Sec. 29-276b. "Threshold limit" defined. Requirements when structure or addition will exceed threshold limit. Standards for facilities which perform testing of construction materials.
Sec. 29-276b. "Threshold limit" defined. Requirements when structure or addition will exceed threshold limit. Standards for facilities which perform testing
of construction materials. (a) For the purposes of this section, the term "threshold
limit" shall apply to any structure or addition thereto (1) having four stories, (2) sixty
feet in height, (3) with a clear span of one hundred fifty feet in width, (4) containing
one hundred fifty thousand square feet of total gross floor area, or (5) with an occupancy
of one thousand persons.
(b) The following use groups shall have the following additional threshold limits:
Use GroupThreshold Limit
I − Institutional
I-1 Residential care
I-2 Incapacitated care
I-3 Restrained, jails and asylums
150 beds or persons
R − Residential
R-1 Residentail−hotel/motel
R-2 Residential−multifamily
Single structure with 200 rooms
Single structure with 100 dwelling units
S − Storage
S-1 Moderate hazard
S-2 Low hazard
Parking structures with 1,000 cars
250,000 square feet
250,000 square feet
(c) If a proposed structure or addition will exceed the threshold limit as provided
in this section, the building official of the municipality in which the structure or addition
will be located shall require that an independent structural engineering consultant review
the structural plans and specifications of the structure or addition to be constructed to
determine their compliance with the requirements of the State Building Code to the
extent necessary to assure the stability and integrity of the primary structural support
systems of such structure or addition. Any modifications of approved structural plans
or design specifications shall require shop drawings to the extent necessary to determine
compliance with the requirements of the State Building Code and shall be reviewed by
such consultant. Any fees relative to such review requirements shall be paid by the
owner of the proposed building project. The building official may prequalify independent structural engineering consultants to perform the reviews required under this subsection. In the case of such a project, each general contractor and major subcontractor
shall keep and maintain a daily construction log in a manner prescribed by the State
Building Inspector. The building official shall, upon request, have access at all reasonable times to such log. If a structure or addition exceeds the threshold limit, the architect
of record, professional engineer of record responsible for the design of the structure
or addition and general contractor involved in such project shall sign a statement of
professional opinion affirming that the completed construction is in substantial compliance with the approved plans and design specifications. If fabricated structural load-bearing members and assemblies are used in such construction, the professional engineer
licensed in accordance with chapter 391 responsible for the design of such members or
assemblies shall sign a statement of professional opinion affirming that the completed
fabrication is in substantial compliance with the approved design specifications.
(d) The building official of the municipality in which the structure or addition will be
located shall satisfy himself that each architect, professional engineer, general contractor
and major subcontractor involved in the project holds a license to engage in the work
or occupation for which the appropriate building permit has been issued. If fabricated
structural load-bearing members or assemblies will be used in such construction, the
building official shall satisfy himself that each professional engineer responsible for the
design of such members or assemblies holds a license issued in accordance with the
provisions of chapter 391.
(e) (1) On and after January 1, 1990, any person, firm or corporation which performs testing of construction materials or structures, except any person, firm or corporation licensed under the provisions of chapter 391, may be designated by the building
official or engineering consultant to perform such testing only if its facility has received
and maintains accreditation by the national voluntary laboratory accreditation program
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Each such person, firm or corporation shall have a professional engineer licensed in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 391 certify tests and reports as required.
(2) Not later than July 1, 1991, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, in consultation with the Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors,
shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 establishing
standards for the testing of construction materials and structures by any person, firm or
corporation licensed under the provisions of chapter 391, criteria for its facility, including reinspection of such facility, and qualifications for persons performing such testing,
which shall conform at a minimum to such standards, criteria and qualifications as
required by the national voluntary laboratory accreditation program. On and after July
1, 1991, any person, firm or corporation licensed under the provisions of chapter 391
which performs testing of construction materials or structures may be designated by the
building official or engineering consultant to perform such testing only if its facility
meets the criteria established in regulations adopted under this subdivision. A professional engineer licensed in accordance with the provisions of chapter 391 shall certify
tests and reports as required.
(P.A. 88-359, S. 4, 12; P.A. 89-255, S. 4, 7; P.A. 90-268, S. 1, 2; P.A. 99-206, S. 2, 4; P.A. 02-59, S. 2; June 30 Sp.
Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(c); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 89-255 deleted references to "building" throughout the Sec. and inserted "structure or addition" in lieu
thereof, deleted Subsec. (a)(6): "designed to be occupied by more than one family and having one hundred dwelling units",
amended Subsec. (c) to require local building official to require an independent structural engineering consultant to review
structural plans and specifications to assure stability and integrity of primary structural support systems, to delete requirement that such consultant conduct field inspections, to provide that any modifications of approved structural plans shall
require shop drawings to determine compliance with building code and be reviewed by consultant, to require fees for
reviews to be paid by owner of project, to permit local building official to prequalify independent consultants to perform
required reviews, to delete language permitting such building official or consultant to require independent lab tests for
random key structural components, and to eliminate right of architect and engineer of record to have access to daily
construction log, making technical changes as necessary, inserted new Subsec. (e) to require any person, firm or corporation
proposing to construct a structure exceeding threshold limit to give written notice to building official of intent before filing
application for building permit, relettering former Subsec. as (f), and amended Subsec. (f) to insert two Subdivs. and to
extend date in Subdiv. (1) from January 1,1989 to January 1, 1990, making technical changes in Subdiv. (2) as necessary;
P.A. 90-268 deleted Subsec. (f) and substituted new language requiring accreditation of, and standards for, facilities which
perform testing of construction materials or structures, and that consumer protection commissioner adopt regulations
establishing standards for testing of materials and structures by any licensed professional engineer for facilities and qualifications of persons performing testing; P.A. 99-206 amended Subsec. (c) by specifying that, for structures over the threshold
limit, the statement of professional opinion shall be signed by the architect of record and the engineer of record responsible
for the design, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 02-59 deleted former Subsec. (e) re 90-day written notice to local building
official prior to filing application for building permit for structure or addition exceeding threshold limit and redesignated
existing Subsec. (f) as Subsec. (e); June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Consumer Protection with
Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30
Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective
June 1, 2004.
See Sec. 20-341gg re licensure of general contractors and major subcontractors.