Ohio Admin. Code 4101:7-1-02 - [Effective 7/1/2025] Definitions

Unless otherwise stated, the following terms, as used in division 4101:7 of the Administrative Code, shall have the following meanings.

(A) Automatic sprinkler system. An integrated system of underground and overhead piping designed in accordance with fire protection engineering standards. The system includes a suitable water supply. The portion of the system above the ground is a network of specially sized or hydraulically designed piping installed in a structure or area, generally overhead, and to which automatic sprinklers are connected in a systematic pattern. The system is usually activated by heat from a fire and discharges water over the fire area.

(B) Automatic sprinkler system designer. See "Water-based fire protection system designer."

(C) Board of building standards. The administrative board established in section 3781.07 of the Revised Code and referred to as "the board" or "BBS."

(D) Building inspector. Now defined as "Level 3 building inspector specialization."

(E) Building official. Now defined as "Level 5 commercial building official."

(F) Building plans examiner. Now defined as "Level 3 building plans examiner specialization."

(G) Electrical plans examiner. Now defined as "Level 3 electrical plans examiner specialization."

(H) Electrical safety inspector. Now defined as "Level 3 electrical safety inspector specialization."

(I) Fire protection inspector. Now defined as "Level 3 fire protection inspector specialization."

(J) Fire protection plans examiner. Now defined as "Level 3 fire protection plans examiner specialization."

(K) Master plans examiner. Now defined as "Level 4 combination plans examiner."

(L) Mechanical inspector. Now defined as "Level 3 mechanical inspector specialization."

(M) Mechanical plans examiner. Now defined as "Level 3 mechanical plans examiner specialization."

(N) Plumbing inspector. Now defined as "Level 3 plumbing inspector specialization."

(O) Plumbing plans examiner. Now defined as "Level 3 plumbing plans examiner specialization."

(P) Evidence. Proof of the statements or claims made that can consist of contracts, affidavits, agreements, letters, transcripts, certificates, certification cards, diplomas, awards, invoices, published data, photographs, legible reproductions of the same, or any other such documentation useable or required as a part of any consideration or action by the board of building standards.

(Q) Fire alarm system. A system or portion of a combination system consisting of components and circuits arranged to monitor and annunciate the status of fire alarm or supervisory signal-initiating devices and to initiate the appropriate response to those signals.

(R) Fire alarm system designer. An individual who is certified in accordance with section 3781.105 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-5-01 of the Administrative Code or who holds the appropriate "Level III" or "Level IV" certification from the "National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET)" to design fire alarm systems.

(S) Fire protection system designer. A general category describing designers who are certified in accordance with section 3781.105 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-5-01 of the Administrative Code or who holds the appropriate "Level III" or "Level IV" certification from the "National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET)" to design an automatic sprinkler system or other water-based fire protection system, a fire alarm system, or a special hazards suppression system.

(T) Level 1 administrative staff. Non-required certified personnel that may fulfill administrative roles within the building department, such as customer service representatives, inspection schedulers, and permit technicians, etc. Administrative department personnel are not required to be certified but may seek certification if they wish to progress to higher levels of certification. Level 1 certified personnel may also be students pursuing a code enforcement curriculum, to include internship in building departments.

(U) Level 2 residential code official. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance with the residential code of Ohio, including energy code compliance, and may perform inspections, plans examination and administer certified residential building departments. In departments which are certified to enforce the Ohio building code, level 2 personnel are commercial trainees, performing supervised and independent inspections and/or plan reviews.

(V) Level 2 residential electrical inspector specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of electrical system work with the approved residential construction documents, except for buildings with a service over four hundred amps or a three-phase service.

(W) Level 2 residential plumbing inspector specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of plumbing system work with the approved residential construction documents.

(X) Level 3 building inspector specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of building structural or resistive elements and architectural systems work with the approved construction documents, but not electrical, energy, fire protection, mechanical, or plumbing systems.

(Y) Level 3 building plans examiner specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to perform the examination of construction documents related to building structural or resistive elements and architectural systems, but not electrical, energy, fire protection, mechanical, or plumbing systems, to determine compliance with the rules of the board.

(Z) Level 3 electrical plans examiner specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to perform the examination of construction documents related to electrical systems to determine compliance with the rules of the board.

(AA) Level 3 electrical safety inspector specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 and section 3783.03 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of electrical system work with the approved construction documents for buildings within the scope of the Ohio building code and for buildings within the scope of the residential code of Ohio, including those with a service over four hundred amps or a three-phase service.

(BB) Level 3 energy inspector specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of energy conservation system (verification of performance relating to building thermal envelope insulation, fenestration, air leakage, mechanical systems and the associated controls, duct leakage, building services piping and duct insulation, service water heating and the associated controls and distance from heating source, and electrical power and lighting systems and the associated controls) work with approved construction documents.

(CC) Level 3 energy plans examiner specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to perform the examination of construction documents related to energy conservation system (verification of planned performance relating to building thermal envelope insulation, fenestration, air leakage, mechanical systems and the associated controls, duct leakage, building services piping and duct insulation, service water heating and the associated controls and distance from heating source, and electrical power and lighting systems and the associated controls) to determine compliance with the rules of the board.

