Article 4. Qualifications And Reporting of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 12.5. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 4.

During construction or alteration of an essential services building, the building owner shall provide for, and the local enforcement agency shall require, competent, adequate, and detailed inspection by a qualified inspector. To be qualified, inspectors shall have an adequate level of expertise and experience in the subject matter for which they have responsibilities for inspection as prescribed by this section. Qualification shall include current certification by the International Conference of Building Officials; or qualifications as an inspector meeting the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 305 and subdivision (b) of Section 306 of, the 1982 Edition of the Uniform Building Code. Additionally, the architect, civil engineer, or structural engineer responsible for designing the essential services facility is qualified to inspect construction of the facility.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, including, but not limited to, Part 6 (commencing with Section 8000) of Division 4 of the Civil Code, the Department of General Services may issue a stop work order when construction work on an essential services facility is not being performed in accordance with existing law and would compromise the structural integrity of the building, thereby endangering the public safety. The Department of General Services shall allow construction of incidental and minor nonstructural additions or nonstructural alterations without invoking its stop work authority.
  (b) A public board, body, or officer whose construction work on an essential services facility is subject to a stop work order issued pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not be held liable in any action filed against the public board, body, or officer for stopping work as required by the stop work order, or for any delays caused by compliance with the stop work order, except to the extent that an error or omission by the public board, body, or officer is the basis for the issuance of the stop work order.

An enforcement agency is qualified to undertake the review of plans, drawings, and specifications for essential services buildings if the enforcement agency has an architect, civil engineer, or structural engineer on its staff or under contract who is responsible for all design review conducted by the enforcement agency and the record prepared under Section 16013.

A jurisdiction whose enforcement agency does not meet the qualifications specified in Sections 16017 and 16018 shall obtain necessary qualified personnel to meet the requirements of this chapter by contracting with other public agencies, private sector firms, or individuals qualified to perform the necessary services.

Periodically, as the work of construction or alteration progresses and whenever the enforcement agency requires, except as exempt under Section 16010, the architect, civil engineer, or structural engineer in general responsible charge of the work of construction, and the registered engineer shall make a report, duly verified by him or her through periodic review of construction, showing that the work during the period covered by the report has been performed and that the materials used and installed are in accordance with the approved drawings and specifications, setting forth any detailed statements of fact required by the enforcement agency. "Periodic review of construction," as used in this section and as applied to the architect, civil engineer, or structural engineer and the registered engineer, means the knowledge which is obtained from periodic visits to the project site of reasonable frequency for the purpose of general observation of the work, and also which is obtained from the reporting of others as to the progress of the work, testing of materials, inspection and superintendence of the work that is performed between those periodic visits of the architect, civil engineer, or structural engineer, or the registered engineer. The exercise of reasonable diligence to obtain the facts is required. The term "periodic review of construction" does not include responsibility for superintendence of construction processes, site conditions, operations, equipment, personnel, or the maintenance of a safe place to work or any safety in, on, or about the site of work.

Periodically, as the work of construction or alteration progresses and whenever the enforcement agency requires, except as exempt under Section 16010, the inspector on the work and the contractor shall each make a report, duly verified by him or her, showing in his or her own personal knowledge, that the work during the period covered by the report has been performed and that the materials used and installed are in accordance with the approved drawings and specifications, setting forth any detailed statements of fact required by the enforcement agency. "Personal knowledge" as applied to the inspector, means the actual personal knowledge which is obtained from his or her personal continuous inspection of the work of construction in all stages of its progress at the site where he or she is responsible for inspection and when work is carried out away from the site, that personal knowledge which is obtained from the reporting of others of the testing or inspection of materials and workmanship for compliance with plans, specifications, or applicable standards. The exercise of reasonable diligence to obtain the facts is required. "Personal knowledge," as applied to the contractor, means the personal knowledge which is obtained from the construction of the building. The exercise of reasonable diligence to obtain the facts is required.

The State Architect shall do all of the following:
  (a) Observe the implementation and administration of this chapter.
  (b) Establish and adopt, in consultation with the League of Cities, County Supervisors Association, and California Building Officials, those regulations deemed necessary for carrying out this chapter.
  (c) Provide advice and assistance to local jurisdictions regarding essential services buildings.
  (d) Hear appeals relative to the administration of this chapter. The State Architect may establish an advisory committee to assist the State Architect with his or her responsibilities under this chapter. The State Architect shall periodically inform the Seismic Safety Commission and the State Fire Marshal with respect to the implementation and the administration of this chapter.