SECTION 5.4623. Information Required to Inspect to Design Documents

(a) To verify that a design of an ongoing improvement complies with the applicable building code under the plan of operation, an appointed qualified inspector must review design documents sealed by the engineer of record for the ongoing improvement, including design criteria, wind loads, plans, and building product specifications, which must include the following information:

(1) design criteria, including:

(A) the building code standard applicable to the improvement;

(B) the live loads on the structure's floor and roof;

(C) the basic wind speed the improvement is designed to withstand;

(D) the wind importance factor or risk category of the structure;

(E) the exposure category of the structure;

(F) the structure's mean roof height;

(G) the 'a' distance, measuring the width of a zone of wind pressure; and

(H) the structure's internal pressure coefficient.

(2) a summary of wind loads the structure is designed to withstand, including:

(A) the main wind force-resisting system loads;

(B) the component and cladding loads;

(C) the uplift loads and components used to transfer uplift loads from the roof to the foundation; and

(D) the lateral loads, the type of lateral resisting system used, and the components used to transfer lateral loads from the roof to the foundation;

(3) plans, including:

(A) the details and dimensions of each type of foundation system, including:

(i) for monolithic slab on grade foundations:

(I) details on reinforcement;

(II) he type and size of anchor bolts and washers;

(III) the placement of holddown anchors;

(IV) the dowel requirements for masonry construction; and

(V) any offsets necessary for masonry or masonry veneer walls (proper brick ledge);

(ii) for piling foundations:

(I) the pile embedment depths;

(II) the size and spacing of piles;

(III) details on concrete pile reinforcement;

(IV) details and specifications for wood piles;

(V) details on the anchorage of beams to piles;

(VI) the size and location of beams;

(VII) the span, size, and spacing of floor joists;

(VIII) details on the anchorage of floor joists to beams;

(IX) the height of the structure's lowest structural member;

(X) the elevation of the ground floor, or in an elevated structure, the first floor; and

(XI) whether the ground floor walls are designed as breakaway walls;

(iii) for pier and beam foundations:

(I) the size and depth of footings;

(II) the size of piers;

(III) details of pier reinforcement;

(IV) details of concrete masonry unit reinforcement;

(V) the size and location of beams;

(VI) details on the anchorage of sills- or beams-to-piers and piers-to-footings;

(VII) the span, size, and spacing of floor joists; and

(VIII) details on the anchorage of floor joists to beams and sills or to beams or sills;

(B) details on floor plans, including:

(i) dimensions; and

(ii) door and window opening sizes and locations;

(C) details on roof plans, including:

(i) dimensions; and

(ii) header schedule on plans showing size;

(D) standard notes for windstorm construction; and

(E) additional notes for special construction or special conditions; and

(4) building product specifications, including:

(A) building product information;

(B) model code product evaluation reports;

(C) product evaluations from other agencies;

(D) manufacturers' test reports if product evaluations are not available; and

(E) other data to document compliance with codes and design criteria.

(b) To verify that an ongoing improvement conforms to design documents, an appointed qualified inspector must gather information, including:

(1) the details of connections to transfer wind loads from the roof to the foundation;

(2) the specifications of roof-cladding components, including:

(A) a description of roof coverings (these may include shingles, tile, metal roofs, modified bitumen, and low slope roof assemblies);

(B) the attachment methods of roof anchorages (fastener type and spacing, or other attachment methods); and

(C) the material of which soffits are made and their anchorage method (fastener type and spacing);

(3) the roof and floor diaphragm systems, including:

(A) the roof deck type and anchorage method (fastener type and spacing);

(B) the collectors;

(C) the drag struts;

(D) the diaphragm boundary elements;

(E) the roof-to-wall connections;

(F) the wall-to-floor diaphragms and framing; and

(G) the wall-to-floor connections;

(4) the horizontal wind force-resisting systems, including:

(A) the braced frames;

(B) the moment frames;

(C) the shear walls and hold downs; and

(D) the wind-force-resisting system connections to foundation;

(5) the specifications of exterior wall coverings, including:

(A) the materials of which exterior wall coverings are made (these may include brick veneer, vinyl siding, fiber cement siding, wood siding, stucco, exterior insulation and finish systems, or stone veneer); and

(B) the high-wind-specific installation methods for the exterior wall coverings (anchorage or other attachment methods);

(6) the specifications of exterior opening products;

(A) the exterior opening products (these may include windows, skylights, curtain walls, exterior doors, or garage doors); and

(B) the high wind-specific installation methods for exterior opening products (anchorage or other attachment methods); and

(7) information on the protection of exterior openings from windborne debris, when applicable.

(c) For ongoing improvements without plans, such as roofs or replacement of exterior openings, information necessary for an appointed qualified inspector to verify that the ongoing improvement complies with the wind load requirements of the applicable building code may include information listed in subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

Source Note: The provisions of this §5.4623 adopted to be effective January 18, 2017, 42 TexReg 66