City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Plans Examiner C

Positions in this class, under limited supervision, review, examine, interpret and approve the full range of new construction and remodeling plans, including the more complex, politically sensitive, or controversial plans, for buildings which require interpretation and application of the less defined non-structural portions of the building code.

1. Utilize computerized software plan review programs and perform reviews of ink or pencil generated design drawings and maps.
2. Develop, analyze, and generate technical reports by preparing a variety of reports, correspondence and official documents related to the review and approval of construction related permits.
3. Research, investigate, and respond to appropriate parties by meeting with other city of Austin departments, external agencies, and those affected by projects being reviewed.
4. Performs comprehensive review of design drawings and calculations for the full range of alterations to existing buildings and construction of new buildings for compliance with applicable building codes, other construction and land development related codes, policies and precedents.
5. Performs calculations to verify the adequacy of designs based on construction principles, prepares written correction comments, meets with applicants to explain corrections and approves complex corrected plans.
6. Identifies and advises contractors, design professionals, owners and other parties of areas of non-compliance, and approves solutions to difficult code applications.
7. Assists DSD inspectors as needed during construction to monitor projects for compliance with approved design drawings and specifications.
8. Assists DSD inspectors and contractors with project revisions and code interpretations during construction
9. Responds to public inquiries regarding difficult aspects of the code.
10. Verifies that other City Departments have completed and documented reviews and approvals of submitted plans as required.
11. Performs research and analysis of existing building records to determine impacts on proposed designs.
12. Assists and advises other staff with the technically more difficult aspects of construction and related codes. Participates in the training of other staff in plan review work.
13. Assists with code development activities for ordinances adopting related codes.
14. Performs related duties of a comparable type/level as assigned.

May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, and guidance to others.

• Knowledge of building codes and related state and local regulations with regard to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing codes.  Certain positions require an extensive knowledge of zoning regulations and the ability to research the City of Austin’s zoning regulations.
• Knowledge of the terminology and techniques for one or more of the following professional disciplines:
  Architecture; Civil, Environmental, Structural, Plumbing, Mechanical and/or Electrical Services or Engineering; Zoning aspects of land planning.
• Knowledge of architectural and engineering principles and practices.
• Knowledge of construction practices.
• Knowledge of architectural drawing practices, symbols and abbreviations.
• Knowledge of various phases of the plans review and inspections processes.
• Skill in reading and interpreting complex architectural and engineering plans and specifications, including shop drawings.
• Skill in the use of common computer software programs, including productivity software, computer aided design software, and data entry for databases.
• Skill in performing complex analyses to determine compliance with or deviation from applicable codes, including the analysis of alternate methods of compliance or performance based design.
• Skill in communicating code requirements orally and in writing to architects, contractors, developers and the general public
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other employees, customers and the general public.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations.
• Ability to maintain records.

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university with major coursework in Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Geography, Landscape Architecture or other field related to design or construction and four (4) years of responsible experience in architecture, building inspection, or building plans examination.
• One (1) additional year of relevant work experience may substitute for one (1) year of the required education with a maximum substitution of four (4) years. 
• Master’s degree may substitute for experience up to a maximum of two (2) years.

• Building Plans Examiner C employees shall meet the requirements of a Building Plans Examiner B plus an additional requirement from the following: obtain an applicable ICC Commercial Energy Plans Examiner or Residential Energy Inspector / Plans Examiner Certification; demonstrate successful completion of the Texas Accessibility Academy; ICC Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner certification; demonstrate completion of an additional IDP knowledge/skills subcategory; or demonstrate completion of an additional 120 hours in an AXP Experience Area in a manner that would be acceptable to NCARB and TBAE.
•  Mechanical Plans Examiner C employees shall meet the requirements of a Mechanical Plans Examiner B plus an ICC Commercial Energy Inspector / Plans Examiner Certification; or an additional certification in a related field by ICC, IAPMO, NFPA or other recognized authority.
•  Electrical Plans Examiner C employees shall meet the requirements of an Electrical Plans Examiner B plus an ICC Commercial Energy Inspector / Plans Examiner Certification; or an additional certification in a related field by ICC, NFPA or other recognized authority.
•  Plumbing Plans Examiner C employees shall meet the requirements of a Plumbing Plans Examiner B plus an additional requirement from the following:  Plumbing Plans Examiner certification by ICC or other recognized authority; or an additional related certification issued by a recognized source such as the ICC Commercial Energy Plans Examiner Certification, State of Texas Medical Gas Certification, or Backflow Preventer Assembly Tester (BPAT Certification).
•  Zoning Plans Examiner C shall meet the requirements of a Zoning Plans Examiner B plus an additional requirement from the following:  ICC Zoning Inspector certification; demonstrate completion of 16 contact hours of training (formal classes or documented on the job training) in the core competencies established by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP); demonstrate successful completion of the Texas Accessibility Academy; ICC Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner certification; demonstrate completion of an additional IDP knowledge/skills subcategory; or demonstrate completion of an additional 120 hours in an AXP Experience Area in a manner that would be acceptable to NCARB and TBAE.
•  An employee who is certified by ICC or other recognized authority as a Certified Building Official (CBO) shall be considered to have met the certification or licensing requirements for the Plans Examiner C position.
•  An employee who is a Texas registered professional engineer (PE) or is an active Engineer-In-Training (EIT) for a related discipline shall be considered to have met the certification or licensing requirements for the Plans Examiner C position.
•  An employee who is a Texas registered architect (RA) or has passed the Architect Registration Examination shall be considered to have met the certification or licensing requirements for Building or Zoning Plans Examiner C positions.
•  An employee who is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) shall be considered to have met the certification or licensing requirements for Zoning Plans Examiner C position.