Iredell County – Job Description
Location: Building Standards
Job Title: Plans Examiner I, II, III, IV & V
Revision Date: 4/2007, 6/2012, 12/2013, 12/2014, 2/2015, 2/2016, 2/2017, 2/2018, 1/2019, 10/2020, 10/2021
GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
Performs skilled technical work to review and approve plans for construction to ensure compliance with established building codes and County ordinances.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS
An employee in this class receives plans and blueprints for construction projects and interprets and applies rules and regulations relating to the construction of new buildings and the repair of existing buildings; determines compliance or non-compliance with applicable regulations; issues denies building permits; and responds to inquiries pertaining to building code regulations and requirements from property owners, architects, developers, etc.
Employee must exercise technical discretion and judgment in applying building codes to a variety of work situations. Employee must exercise considerable tact, courtesy and firmness in dealing with property owners, architects, engineers, developers, contractors, the general public, etc. Work is performed under regular supervision and evaluated for accurate interpretation and application of codes and ordinances, general productivity, and effective working relationships with builders and contractors and accuracy in records and reports.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND TASKS
Receives and reviews plans and/or blueprints for building construction, modifications or repairs, interpreting plans and applying standards to ensure adherence to building codes. Determines necessary permits and issues or denies permits based on compliance with applicable code regulations. Assists, advises, and consults with contractors, engineers and architects regarding regulations, as needed. Performs research as needed, compiles and sends plan review comments to appropriate people.
Reviews commercial and residential plans according to Certification level.
Assists staff and other county departments, providing technical guidance and information from office resources as needed.
Coordinates with municipalities regarding code compliance.
Receives walk-in or telephone inquiries concerning inspections and permitting procedures, and provides information based on detailed knowledge of such processes.
Files applications and maintains logs of permits issued; enters such data into computer files, and retrieves files as necessary; may assist applicants in completing permit applications.
Reviews and studies building code regulations to stay informed of changes in building codes and ordinances;
completes necessary classes to maintain required Inspection Certification.
ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES
May perform field work and/or inspections or act in the absence of others as needed.
Performs related duties as required.
RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION GUIDELINES KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Considerable knowledge of State codes and local ordinances as applied to assigned construction projects for plan review.
Considerable knowledge of building materials, techniques and workmanship.
Considerable knowledge and skill in the application of information technology to the work.
General working knowledge of construction and installation.
Skill in collaborative conflict resolution, public contact and customer service.
Skill in interpretation of codes and in their application to specific situations.
Skill in reading and interpreting plans and specifications.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, County staff and the public.
Ability to learn and use electronics and technology as required.
Ability to enforce regulations tactfully and firmly.
Ability to establish and maintain accurate and thorough records.
DESIRABLE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Associates Degree in Civil or Architectural Engineering, Building Construction Technology, or related Degree is preferred or High School Diploma with considerable experience in building design, construction, or inspection while working under a Certified Building Inspector III, Licensed Engineer, or Architect.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Possession of a valid North Carolina Driver's License.
State Certification in Building, Electrical, Fire, Mechanical and Plumbing codes within the timeframe specified and required by County management. Class levels:
Plans Examiners are classified based on the number of points they receive for each Standard Level of Certification they maintain in each inspection category (Building, Electrical, Fire, Mechanical and Plumbing).
Points are awarded as follows: 1 point for each Standard Level I Certificate; 2 points for each Standard Level II Certificate; and 3 points for each Standard Level III Certificate.
Plans Examiner I - maintains between 1 and 3 points Grade 29 Plans Examiner II - maintains between 4 and 6 points Grade 30 Plans Examiner III – maintains between 7 and 9 points Grade 31 Plans Examiner IV - maintains between 10 and 12 points Grade 32 Plans Examiner V – maintains between 13 and 15 points Grade 33 SALARY ADJUSTMENTS:
Plans Examiner salaries will be increased as additional Certifications are earned. A 1% increase will be given for each additional Level I Certification awarded; a 2% increase will be given for each additional Level II Certification awarded;
and a 3% increase will be given for each additional Level III Certification awarded. When a Plans Examiner moves from one Level Examiner to the next, a Reclassification increase will be awarded in lieu of the Certification increase. In addition, Iredell County will reduce salaries and demote by the same increments if Certifications are decreased.
Any loss of Certification may result in an appropriate reduction in Pay and Classification or may affect employment status, at the discretion of the County Manager.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
Please briefly summarize the Physical Requirements of this position:
Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of stooping, kneeling, crouching, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
Must be able to perform light work exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
Must possess the visual acuity to inspect details of construction, prepare reports, and do extensive reading.