(DD) Level 3 fire protection inspector specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of fire protection system (automatic sprinkler system, alternative automatic fire-extinguishing system, standpipe system, fire alarm and detection system, and fire pump) work with approved construction documents.

(EE) Level 3 fire protection plans examiner specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to perform the examination of construction documents related to fire protection systems (automatic sprinkler systems, alternative automatic fire-extinguishing systems, standpipe systems, fire alarm and detection systems, and fire pump) to determine compliance with the rules of the board.

(FF) Level 3 mechanical inspector specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and the associated refrigeration, fuel gas, and heating piping systems work with the approved construction documents.

(GG) Level 3 mechanical plans examiner specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to perform the examination of construction documents related to heating, ventilating, and air conditioning ("HVAC") systems and the associated refrigeration, fuel gas, and heating piping to determine compliance with the rules of the board.

(HH) Level 3 plumbing inspector specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of plumbing system work with the approved construction documents.

(II) Level 3 plumbing plans examiner specialization. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to perform the examination of construction documents related to plumbing systems to determine compliance with the rules of the board.

(JJ) Level 4 combination inspector. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine conformance with approved construction documents in all areas of inspector specialization.

(KK) Level 4 combination plans examiner. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to perform the examination of construction documents in all areas of plans examiner specialization to determine compliance with the rules of the board.

(LL) Level 5 commercial building official. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to enforce the rules of the board and is responsible for the overall administration of a building department relating to the construction, arrangement, and the erection of buildings or parts thereof.

(MM) Level 6 comprehensive code official. An individual who is certified in accordance with section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to enforce the rules of the board and is authorized to perform duties of certified personnel at all levels and scopes.

(NN) Medical gas piping inspector. An individual who is certified in accordance with division (E) of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-3-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance of non-flammable medical gas, medical oxygen, and medical vacuum system work with the approved construction documents.

(OO) Nonresidential. Any building that is not a residential building. Also known as "commercial."

(PP) Residential. A one-family, two-family, or three-family dwelling house, and any accessory structure incidental to that dwelling house.

(QQ) Rules of the board. The administrative rules adopted by the board of building standards as authorized by Chapter 3781. of the Revised Code.

(RR) Special hazards suppression system. A system consisting of piping, detection, and actuation equipment that utilizes a foam water, water mist, halon, halon alternative, carbon dioxide, dry chemical, or wet chemical suppression agents.

(SS) Special hazards suppression system designer. An individual who is certified in accordance with section 3781.105 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-5-01 of the Administrative Code or who holds the appropriate "Level III" or "Level IV" certification from the "National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET)" to design special hazards suppression systems.

(TT) Specialization. Recognition by the board that an individual has demonstrated competency in one or more of the following scopes of work: building structural or resistive elements and architectural systems, electrical, energy, fire protection, mechanical or plumbing systems, or residential electrical or residential plumbing systems; and is qualified to perform inspections or plans examination of such work or design to determine compliance with approved construction documents or the rules of the board.

(UU) Water-based fire protection system. A general category of fire protection systems that includes automatic sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, fire pump systems, and the water supplies serving those systems.

(VV) Water-based fire protection system designer (formerly automatic sprinkler system designer.) An individual who is certified in accordance with section 3781.105 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:7-5-01 of the Administrative Code or who holds the appropriate "Level III" or "Level IV" certification from the "National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET)" to design automatic sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, fire pump systems and the dedicated water supply systems serving those systems.

Replaces: 4101:7-1-02

Notes

Ohio Admin. Code 4101:7-1-02

Effective: 7/1/2025
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 07/01/2030
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3703.01, 3781.10, 3781.102, 3781.105, 3781.20, 3783.03
Rule Amplifies: 3703.01, 3781.10, 3781.102, 3781.105, 3781.20, 3783.03
Prior Effective Dates: 07/07/1969, 03/26/1971, 04/15/1974, 02/15/1975, 07/01/1977, 12/30/1977, 07/01/1978, 07/01/1979, 07/16/1979, 05/01/1980, 01/01/1981, 03/10/1982, 07/01/1982, 01/01/1983, 01/01/1984, 03/01/1984, 03/05/1984, 03/01/1985, 07/01/1985, 12/01/1985, 03/01/1986, 09/01/1986, 02/01/1987, 07/01/1987, 01/01/1988, 10/01/1988, 01/01/1989, 06/01/1989, 01/01/1990, 08/01/1990, 10/01/1990, 07/01/1991, 07/15/1992, 09/01/1992, 01/01/1993, 07/05/1993, 01/01/1994, 09/01/1994, 05/15/1995, 07/01/1995, 02/01/1996, 02/02/1996, 01/01/1997, 07/01/1997, 01/01/1998, 03/01/1998, 04/01/1999, 10/01/1999, 07/15/2000, 12/01/2000, 04/01/2001, 01/01/2002, 07/01/2002, 01/01/2003, 04/01/2003, 07/01/2003, 08/15/2003, 01/01/2004, 07/01/2004, 03/01/2005, 09/06/2005, 03/01/2006, 07/01/2006, 07/01/2007, 01/01/2009, 07/01/2009, 11/01/2011, 03/11/2012, 03/12/2012 (Emer.), 06/08/2012, 03/01/2013, 01/01/2018