Guidelines for Approval of Alternate Materials, Design and Methods of Construction
Basis for Approval
For the Director of Building Safety (Director) or their designated agent to approve a request for
modification or a request for alternate material or method of construction, they must determine that
special individual reasons exists that make compliance with the strict letter of the Code impractical and
that equivalency is provided. The resulting condition must be in conformance with the spirit and purpose
of the Code provisions involved and that such modification does not lessen application to allow the above
evaluation to be made.
Requirements for Submittals
The applicant design professional shall prepare a written report that describes the alternate proposal
along with the applicable data listed below:
State specific code provisions for which alternative is requested and why request is being
submitted
Describe, by code section, those provisions for which alternative is desired
Compare the proposed alternative versus the code requirements in terms of structural strength,
suitability, effectiveness, fire resistance, safety and health impacts affecting the building or user of
the building
Demonstrate the proposed alternative is compatible with the balance of code requirements
When applicable, specify how authoritative consensus document(s) are used to substantiate
proposal
Provide assumptions, references, and documentation of evaluation methods utilized. This includes
intended use, input data, anticipated outputs, and limitations of computer models and other
analytical tools or methods
Specify when and where special inspection and testing are required and the standards of
acceptance for demonstrating compliance. Show how the proposed alternate, if accepted, will be
identified on the job site
Where land use restrictions and building setbacks are required, deed restrictions may be an
appropriate method to ensure continued compliance
State how and where alternate proposal is incorporated within construction plans and prepare
plan amendments as necessary. The design professional has the responsibility to coordinate all
construction documents and ensure compatibility between documents
The report and design documents shall be dated, signed and stamped by the design professional
according to plan submittal procedures
For alternate methods of design requests, the applicant shall set performance criteria for their
design. Performance criteria shall be reviewed, amended and approved by the Director prior to
start of design
