Dear Construction Official:

     I am writing to urge you and other licensed officials on your staff to actively participate as a member of one of the State Inspector’s Associations. I ask that you share this letter with each of the other licensed officials in your office.

     The association meetings, newsletters and other communications with members provide a forum through which members receive up to date information about code changes and issues. With the constantly and changing state of building technology, including all of the new technologies associated with green buildings, the inspector’s associations offer a means for members to stay abreast of the state of the art. It is also worth noting that continuing education units, necessary for license renewal, are awarded for attendance at association meetings based on the programs presented and discussions held at these meetings. The Insurance Services Organization ( ISO ), an organization that has been involved in rating local code enforcement agencies nationwide for insurance underwriting purposes, recognizes the inherent value in these discussions and awards credit for code official participation.

     The Department works through the associations to provide information to local code officials about emergent issues. Recent examples include the Permit Extension Act and the Non Residential Development Fee, The associations also give the department Feedback on code enforcement issues of concern to their members. As you might imagine, it is not practical for the Department to consult with all municipal code officials regarding code changes under consideration and other policy issues of mutual concern. The inspectors associations provide the Department with valuable input on changes to the rules. This will be particularly important this year as we move to adopt the 2009 International Codes. In a number of instances, the Department has made changes based on Comments received through the inspectors associations resulting in the adoption of changes to the Uniform Construction Code that better serve our mutual goal effective Local code enforcement. Communication between the associations and the Department provides an effective mechanism for the sharing of information about emerging issues.

     Through participation as a member of an inspectors’ association, you can help to keep New Jersey’s Uniform Construction Code adoption and enforcement system among the best in the nation, I hope that you will take this opportunity to become involved .

Sincerely,
Cynthia A. Wilk
Director
Division of Codes and Standards