2012 california building department survey report interior design coalition of california

2012 CALIFORNIA BUILDING DEPARTMENT SURVEY REPORT INTERIOR DESIGN COALITION OF CALIFORNIA

CONTENT

INTRODUCTION PURPOSE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY RESPONSE SUMMARY QUESTIONNAIRE SUMMARY OF COMMENTS

INTRODUCTION

This survey provides IDCC with information about California building departments’ acceptance of plans in regards to CID and Non-CID interior designers (see purpose statement). Data was collected by mail and email surveys. Response rates are over 30 percent (typically 5-10% by mail). Given the “interest” of all participants in the survey subject, and the

participants random completion and return of the survey, there is likely no non-response bias.

Responses with complete “yes/no” answers in conjunction with associated comments are sufficient enough to demonstrate trends and patterns to provide statistical inferences about the building department population.

Descriptive statistics are used to analyze the survey data, i.e., number of “yes/no” observations. A review of the comments is used to highlight the predominate response and trend for each question.

PURPOSE

This survey was conducted for the Interior Design Coalition of California (IDCC) to assess the California building department practices as these practices pertain to the ability of residential and commercial interior designers to perform code-impacting changes.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Sample Population = 500; 435 Cities; 65 Counties

Response Rate = 33.4%; Average168 responses out of 500 surveyed

Responses to both CID and Non-CID questions were fairly consistent and trended at essentially the same percentage for a particular question. This holds true for all questions asked

156 individual comments were basically the same for all 8 questions

Major foci of the comments tend to fall into one of the categories below:

Prohibitions based on business & professions codes Registered engineer & licensed architect requirements Demonstrated knowledge and competency of submitter Title24 requirements City/county specific conditions and exceptions as to what CID and Non-CID can

do.

RESPONSE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE

Survey respondents were questioned with eight “YES/NO” items to indicate their position towards the issue of interior design practices. Their responses were regarded as important to gauge the potential continuity/discontinuity in practices among various departments.

When asked, “when plans are submitted that are non-seismic and non-structural, will your department accept for permits plans submitted by an interior designer for…:” the following overarching responses were provided for “CID Interior Designers” and “Non-CID Interior Designers”.

1… a full kitchen remodel including signing of the Title 24 energy calculations?

Responses to Kitchen Remodel

Yes (133)No (24)N/A (7)Other(3)

Responses to Kitchen Remodel

Yes (129)No (28)N/A (9)Other (3)

CID Interior DesignersNon-CID Interior

Designers

•Responses to both CID and Non-CID questions are mostly “YES” at 79% and 76%, respectively.•Respondents who provided comments more likely hedged their response with conditions, e.g., depending on the project, Business and Professions Codes 5337 & 5338, and the knowledge and demonstrated competency of the submitter.

2. …residential structures (single family dwellings not exceeding two stories) for the moving of non-load bearing partitions?

Responses to Res-idential Structures

Yes (140)No (17)N/A (7)Other(3)

Responses to Res-idential Structures

Yes (138)No (17)N/A (11)Other (3)

CID Interior Designers Non-CID Interior Designers

•Responses to both CID and Non-CID for question 2 are mostly “YES” at 84% and 81%, respectively.•Comments mostly reflect the conditions and exception to the answers provided, e.g., conditional on contractor/homeowner doing the work, and a registered engineer or licensed architect may be required.

3. commercial high rise structures, for non-load bearing non-seismic partition alterations, specifically if where a fire life safety system is impacted, such as sprinklers?

Responses to Commercial High Rise Structures

Yes (42)No (113)N/A (9)Other (3)

Responses to Commercial High Rise Structures

Yes (28)No (124)N/A 915)Other (2)


•Responses to both CID and Non-CID for question 3 are mostly “NO” at 68% and 73%, respectively.•The comments provided were mostly to express the expectations and conditions under which plans would be accepted.

4. healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, medical suites, for non- load bearing non-seismic partition alterations, specifically if where a fire life safety system is impacted, such as sprinklers?

Responses to Healthcare Facil-

ities

Yes (27) No (120)N/A (10) Other

(10)

Responses to Healthcare Facil-

itiesYes (21)No (126)N/A (17)Other (5)



5. hospitality spaces, such as hotels, restaurants and food service facilities, for non-load bearing non-seismic partition alterations, specifically if where a fire life safety system is impacted, such as sprinklers?

Responses to Hospitality Spa-

ces

Yes (46)No (110)N/A (5)Other (6)

Responses to Hospitality Spa-

ces

Yes (37)No (118)N/A (11)Other (3)



6. public retails spaces, such as department stores, smaller retail stores, for non-load bearing non-seismic partition alterations, specifically if where a fire life safety system is impacted, such as sprinklers?

