(2) Door, window and finish schedules; and

     (3) Sections, details, connections and material designations.

     iii. Electrical plans and specifications shall contain: Floor and ceiling plans; lighting, receptacles, motors and equipment; service entry location, line diagram and wire, conduit and breaker sizes.

     iv. Plumbing plans and specifications shall contain: Floor plan; fixtures, pipe sizes and other equipment and materials; isometric with pipe sizes, fixture schedule and sewage disposal.

     v. Mechanical plans and specifications shall contain: Floor or ceiling plans; equipment, distribution location, size and flow; location of dampers and safeguards; and all materials.

     vi. Energy calculations: Calculations showing compliance with the energy subcode shall be submitted for all new buildings and additions to existing buildings. As provided in (f)1vii below, these calculations shall be signed and sealed by the design professional, with the exception of calculations for class III structures which may be submitted by the mechanical contractor.

     (1) For detached one-and two-family residential buildings and other residential buildings three stories or less in height, compliance may be demonstrated by the submission of Energy Star compliance documentation, the submission of printouts from software recognized by the Department, such as REScheck, or conforming with the prescriptive packages described in Bulletin 07-2. REScheck software is available from the Department of Community Affairs, Division of Codes and Standards at www.nj.gov/dca/codes or from the U.S. Department of Energy at www.energycodes.gov.

     (A) To document compliance using REScheck, users shall exceed the IECC/2003 by two percent or more. Please see Bulletin 07-2 for further guidance.

     (2) For all other buildings, compliance may be shown with the COMcheck compliance software or equivalent, submission of the compliance forms found in the COMcheck user's manual or the ASHRAE 90.1 user's manual for the edition of ASHRAE adopted under the energy subcode. The COMcheck user's manual and software are available from the U.S. Department of Energy at www.energycodes.gov. The ASHRAE 90.1 user's manual is available from the American Society of Heating and Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers Inc. at www.ashrae.org.

     (A) To document compliance using COMcheck, users shall meet or exceed the ASHRAE/2004. Please see Bulletin 07-2 for further guidance.

     vii. Engineering details and specifications: The construction official and appropriate subcode official may require adequate details of structural, mechanical, plumbing and electrical work, including computations, stress diagrams and other essential technical data to be filed. All engineering plans and computations shall bear the seal and signature of the licensed engineer or registered architect responsible for the design. Plans for buildings shall indicate how required structural and fire-resistance rating will be maintained for penetrations made for electrical, mechanical, plumbing and communication conduits, pipes and systems.

     (1) Plumbing plans for class III structures may be prepared by persons licensed pursuant to "The Master Plumber Licensing Act", N.J.S.A. 45:14C-1 et seq. Electrical plans for class III structures may be prepared by persons licensed pursuant to "The Electrical Contractors Licensing Act", N.J.S.A. 45:5A-1 et seq.;

     (2) Whenever the licensing board pursuant to either of the above Acts shall provide for a seal evidencing that the holder is licensed, such shall be acceptable to the enforcing agency in lieu of affidavit;

     (3) Mechanical plans for class III structures may be prepared by mechanical contractors.

     viii. Work area: For reconstruction work in an existing structure, the work area shall be clearly delineated on the plans.

     ix. Architect's or engineer's seal: The seal and signature of the registered architect or licensed engineer who prepared the plans shall be affixed to each sheet of each copy of the plans submitted and on the first or title sheet of the specifications and any additional supportive information submitted. The construction official shall waive the requirement for sealed plans in the case of a single family home owner who had prepared his or her own plans for the construction, addition, reconstruction, alteration, renovation or repair of a detached structure used or intended to be used exclusively as his or her private residence providing that the owner shall submit an affidavit attesting to the fact that he or she has personally prepared the plans and provided further that said plans are in the opinion of the construction official, and appropriate subcode official, legible and complete for purposes of ensuring compliance with the regulations.

     x. The construction official upon the advice of the appropriate subcode official may waive the requirement for plans when the work is of a minor nature.

     xi. Those portions of the plans that are required to be submitted and which are not included at the time of application shall be listed by the design professional as part of the application.

