Message From President

Robert C. Hubbard,
President

Dear Colleague:

Belated Season’s Greetings and wishing you the best for the coming year. I’ve set my sights high for this year and hope to culminate my term as MBOA President with a multi-day annual business meeting/educational conference in the fall. This would, in my view, be the crowning event to a renewed and invigorated MBOA.

Your Board of Directors has done an outstanding job this year in rebuilding our membership, recreating and producing this newsletter, putting us on the political map, as well as, continuing to do the things we’ve done well in the past like our educational conferences. But, I’m challenging them and I’m challenging you to do more to support and promote the mission of the MBOA. For example MBOA has never, to my knowledge, produced a public event to raise awareness to building safety week. Does anyone have an idea for a promotion and would they help in coordinating the event? I’d be interested in hearing from you and supporting a new initiative for the MBOA. I would also like to hear about any local activities promoting building safety week you may be conducting. Please e-mail me at robert.hubbard@co.mo.md.us or call at 240-777-6363 to discuss your ideas.

Our Web Site (Update)

After much discussion, the Board of Director decided to initiate development of a professional web site for the organization. The web site is currently under construction. Bob Brown, the former program manager for the International Code council, who is a Montgomery County Resident, volunteered his services to develop the web site. Bob is currently the VISP Project Manager for Genuity. Thank you Bob for your continued support for the code organizations. The new web site address is: http://www.mdboa.org. We hope to have the new site up and running by the end of March 2001.

Homebuilders are Now Required to be Registered

Marylanders purchase more than 10,000 new homes each year and Maryland law now protects that purchase. As of January 1, 2001 all builders operating in Maryland, except those building exclusively in Montgomery County, are required to be registered with the Home Builders Registration Unit. This unit is part of the Consumer Protection Division in the Office of the Attorney General.

Registration:

A builder must be registered in order to get building permits and have valid contracts. The contract must have a provision stating that the new home was constructed in accordance with all applicable building codes in effect at the time of construction of the new home. There also must be a provision referencing all performance standards or guidelines that the seller shall comply with in the construction of the new home. The performance standards or guidelines shall be one of the following:

• performance standards or guidelines adopted at the time of contract by the National Associations of Home Builders (NAHB)
• performance standards or guidelines adopted by the home builder that are equal to or more stringent than NAHB’s
• performance standards or guidelines adopted by a county or municipal corporation that are equal to or more stringent than NAHB’s.

Warranties:

All new residential construction must comply with an express and an implied warranty under Maryland law. A implied warranty states that home is free from faulty materials, constructed according to sound engineering standards, constructed in a workmanlike manner, and is fit for habitation. An express warranty includes any written description of the home, including plans and specifications. Any sample or model that is part of the basis of the bargain between the buyer and builder creates such a warranty.

For more information visit the Maryland Office of the Attorney General on the World Wide Web.

The Need for Training

Richard C. Truitt

As the Chief Building Inspector for Harford County, I find that one of my most challenging tasks is to provide staff training. Challenges to training primarily consist of the competition between time and budget. My experience is that regardless of the number of employees in the inspection department, committing staff to a single or multiple day training session adversely affects inspection services. As a manager, prior to scheduling training, I must gauge what, if any, tolerance there is in the development community and/or elected officials in not performing inspections, then weigh this against the benefit of the training.

Similarly, training funds are competing with personnel and operating costs in our budgets. Historically inspection departments have not been able to compete with schools, public safety and health services during our local governments general fund appropriations. Given a meager training budget, I am often faced with the dilemma of deciding whether or not to buy code books and not train staff, or to train staff and not buy code books. To often I’ve seen inspection departments across the State abandon their training when faced with this same choice.

Instead of abandoning training I am advocating that we search for new and alternative means to fulfill our training requirements. Sources such as BOCA and MBOA sponsored seminars are certainly invaluable, however they often require a great deal of time including travel and classroom and cost can be prohibitive.

