Building & Fire Plans Examiner

DeKalb County•Decatur, GA

15h•$70,000•Onsite

About The Position

This position has openings within the Fire Rescue Department. The Building & Fire Plans Examiner works with builders, owners, architects, engineers, and staff of the Development Services Department to ensure compliance with all applicable codes. This role involves reviewing and interpreting building and structural construction documents and reports for various project types, including townhouses, condominiums, multi-family and mixed-use projects, and commercial construction (new, additions, alterations). The examiner ensures compliance with structural and non-structural requirements, accessibility, fire, fire site, and fire systems reviews. They also respond to requests for information, advise on code changes, negotiate solutions to code conformance and fire safety issues, identify inadequacies on plans, and document compliance or non-compliance. Additionally, the role involves researching alternate products and materials, assisting the Plans Review Manager, providing customer service, coordinating with other departments, and assisting building and fire inspectors in the field. The position also requires attending training to improve technical expertise, acquiring certifications, and training in software for electronic plan review.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or Structural Engineering, Fire Science/Technology or a related field required
Five years of experience in building design, construction document preparation, plan review, code analysis, building inspections, construction, systems review, or a related field, or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license.
Must obtain within one year of employment one of the following: ICC Building Plans Examiner, ICC Fire Plans Examiner, NFPA Certified Plan Examiner or ICC Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner Certification.

Nice To Haves

Expertise and experience with conducting Life Safety Reviews according to applicable codes
Expertise and experience with conducting Fire Site Reviews according to applicable codes
Expertise and experience with conducting Fire Structural Reviews according to applicable codes
Expertise and experience with conducting Fire Suppression (Hood Systems/Sprinklers) Reviews according to applicable codes
Expertise and experience with conducting Fire Alarm Reviews according to applicable codes
Familiarity with and ability to navigate through the following codes at a minimum: 2018 IFC, NFPA 101, NFPA 13, NFPA 72, Georgia Amendments

Responsibilities

Works with builders, owners, architects, engineers and the staff of the Development Services Department in obtaining compliance with all applicable codes.
Reviews and interprets building and structural construction documents and reports related to plans review for townhouses, condominiums, multi-family and mixed use projects, commercial construction to include new construction, additions and alterations of simple to complex commercial business, mercantile, assembly, educational industrial, storage, factory, and institutional projects, among others.
Ensures compliance with structural and non-structural requirements, accessibility, fire, fire site and systems reviews for compliance with applicable codes.
Receives and responds to requests for information, complaints, interpretation of code requirements.
Advises architects, engineers, contractors, the general public, and staff on code changes, interpretations, new methods and materials.
Negotiates solutions to code conformance problems and fire and life safety issues.
Identifies inadequacies found on construction plans, reports and calculations, and requires corrections.
Documents aspects of compliance or non-compliance with citations from applicable codes; creates plan review comment letter.
Researches alternate products, materials and methods of construction for compliance.
Negotiates and develops mutually acceptable solutions to code conformance problems and life safety issues with architects, engineers, contractors, and the public.
Assists Plans Review Manager to research codes to resolve interpretation problems and to accommodate and control new methods and materials.
Provides quality customer service while functioning in a regulatory capacity.
Provides coordination with Permit Manager, Fire Marshal Office, Watershed Department, Business License, Planning, and other concerned parties.
Assists building inspectors and fire inspectors with field review questions to determine structural soundness, proper installation, materials or equipment.
Attend training to improve technical expertise, acquires additional certifications and maintains them; and trains in software to perform electronic plan review.