     (1) All documents prepared by people other than the design professional shall be reviewed by the design professional and submitted with a letter indicating that they have been reviewed and found to be in conformance with the regulations for the design of the building.

     xii. Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work required to be shown may be shown on a single set of plans or a single drawing so long as the drawings are clear and legible.

     2. Prototype plan filing: Where a design is used repeatedly at different locations in a municipality or throughout the State, the plans and specifications may be submitted for "prototype" release and filed as follows:

     i. Two complete sets of the plans and specifications for each prototype shall be submitted with a request for prototype plan release. The plans and specifications shall be signed and sealed by a licensed or registered design professional. The plans and specifications will be stamped as released and the plan number and date will be recorded with the prototype release so that prototype plan release may be confirmed for any subsequent use of the released prototype plans. Mirror-image designs shall not be a permitted option, and shall require separate prototype plan release, except for plans that are validated as identical to the original prototype, as provided in (f)2i(1) below. Prototype applications that include a foundation design shall specify the conditions and limitations of that design;

     (1) Plans for a mirror-image design may be submitted with a letter signed and sealed by the design professional stating that the mirror-image design is identical to the original prototype, but reversed;

     ii. Permit applications that rely on a released prototype shall consist of two copies of the following permit-specific documents to facilitate a thorough field inspection of the work. (As per  5:23-2.16(e), one set of the released plans shall be retained by the construction official and the second set shall be kept at the building site.)

     (1) A plot plan that is signed and sealed by a registered architect, licensed professional engineer, or licensed land surveyor that includes the location of all utility services, including septic connections;

     (2) A specific foundation design or certification that the prototype foundation design is suitable for the site;

     (3) A reference set of plans that includes and clearly identifies each of the options to be used for the building that is the subject of the permit application. The reference set of plans is not required to be signed and sealed;

     (4) Exterior elevations of the specific building;

     (5) The prototype file identification number;

     (6) The plan number and date of the released prototype plan; and

     (7) When an automatic fire sprinkler system is installed, the fire sprinkler system demand, including either hose stream allowances or the required domestic demand, as applicable, at the available water supply shall be documented.

     iii. Plans that contain deviations that were not released as part of the prototype shall not be considered a prototype and shall require the submission of a new permit application and application fees for that project to the appropriate plan review agency.

     3. Examination of plans: All plans submitted and any amendments thereto accompanied by the required documentation and application, and upon payment of the fee established by the enforcing agency, shall be numbered, docketed and examined promptly after their submission for compliance with the provisions of the regulations.

     4. Plan review:

     i. Department review: When a review and release of plans by the Department is required pursuant to  5:23-3.11 or requested for a prototype plan intended for use Statewide, the owner or agent of the owner shall file an application for construction plan release for each project, along with three sets of plans (two sets for prototypes), specifications and such other supporting information as the Department may require on forms obtained from the Department. The plans, specifications and other supporting information shall conform to the requirements of (e) above.

     (1) Release of plans: Plans complying with the provisions of the regulations shall be released by the Department and written notice of approval shall be given the applicant promptly and no later than 20 business days after the submission thereof. Plans failing to comply with the provisions of the code shall be rejected and a written notice of rejection, stating the grounds for rejection, shall be given to the applicant not later than 20 business days after the submission thereof. Whenever plans have been rejected and are thereafter revised and resubmitted, the revised plans shall be released if the grounds for rejection have been corrected and code compliance has been demonstrated. In that case, a written notice of release shall be given to the applicant not later than seven business days after the resubmission of the revised plans. When the grounds for rejection have not been corrected or when code compliance has not been demonstrated, a written notice of rejection stating the grounds for rejection shall be given to the applicant not later than seven business days after the resubmission of the revised plans.

     (2) Endorsement of released plans: All plans and amendments thereto, when approved by the department, shall be stamped or endorsed "released", followed by a notation of the date of plan release. One set of such released plans shall be retained by the department, two sets of such released plans shall be submitted to the local enforcing agency with the application for construction permit as herein provided.

     (3) Partial filing: When circumstances require, a project may be filed in part (that is, footings, structural, electrical, plumbing, and so forth). Each partial submittal shall include sufficient detail to assure that the proposed portion of work complies with the regulations. A plan "release" for such a portion of work shall be issued without prejudice as to whether a "release" shall be issued for the entire project.

