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Building Inspection

Construction Plan Requirements

CONSTRUCTION PLAN REQUIREMENTS

The plans included in your submission for a construction permit shall contain the following information:

  1. Two sealed sets of drawings shall bear the seal and signature of an Architect or Engineer who prepared the plans and is registered in the state of New Jersey. A homeowner who occupies the structure may draw their own plans, but must sign each sheet of plans. The plans shall show the foundation, floor plan with the designated use of each room, elevations in hazardous flood zones, include structural framing notes for all floors, ceilings and roofs. Include a loading schedule indicating live, dead, snow and wind loads for which the structure is designed. Include material schedule for finished rooms, doors, lumber species and grades.
  2. Details: a. Building: Provide a cross section through one typical wall unless more are required of a unique condition. Show construction details from footings up to and including roof framing. This section shall indicate all construction materials used including roofing, vapor barriers, sheathing type and thickness, windows, glazing type if other than standard glazing is used, interior finish material, floor type and thickness, structure foundation and footings sizes. b. Electrical: Plans shall indicate lighting, receptacles, motors and equipment, smoke detectors, service entry locations, size and type (overhead or underground), panel size and location, number of proposed circuits, conduit and breaker sizes. A symbol legend shall be included. c. Plumbing: Plans shall indicate the location of all fixtures including the water heater and an isometric drawing by the plumbing contractor showing vent and drainage pipe sizes. For commercial structures provide an isometric drawing showing all water pipe sizes. d. Mechanical: Plans shall indicate the type and location of all heating equipment and fuel tanks. Provide heat loss calculations for all types of heating systems. Provide a single line drawing showing the size and location of all heating ducts for warm air heating systems by the contractor or architect. For gas burning appliances provide an isometric drawing showing the lengths, sizes of all pipes and the b.t.u. input of each appliance. e. Engineering: The construction official and appropriate subcode official may require adequate details of structural, mechanical, plumbing and electrical work, including computations, stress diagrams and other essential technical data to be filed as permitted by N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15 (e) 1. vi. For commercial structures, plans shall indicate how required structural and fire-resistive rating will be maintained for penetrations made for electric, plumbing, and communication conduits, pipes and systems.
  3. Provide a copy of the plumbing and electrical contractor license issued by the State of NJ. This will be kept on file and will not be necessary again unless their license expires or is revoked.
  4. The initial prototype submission shall contain all the information above. Each subsequent submission shall contain all prior approvals and a letter from the architect authorizing use of the plans.

All plans submitted to this office for review that does not include all the requirements shall be considered incomplete and shall be rejected. A copy of the requirements stated in N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15 (e) 1. of the Uniform Construction Code are on file in our office for your review. Calls for assistance with regard to clarification of any item mentioned above should be directed to the Department of Building Inspections. (609) 597-1000 ext. 8532, 8533, 8534 or Fax: (609) 978-9612