CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

[A] 106.1 Submittals. Construction documents and supporting data shall be submitted online digital application and documents with each application for a permit and in such form and detail as required by the County Engineer. The construction documents shall be prepared by a registered design professional where required by the statutes of the jurisdiction in which the project is to be constructed.

Exception: The County Engineer in consultation with the fire code official is authorized to waive the submission of construction documents and supporting data not required to be prepared by a registered design professional if it is found that the nature of the work applied for is such that review of construction documents is not necessary to obtain compliance with this code.

[A] 106.2 Examination of documents. The fire code official designates The County Engineer to examine or cause to be examined the accompanying construction documents and shall ascertain by such examinations whether the work indicated and described is in accordance with the requirements of this code.

[A] 106.2.1 Information on construction documents. Construction documents shall be drawn to scale on suitable material. Documents in a digital format are acceptable. Construction documents shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed and show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of this code and relevant laws, ordinances, rules and regulations as determined by the fire code official and County Engineer.

106.2.2 Fire protection system shop drawings. Shop drawings for the fire protection system(s) shall be submitted to indicate compliance with this code and the construction documents, and shall be approved prior to the start of installation. Shop drawings shall contain all information as required by the referenced installation standards in Chapter 9.

106.2.3 Applicant responsibility. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the construction documents include all of the fire protection requirements, and the shop drawings are complete and in compliance with the applicable codes and standards.

[A] 106.2.4 Approved documents. Construction documents approved by the County Engineer are approved with the intent that such construction documents comply in all respects with this code. Review and approval by the County Engineer shall not relieve the applicant of the responsibility of compliance with this code.

[A] 106.2.4.1 Phased approval. The County Engineer in consultation with the fire code official is authorized to issue a permit for the construction of part of a structure, system or operation before the construction documents for the whole structure, system or operation have been submitted, provided that adequate information and detailed statements have been filed complying with pertinent requirements of this code. The holder of such permit for parts of a structure, system or operation shall proceed at the holder’s own risk with the building operation and without assurance that a permit for the entire structure, system or operation will be granted.

106.3 Amended construction documents. Work shall be installed in accordance with the approved construction documents, and any changes made during construction that are not in compliance with the approved construction documents shall be resubmitted for approval as an amended set of construction documents. All changes to the approved construction documents shall be submitted and approved by the County Engineer prior to any inspection request.

[A] 106.4 Retention of construction documents. A digital copy of construction documents shall be retained by the County Engineer for a period of not less than 180 days from date of completion of the permitted work, or as required by state or local laws. The digital copy of approved construction documents shall be returned to the applicant and said set shall be kept on the site of the building or work at all times during which the work authorized thereby is in progress.

106. 5 PREDEVELOPMENT MEETINGS. The fire code official, or representative, is authorized to participate in predevelopment meetings to provide early guidance on fire code compliance. For any meetings scheduled by the County Engineer’ s Office that include discussion of initial planning or site development subject to the provisions of the Harris County Fire Code, the Office shall notify and invite the fire code official or representative. The fire code official shall coordinate participation and representation as appropriate.