     (4) Construction permits: Owners and their agents shall not apply to a local enforcing agency for a construction permit for any building or structure for which a Department plan review and release is required by 5:23-3, unless such review and release has been applied for and received by the applicant as evidenced by presentation of released plans to the local enforcing agency.

     (5) Time limitation of application: An application for a plan review shall be deemed to have been abandoned 12 months after date of filing, unless such application has been diligently prosecuted or a release has been issued; except that, for reasonable cause, the Department may grant one or more extensions of time for additional periods not exceeding 90 days each.

     (A) When plans are submitted for local review that are required to be reviewed by the Department, the local enforcing agency shall so notify the owner or agent in writing no later than three business days after the submission of the plans.

     ii. Local enforcing agency plan review: Where a Department plan review is not required by the regulations, an applicant for a construction permit shall be deemed to have applied for a local enforcing agency plan review by filing an application for a construction permit.

     (1) If required State, county or local prior approvals have not been granted, plan review shall proceed provided that the application for a permit is otherwise complete and the plan review fee has been paid. No permit shall be issued until all required State, county and local approvals are in place.

     (A) Exception: Permit applicants applying for plan review of individual owner-occupied one- or two family home addition or alteration projects must have zoning approval in place before plan review shall proceed.

     (2) When the plans submitted with an application for a construction permit or amendment thereto are accompanied by plans which have been released by the Department, then further municipal plan review and fee therefor shall not be required. Release of the plans by the Department shall not prevent enforcing agency officials from thereafter requiring correction of any errors in said plans or from issuing a stop work order when in violation of the regulations. In such case the enforcing agency shall notify the Department;

     iii. Validity of plan or prototype release: The released plans or prototype (Department or local) shall be valid for the purposes of applying for a construction permit until six months after the operative date of the next edition of the code, as set forth in  5:23-1.6.

     iv. Time limitation of application: An application for a permit for any proposed work shall be deemed to have been abandoned six months after date of filing, unless such application has been diligently prosecuted or a permit shall have been issued; except that for reasonable cause, the construction official may grant one or more extensions of time for additional periods not exceeding 90 days each.

     v. Amended plans and specifications: Amendments may be filed at any time; such amendments shall be deemed part of the original application and, when released, shall be filed therewith. Amended plans and specifications shall be required where deviations affect matters controlled by the code and, in the judgment of the subcode official having jurisdiction, such amended plans are necessary to assist in the determination of code compliance. The official may require the affected portions of the work to be halted until amended plans and specifications are released. If the amendment involves a substantial deviation from the original application, a new affidavit of consent may be required by the construction official. If a Department plan review was required originally, the enforcing agency shall not permit an amendment to the plans or specifications unless the amendment has been released by the Department.

     vi. Building systems: Structural, electrical and mechanical designs performed and certified by licensed architects or engineers need not be checked in detail by the staff of the enforcing agency, but shall remain as the responsibility of the professional certifying such design.

     vii. A schematic or sketch plan, when required pursuant to this subsection, shall not be deemed to be a construction copy of a plan and shall therefore not be required to be signed or sealed by a registered architect or licensed professional engineer.

HISTORY:

     Amended by R.1985 d.352, effective July 15, 1985.

     See: 17 N.J.R. 1031(a), 17 N.J.R. 1758(a).

     (b)1i: deleted text "The registration number of the contractor", and added "A current validated... contractor and the".

     Amended by R.1985 d.479, effective September 16, 1985.

     See: 17 N.J.R. 1462(a), 17 N.J.R. 2248(b).

     (b)2ii added. (d) text added "All issued permits...".

     Administrative Correction: Cleaned up typographical errors.

     See: 22 N.J.R. 2503(b).

     Amended by R.1992 d.244, effective June 15, 1992.

     See: 24 N.J.R. 1147(a), 24 N.J.R. 2243(a).

     Text added at (a)6 on Class I structure.

     Amended by R.1993 d.353, effective July 19, 1993.

     See: 25 N.J.R. 1629(a), 25 N.J.R. 3147(a).

