X

New state-mandated chapter added to Potsdam building, fire safety code means more hoops for residents, contractors

Posted 11/8/22

BY ADAM ATKINSON North Country This Week POTSDAM — Food truck operators, sugar house operators and residents seeking to install a swimming pool will be among those who will face additional hoops to …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

New state-mandated chapter added to Potsdam building, fire safety code means more hoops for residents, contractors

Posted

BY ADAM ATKINSON
North Country This Week

POTSDAM — Food truck operators, sugar house operators and residents seeking to install a swimming pool will be among those who will face additional hoops to jump through once a state mandated change to the municipal building and fire safety code is implemented

The village, like other municipalities in New York, will be obligated by the state to adopt the changes which will replace Chapter 94 of its Fire Prevention and Building Code by the end of the year. Some of the notable changes include new inspections and required building codes in certain instances.

The village of Potsdam held a public hearing at their meeting Monday, Nov. 7 on the new code.

There were no public comments on the changes, but Lisa Newby, Potsdam village code enforcement officer, reviewed some of the new code stipulations for the board during the hearing.

Newby said the existing code allowed swimming pools up to 24 inches deep to be installed without a building permit. Under the new state mandate, a building permit will now be required for those swimming pools 24 inches deep and under.

The changes also will allow fire prevention and building inspections to be done remotely using Zoom or some other platform or detailed photographs, Newby said.

“As long as they are still substantial enough that I can do a thorough inspection that way,” the village code enforcement officer said.

Other additions change what is required to have an operating permit for sugar houses and mobile food trucks. Newby said the new state mandates will require she conduct a code inspection on businesses like those now. Also any additional uses to existing commercial businesses will require a new operating permit as well.

Another added section deals with climate and geographic design for construction which covers snow and wind loads.

“There was quite a few changes,” Newby said.

The state provided a template of the new chapter, and the village is opting to simply replace their chapter 94 with the state crafted code instead of making multiple small changes to the existing code.

Newby said the state is requiring that the law be on the books by the end of the year.

She told the board that there was some leeway in the state template regarding time frames for certain permits but little other latitude for the village to customize the new code.

Village Trustee Alexandra Jacobs Wilke asked if remote fire safety inspection would be sufficient.

Newby said as long as contractors can provide the appropriate photographs to conduct the inspections it's workable.

“It’s not ideal, I would rather be there in person to actually see it for myself. But in these times if we ever went through another pandemic or something, that’s where this came into effect because it made it tough for us to get out on job sites,” Newby said.

She said the remote option is mostly for worst case scenario.

The code enforcement officer told the board that under the new mandate she would be inspecting mobile food truck businesses prior to any festivals or events held in the municipality. She said the inspection would be fairly quick and be focused on the presence of fire extinguishers and other safety features.

The board is expected to adopt the code before the end of the year.