Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 200 - Board of Education
Chapter 20 - Council on Elementary and Secondary Education
Subchapter 05 - General and School Operations
Part 4 - Rhode Island School Construction Regulations
Section 200-RICR-20-05-4.10 - Design and Review Process

A. RIDE will conduct an architectural and technical peer review of each Approved Project at the completion of schematic design, design development, and construction document phases, or at such other times determined by RIDE. Such a review will ensure that the designs comply with the approved Design and Educational Program approved by the Council and these regulations. In the event that the school project involves historic buildings or Districts, the RI Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission may require an ongoing review through construction.

B. Districts are responsible for submitting all required documentation to RIDE upon completion of each design phase and attending Plan Review meetings as scheduled by RIDE. At the Plan Review meetings, the design team and building committee are expected to answer all questions posed by RIDE and, upon successful conclusion of the review, may move to the next phase of design.

C. Listed below is the required documentation for each phase of the design process:

D. The cost of project elements that exceed or diverge from approved project scope may be declared ineligible for school housing aid reimbursement. The District may retain such elements only by accepting sole financial responsibility for non-conforming elements in writing in a format prescribed by RIDE, prior to inclusion of such elements in any designs.

A. The District shall procure the services of an independent engineering Commissioning Agent. Commissioning is the process of ensuring that systems are designed, installed, functionally tested, and capable of being operated and maintained to perform in conformity with the design intent of a project. The Commissioning Agent must be secured prior to the design phase of the project. The Commissioning Agent must be independent, and be procured separately from the contract for the District's construction services. The Commissioning Agent will be responsible, in part, for the local reporting required to implement state enforcement of the regulations for the project during the design, construction, and operational acceptance process to ensure compliance with the regulations during integrated design. During schematic design and design development, the Commissioning Agent will verify that all standards have been met through meetings with the design team and review of plans submitted by the design team. The Commissioning Agent will continue to monitor compliance with these regulations through the development of construction documents and through the construction process to ensure that all building systems, mechanical and lighting equipment, and all specifications are in compliance with regulations, included in and consistent with all plans, construction documents, and cost estimates. The Commissioning Agent will submit reports certifying compliance with all standards and regulations to RIDE and the District representative. The Commissioning Agent should work closely with the District's project manager, also referred to as clerk of the works.

B. The Commissioning Agent must:

A. Architectural, engineering, project management, construction management, financial, and other professional services shall be procured by the Districts for all projects.

B. The Facility Analysis must include an analysis of the energy use (electric and heating and/or cooling) of the facility for at least the last two years, a survey of the facility systems, and recommendations for improving energy efficiency. The use of Energy Star Portfolio Manager or ComCheck software systems to benchmark the facility against other buildings or the Rhode Island Building Energy Code is highly encouraged.

A. The District shall maintain a project file that shall include, but not be limited to, the following documents:

B. The documents above shall be maintained in a readily accessible place for review and inspection by the RIDE and any other related agencies for the duration of the school facilities project and three years thereafter or, if litigation concerning any aspect of the school facilities project is instituted, until completion of all litigation, whichever is later.