunciate the status of fire alarm or supervisory signal- initiating devices and to initiate the appropriate response to those signals.

(K) Fire alarm system designer. An individual who is certified in accordance with section 3781.105 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-5-01 of the Administrative Code to design fire alarm systems.

(L) Fire protection inspector. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of fire protection system (automatic sprinkler system, alternative automatic fire-extinguishing system, standpipe system, fire alarm and detection system, and fire pump) work with approved construction documents.

(M) Fire protection plans examiner. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to perform the examination of construction documents related to fire protection systems (automatic sprinkler systems, alternative automatic fire-extinguishing systems, standpipe systems, fire alarm and detection systems, and fire pump) to determine compliance with the rules of the board.

(N) Fire protection system designer. A general category describing designers who are certified in accordance with section 3781.105 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-5-01 of the Administrative Code to design an automatic sprinkler system or other water-based fire protection system, a fire alarm system, or a special hazards suppression system.

(O) Interim certification. An initial certification that is valid for a two-year period during which time the holder can perform the associated enforcement duties as an employee of a certified building department. Prior to the expiration of the two-year period, the holder shall complete the requirements of the Ohio building code academy and all required examination modules for the respective certification sought.

(P) Master plans examiner. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to perform the examination of all types of construction documents to determine compliance with the rules of the board.

(Q) Mechanical inspector. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and the associated refrigeration, fuel gas, and heating piping systems work with the approved construction documents.

(R) Mechanical plans examiner. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to perform the examination of construction documents related to heating, ventilating, and air conditioning ("HVAC") systems and the associated refrigeration, fuel gas, and heating piping to determine compliance with the rules of the board.

(S) Medical gas piping inspector. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of non-flammable medical gas, medical oxygen, and medical vacuum system work with the approved construction documents.

(T) Plumbing inspector. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of plumbing system work with the approved construction documents.

(U) Plumbing plans examiner. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to perform the examination of construction documents related to plumbing systems to determine compliance with the rules of the board.

(V) Practice of electrical inspection. The ascertainment of compliance with the rules of the board relating to electrical systems by a person, who, for compensation, inspects the construction and installation of electrical conductors, fittings, devices, and fixtures for light, heat or power services equipment, or the installation, alteration, replacement, maintenance, or repair of any electrical wiring and equipment that is subject to any of the aforementioned codes.

(W) Rules of the board. The administrative rules adopted by the board of building standards as authorized by Chapter 3781. of the Revised Code.

(X) Special hazards suppression system. A system consisting of piping, detection, and actuation equipment that utilizes a foam water, water mist, halon, halon alternative, carbon dioxide, dry chemical, or wet chemical suppression agents.

(Y) Special hazards suppression system designer. An individual who is certified in accordance with section 3781.105 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-5-01 of the Administrative Code to design special hazards suppression systems.

(Z) Trainee certification. A certification issued by the board of building standards pursuant to paragraph (G)(6) of rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code that is valid for one four-year period during which time the holder has successfully completed the requirements of the Ohio building code academy for the respective certification sought, completed the required number of hours of board- approved course work, sponsored by a political subdivision's building department, performed the required enforcement duties under supervision, and submitted evidence of having completed all required examination modules for that certification.

(AA) Water-based fire protection system. A general category of fire protection systems that includes automatic sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, fire pump systems, and the water supplies serving those systems.

(BB) Water-based fire protection system designer (formerly automatic sprinkler system designer.) An individual who is certified in accordance with section 3781.105 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-5-01 of the Administrative Code to design automatic sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, fire pump systems and the dedicated water supply systems serving those systems.

Last updated October 15, 2024 at 4:41 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3783.05, 3781.10(E)
Amplifies: 3781.10, 3783.05
Five Year Review Date: 10/27/2023
Prior Effective Dates: 7/1/1979, 7/1/1982, 1/1/1983, 3/1/1984, 7/1/1985, 1/1/1988, 1/1/1989, 1/1/1990, 8/1/1990, 5/15/1995, 12/1/2000, 8/15/2003, 3/1/2006, 7/1/2007, 1/1/2009