Please review and complete as necessary for this position:
1. The PHYSICAL ACTIVITY of this position (please mark ALL boxes that apply):
A. CLIMBING: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet and lefts and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is import if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.
B. BALANCING: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
C. STOOPING: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
D. KNEELING: Bending legs at knee to come to rest on knee or knees.
E. CROUCHING: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
F. CRAWLING: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
G. REACHING: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
H. STANDING: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
I. WALKING: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
J. PUSHING: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward, or outward.
K. PULLING: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul, or tug objects in a sustained motion.
L. LIFTING: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles.
M. FINGERING: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.
N. GRASPING: Appling pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
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O. FEELING: Perceiving attributes of objects … such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips.
P. TALKING: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
Q. HEARING: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal spoken word levels with or without correction.
Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound.
R. REPETITIVE MOTIONS: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
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2. The PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS of this position (please mark ONLY ONE box):
The chart below defines the physical demand levels to assist with marking ONLY ONE box below:
Physical Demand Level
Lifting Occurrences Occasional
(0-3 hours) Frequent (3-6 hours) Constant (6-8 hours)
Sedentary Up to 10 lbs. Negligible Negligible
Light Up to 20 lbs.
10 lbs. and/or Walk/Stand/Push/Pull of
Arm/Leg controls
Negligible and/or Push/Pull of Arm/Leg controls while seated
Medium Up to 50 lbs. 10-25 lbs. Negligible
Heavy Up to 75 lbs. 25-50 lbs. 10-20 lbs.
Occasionally is defined as up to one-third of the time.
Frequently is defined as occurring one-third to two-thirds of the time.
Constantly is defined as occurring more than two-thirds of the time.
A. SEDENTARY WORK: Occasionally lifting up to 10 pounds. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of the time.
B. LIGHT WORK: Occasionally lifting up to 20 pounds, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently. Even though the weight lifted may be a lesser amount, a job should be rated light work if: 1) the job requires walking or standing to a significant degree; 2) the job requires sitting most of the time, but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or 3) the job requires working at a west production rate to entail constantly moving a weight less than 10 pounds.
C. MEDIUM WORK: Occasionally lifting up to 50 pounds, and/or moving 10-25 pounds frequently.
D. HEAVY WORK: Occasionally lifting up to 75 pounds, and/or frequently moving 25-50 pounds, and/or constantly moving 10-20 pounds.
X
3. The VISUAL ACUITY REQUIREMENTS of this position (for A and B … mark ALL boxes that apply):
A. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform one or more of the following:
Preparing and analyzing data and figures Accounting
Transcription Computer Terminal Extensive Reading
Using measurement devices
Other (please specify):____________________________________________________________
B. The work is required to have visual acuity to perform one or more of the following:
Operates machines such as lathes, drill presses, power saws, and mills where the seeing job is at or within arm’s reach.
Performance mechanical or skilled trades tasks of a non-repetitive nature such as carpenters, technicians, service people, plumbers, painters, mechanics, etc.
The worker is required to have visual acuity to be the operator of trucks, forklifts, cranes, and other equipment.
The worker is required to have visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned (i.e. custodial, food services, general laborer, etc.).
Other (please specify): Must have visual acuity to inspect building, electrical, fire, mechanical, plumbing installation and to read plans and specifications.
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4. The CONDITIONS the worker will be subject to in this position (mark ALL boxes that apply):
A. The worker is subject to inside environmental conditions: Protection from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes.
B. The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions: No effective protection of weather.
C. The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside.
D. The worker is subject to extreme cold: Temperatures below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
E. The worker is subject to extreme heat: Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
F. The worker is subject to noise: there is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.
G. The worker is subject to vibration: Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body.
H. The worker is subject to hazards; includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat, or exposure to chemicals.
I. The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions: One or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system of the skin: fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.
J. The worker is subject to oils: There is air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids.
K. The worker is required to wear a respirator.
L. The worker frequently is in close quarters, crawl spaces, shafts, man holes, small enclosed rooms, small sewage and water line pipes, and other areas which could cause claustrophobia.
M. The worker is required to function in narrow aisles or passage ways.
N. Other (please specify):____________________________________________________________________
O. None: The works is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work).
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5. Occupational exposure to potentially infectious bodily fluids (please mark the following box “if” it applies):
Yes, this applies
The worker is in contact with potentially infectious bodily fluids during the performance of his/her duties. If so, please list below examples of duties in which possible exposure to potentially infectious bodily fluids occur:
1. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
