Code of Massachusetts Regulations
780 CMR - STATE BOARD OF BUILDING REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
Chapter 1 - Scope and Administration
Part 2 - ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Section 107 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS
Subsection 107.6 - Construction Control

Universal Citation: 780 CMR MA Code of Regs 107.6

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

107.6.1 General. This section shall apply to the construction controls, professional services and contractor services required for buildings and structures needing registered design professional services. The following structures are exempt from the requirements of this section:

1. Any building containing less than 35,000 cubic feet of enclosed space, measured to the exterior surfaces of walls and roofs and to the top of a ground supported floor, or in the case of a crawl space, to the bottom surface of the crawl space. In the case of basement floors or levels, the calculation of enclosed space shall include such spaces. For additions to existing buildings, the volume of enclosed space shall include the entire existing building and all proposed additions.

2. Any one- or two-family dwelling or any accessory building thereto.

3. Any building used exclusively for agricultural purposes. See Appendix C: Group U - Agricultural Buildings for occupancy and other limitations.

4. Retaining walls less than ten feet in height at all points along the wall as measured from the base of the footing to the top of the wall.

5. Structures where the building official determines that the scope of work is minor in nature and not needing registered design professional services.

Notwithstanding these exemptions, registered design professional services shall be required for activities which are deemed to constitute the practice of architecture or engineering as defined in M.G.L. c. 112, §§ 60A or 81D, except as provided in M.G.L. c. 143, § 54A and any legally required profession or as provided in M.G.L. c. 112, § 81R. Where work is performed by licensed trades people pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112, § 81R, shop drawings or plans and specifications prepared to document that work shall not be required to bear the seal or signature of a registered design professional. In lieu of a seal and signature the building official may require that the registered design professional review and approve shop or record drawings for general conformance to the design concept.

107.6.1.1 Specialized Structures. Telecommunication towers, wind turbine towers, and similar structures are engineered structures and shall be subject to the requirements of section 107.6.

107.6.2 Registered Design Professional Services.

107.6.2.1 Design. All plans, computations and specifications involving new construction, alterations, repairs, expansions or additions or change in use or occupancy of existing buildings shall be prepared by or under the direct supervision of a registered design professional and shall bear his or her signature and seal (see Section 107.1.1). Said signature and seal shall signify that the plans, computations and specifications meet the applicable provisions of this code and accepted engineering practices. Any alternative means and methods which deviate from prescriptive requirements of this code shall be submitted to the building official for approval in a narrative form separate from the plans.

107.6.2.2 Construction. The registered design professionals who are responsible for the design, plans, calculations, and specifications, their designee or the registered design professionals who have been retained for construction phase services, shall perform the following tasks:
1. Review, for conformance to this code and the design concept, shop drawings, samples and other submittals by the contractor in accordance with the requirements of the construction documents.

2. Perform the duties for registered design professionals in Chapter 17: Structural Tests and Special Inspections.

3. Be present at intervals appropriate to the stage of construction to become generally familiar with the progress and quality of the work and to determine if the work is being performed in a manner consistent with the construction documents and this code.

The permit application shall not be deemed completed until all of the construction documents required by this code have been submitted. Documentation indicating that work complies with the plans and specifications shall be provided at the completion of each phase when required by the building official. Upon completion of the work, the registered design professional shall file a final document to the building official indicating that, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, the work has been performed in accordance with the approved plans and this code. Forms for construction control when required by the building official shall be those found at www.mass.gov/dps .

107.6.2.3 Structural Tests and Special Inspections. Structural tests and special inspection shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 17: Structural Tests and Special Inspections.

107.6.2.4 Non Structural System Test and Inspection. Tests and inspections of non structural systems shall be performed in accordance with applicable engineering practice standards, referenced standards listed in Chapter 35: Referenced Standards, or as otherwise specified in this code.

107.6.3 Construction Contractor Services. The actual construction of the work shall be the responsibility of the general contractor as identified on the approved permit and shall involve the following:

1. Execution of all work in accordance with the approved construction documents.

2. Execution and control of all means and methods of construction in a safe and satisfactory manner in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal statutes and regulations.

3. Upon completion of the construction, certification in writing to the responsible registered design professional that, to the best of the contractor's knowledge and belief, construction has been done in substantial accord with section 107.6 and with all pertinent deviations specifically noted. The building official may require a copy of this certification.

107.6.4 Project Representation. A project representative may be required by the building official. This representative shall keep daily records and submit reports as may be required by the building official. This project representation requirement shall be determined prior to the issuance of the permit and may be a prerequisite for permit issuance. Refusal by the applicant to provide such service if required by the building official shall result in the denial of the permit. All fees and costs related to the performance of project representation shall be borne by the owner. When applications for unusual designs or magnitude of construction are filed, or where reference standards require special architectural or engineering inspections, the building official may require that the project representative be a registered design professional in addition to those registered design professionals required elsewhere per Section 107.6.

107.6.5 Building Official Responsibility. Nothing contained in section 107.6 shall have the effect of waiving or limiting the building official's authority to enforce this code with respect to examination of the contract documents, including plans, computations and specifications, and field inspections.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Massachusetts may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.