Responses to Pub-lic Retail Spaces

Yes (63)No (94)N/A (7)Other (3)

Responses to Pub-lic Retail Spaces

Yes (52)No (103)N/A (12)Other (2)


•Responses to both CID and Non-CID for question 6 are mostly “NO” at 56% and 61%, respectively. The “YES” responses to question 6 are slightly higher (38% and 31% respectively) than with previous questions. •The comments provided were mostly to express the expectations and conditions under which plans would be accepted.

7. commercial facilities which include occupancy load calculations, rated and non-rated door and partition assemblies, and construction documents?

Responses to Commercial Facil-


Responses to Commercial Facil-




8. any other projects/categories not listed above. If yes, please specify.

Responses to Other Types of

Projects

Yes (23) No (37)N/A (70) Other

(37)

Responses to Other Types of

Projects

Yes (23) No (38) N/A (78) Other

(35)


•Responses to both CID and Non-CID for question 8 are distributed across all possible answers. Most responses are “N/A” at 42% and 46%, respectively.•The comments provided were mostly suggesting that responses would depend on the scope, category of project, and be determined on a case-by-case basis.

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS:The Numbers, Key Themes, Examples, and

Exceptions

An average of 35 comments was provided in response to the eight questions.

Comments ranged from 20 (for question 2) to 44 (for question 1). Three major themes emerged out from the majority of the

comments: 1) conditions under which plans would be accepted; 2) assessment of CID/Non-CID knowledge as a contingency of plan acceptance; and 3) clarification about what a CID/ Non-CID could do. Examples of the range of comments on these themes are presented below:

THEME FROM TO

Conditions of Acceptance

Licensed contractor or homeowner doing his own work

architect and engineer, only

CID/Non-CID Ability

A Certified Interior Designer has no more authority than an Interior Designer

Yes, if CID or Non-CID is the title 24 designer. Then they need to sign title 24.

CID/Non-CID Knowledge

If the submitter knows the code requirements to make changes to achieve the compliance then anyone can submit if non-structural

If designer shows competency in code knowledge and design we reserve the right to require a licensed design professional if it appears that the designer is unfamiliar with code concepts.

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS…continue

A number of comments defaulted by referencing Business and Professions code sections 5337, 5338 and 5537.

While most departments that responded “yes” that they would accept permits plans submitted by an interior designer (both CID and Non-CID) for a full kitchen remodel including signing of the Title 24 energy calculations, they provided the following types of comments (demonstrating the Conditions of Acceptance): “For submitting only – obtaining a permit is done by owner or licensed

contractor” “Architects and engineers only” “Depends on the project” “Ok, except for signing energy documents’ “Yes, if the owner has signed the workers comp agreement and signs a letter

acknowledging they are aware of their liability of no contractor. A visit to the address with the homeowner would be required prior to permit issued.


Departments that responded to question one, for example, tended to provide the same or similar comments for each of the other eight questions. Overall, question three (Q3) received 39 comments, Q4 received 37, Q5-41, Q6-40, Q7-24, and Q8-35.

Examples of the range of comments provided with regards to acceptance of a plan (for all questions) based on a CID/Non-CID ability included: “Small tenant improvements with a simple existing system may be

prepared by CID or Non-CID unless determined otherwise by the building official.”

“California licensed architect required” “Not allowed to design per state business and professions code” “Okay on specific items” [items not provided] “B&M code Interior Designer may not design any component that

change or effect the structural or safety of the building”


Examples of the range of comments provided with regards to acceptance of a plan (for all questions) based on a CID/Non-CID knowledge and competency included: “If the designer shows competency in code knowledge and

design we reserve the right to require a licensed design professional if it appears that the designer is unfamiliar with code concepts”

“Need verification by structural engineer” “Plans shall be stamped and signed by licensed architect

and engineer” “Providing the plans are legible and comply with City’s

submittal requirements and complies with the conventional light framing provision of the building code”


A few exceptions and outstanding comments are shown below in reference to a particular question.QUESTION # COMMENT

Q2. When asked about plans for residential structures (single family dwellings not exceeding two stories) for the moving of non-load bearing partitions.

“Depends on age and original design”

“Depends on the project”

“Conventional but no structural”

“Architect and engineer only”

“There is no benefit for being a CID relevant to who can sign plans.”

Q3. When asked about plans for commercial high rise structures, for non-load bearing non-seismic partition alterations, specifically if a fire life safety system is impacted, such as sprinklers.

“Depends. We comply with the health and safety code”

“Contractors allowed to prepare minor T.I. plans, sprinkler changes must be submitted by that specialty cert. Depends on complexity of job”

“Never”

2012 california building department survey report interior design coalition of california

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