§ 23-27.3-128.6 - Special technical services. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 23-27.3-128.6

   § 23-27.3-128.6  Special technicalservices. – (a) When applications for unusual designs or magnitude of construction arefiled, the building official may refer the plans and specifications to thestate building commissioner, or he or she may in his or her discretion, retaina professional engineer or architect for advice and recommendations as to theplans and specifications, safety of design, and compliance with this code. Thebuilding official may also employ a professional engineer or architect toobserve the construction in the field to insure compliance with the approvedplans and permit. Upon completion of the work, the architect or engineeremployed shall file with the building official a report to the effect that tothe best of his or her knowledge and belief, the building has been erected inaccordance with accepted engineering practice and in conformity to all thestatutory provisions governing building construction for the designated usegroup classification of the building structure, in respect to use, firegrading, floor, and occupancy loads.

   (b) When an owner has plans and specifications for repetitiveconstruction in a community or several communities for proposed one and two (2)family dwellings, the owner shall be permitted to refer the review of suchplans and specifications for building code compliance to the office of thestate building code commissioner for building code approval. All communitiesshall be required to accept such approved plans without further review untilapproval is revoked by the state building code commissioner. Provided, however,that said communities shall incur no liability for any errors or omissionsassociated with said approval. The building code standards committee may alsoestablish a list of private sector certified plan reviewers to perform thisfunction. The committee shall establish rules and regulations for thiscertification procedure. The owner of all plans reviewed and approved by theoffice of the state building code commissioner or a certified plan reviewerwill not be charged for the review of such plans and specifications forbuilding code compliance by all and any communities charging a separate fee forsuch review.