One example of alternative training is utilizing manufactures that are anxious to bring their products to market. Manufacturers of fire-stopping products, engineered lumber, engineered fasteners, windows, gypsum board, exterior finishing systems, etc., provide excellent training and are able to keep inspection departments informed on the latest technology, the newest construction techniques and products available. This training is most often done at no cost and at the convenience and location of the inspection department. When considering such training do not forget your neighboring jurisdictions and your development community they too may benefit from a joint training session.

Building on a spirit of cooperation, all jurisdictions must work together to achieve an acceptable solution to training. I’d like to call upon those within our ranks, the experts that are currently employed by inspection departments across the State who have and could provide training, to offer their services regionally or State-wide. Many Building Officials serve on national code committees and participate in the National and State code adoption process.

These individuals have a wealth of information to offer and, if willing to share their knowledge, can provide training at minimal cost and disruption to inspection services.Building Officials, professional associations, manufactures, and trade organizations alike must work together to improve the quality of inspection services through training and education. Keep in mind that our profession is one of public safety. Inspectors that are well educated and trained in all aspects of code enforcement and construction methods ensure the greatest level of public safety.

Building Officials, professional associations, manufactures, and trade organizations alike must work together to improve the quality of service that we provide through furthering the training and education of our inspection staff. We must also keep in mind that our profession is one of public safety. Inspectors that are well educated and trained in all aspects of code enforcement and construction methods provide an even greater service to our communities.

Training News

Useful State Phone Numbers

Department of Housing and Community Development

Maryland Codes Administration
410- 514-7220 (general number, specify your choice)
Uses: Issues concerning the Maryland Accessibility Code, the Maryland Industrialized Building Code, MBPS – Maryland Building Performance Standards, and the Maryland Energy Conservation Code.

Smart Codes
410-209-5815
Uses: Issues regarding the Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code (MBRC).

Maryland Department of the Environment
1-800-633-6101 (general number, specify your choice)
Uses: Issues concerning air quality, water quality, hazardous waste (includes underground storage tanks, or UST’s), asbestos, and lead.

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
MOSH – Maryland Occupational Safety and Health
Uses: Health, safety conditions for jobsites, etc.
Region 1. Cambridge 410-221-2630
Region 2 . Bel Air 410-803-2837
Region 3. Baltimore 410-767-2374
Region 4. Laurel 410-880-4899 or 301-483-8310
Region 5. Hagerstown 301-791-4699
Region 6. Waldorf 301-645-8712

Safety Inspection Unit
Uses: Inspections of the following items.
Elevators 410-767-2350
Boilers & Pressure Vessels 410-767-2333
Amusement Rides 410-767-2638

Home Improvement Commission 410-230-6309
Uses: Issues concerning licensing of home improvement contractors.

State Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors 410-2306270
Uses: Issues concerning licensing of HVACR contractors, mechanics.

State Board of Plumbing 410-230-6270
Uses: Issues concerning licensing of plumbers, gasfitters, etc.

State Board of Master Electricians 410-230-6270
Uses: Issues concerning licensing of electricians.

State Board for Architects 410-230-6322

State Board for Professional Engineers 410-230-6322
Uses: Issues concerning licensing of architects and/or professional engineers.

Maryland State Fire Marshal 1-800-525-3124 (general number, specify your subject)
Uses: Issues concerning enforcement of the State Fire Code.

How to Register for Training and Deadlines

MBOA training are $25.00 for members and $40.00 for nonmembers. Please mail a check payable to MBOA at the MBOA address. INDICATE THE TRAINING YOU WISH TO ATTEND. INDICATE YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND THE NAME OF ORGANIZATION / GOVERNMENT YOU REPRESENT. Lunch and snacks are included in the fee.

BOCA training should be scheduled with BOCA directly or visit their web site at www.bocai.org.For DHCD training, contact Maryland Code Administration. PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE JUNE AND SEPTEMBER TRAININGS EARLY. THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS 7 CALENDAR DAYS PRIOR TO THE TRAINING DATE.