     Amended by R.1995 d.381, effective July 17, 1995.

     See: 27 N.J.R. 970(a), 27 N.J.R. 2715(a).

     Amended by R.1995 d.544, effective October 16, 1995.

     See: 27 N.J.R. 2827(a), 27 N.J.R. 3933(a).

     Amended by R.1997 d.304, effective July 21, 1997.

     See: 29 N.J.R. 2204(a), 29 N.J.R. 3248(a).

     In (e)1, substituted "no fewer" for "no less"; and in (e)1i, inserted reference to accessible routes.

     Amended by R.1998 d.28, effective January 5, 1998.

     See: 29 N.J.R. 3603(a), 30 N.J.R. 129(a).

     Amended (a)6, (a)7v and (e)3v; inserted (a)8 and (e)1vii.

     Amended by R.2003 d.187, effective May 5, 2003.

     See: 34 N.J.R. 4248(a), 35 N.J.R. 1939(c).

     Rewrote the section.

     Amended by R.2003 d.216, effective May 19, 2003.

     See: 35 N.J.R. 16(a), 35 N.J.R. 2203(a).

     Rewrote the section.

     Amended by R.2004 d.144, effective April 5, 2004.

     See: 35 N.J.R. 4944(a), 36 N.J.R. 1753(a).

     Rewrote (e).

     Amended by R.2006 d.32, effective January 17, 2006.

     See: 37 N.J.R. 2918(a), 38 N.J.R. 484(a).

     Added (b)5 through 7; recodified former (b)5 as (b)8 and rewrote the reference to (b)1, 2, 3, 4 as "(b)1 through 7."

     Amended by R.2006 d.127, effective April 3, 2006.

     See: 37 N.J.R. 4599(a), 38 N.J.R. 1572(a).

     Recodified former (b)8 as (b)10 and rewrote the reference "(b)1 through 7" as "(b)1 through 9"; added (b)8 and (b)9.

     Administrative correction.

     See: 38 N.J.R. 3776(b).

     Amended by R.2007 d.124, effective May 7, 2007.

     See: 38 N.J.R. 3708(a), 39 N.J.R. 1669(a).

     Rewrote (e)1ix; in (e)4i(4), substituted "Department" for "department"; and added (e)4i(4)(A).

     Amended by R.2007 d.125, effective May 7, 2007.

     See: 38 N.J.R. 3707(a), 39 N.J.R. 1671(a).

     Added new (e); and recodified former (e) as (f).

     Amended by R.2007 d.231, effective August 6, 2007.

     See: 39 N.J.R. 722(a), 39 N.J.R. 3295(a).

     In (f)1vi(1), substituted "07-2" for "03-2" and "at www.nj.gov/dca/codes" for ", PO Box 802, Trenton, New Jersey 08625"; added (f)1vi(1)(A); in (f)1vi(2), deleted "EZ" following "Check" two times and "or from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999, ATTN: K5-20, Richland, Washington 99352" following "www.energycodes.gov" and substituted "at www.ashrae.org" for ", 1791 Tullie Circle, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329"; and added (f)1vi(2)(A).

     Administrative correction.

     See: 39 N.J.R. 3914(a).

     Administrative correction.

     See: 39 N.J.R. 4571(a).

     Amended by R.2008 d.39, effective March 3, 2008.

     See: 39 N.J.R. 2175(a), 40 N.J.R. 1084(a).

     Added (f)1i(1).

     Administrative correction.

     See: 40 N.J.R. 1829(a).

     Amended by R.2009 d.49, effective February 2, 2009.

     See: 40 N.J.R. 5318(a), 41 N.J.R. 733(a).

     In the introductory paragraph of (f)2i, inserted a comma following "option", inserted the fourth occurrence of "shall", and inserted ", except for plans that are validated as identical to the original prototype, as provided in (f)2i(1) below"; and added (f)2i(1) and (f)4i(5).

     Amended by R.2009 d.162, effective May 18, 2009.

     See: 40 N.J.R. 4268(a), 41 N.J.R. 2094(a).

     Added new (f)4ii(1); and recodified former (f)4ii(1) as (f)4ii(2).

Chapter Notes