Building Code and Disabled Access Consultant Specializing in Code Design Requirements, Disabled Access and Plan Check

Expertise

• International Building Code and California Building Code.
• Disabled access design requirements.
• Building department administration.
• Plan check processing.
• Building code compliance design analysis.

Expert Witness Experience

• Expert witness and depositions on behalf of the City of Newport Beach Building Department.
• Law suits include: ADA lawsuit, slope failure due to adjacent neighbor's alterations, property damage by tenant.

Experience

Independent Consultant, Present

City of Newport Beach, 1981 - 2011

Deputy Building Official, 1998 - 2011

• Review drawings and calculations for complex projects.
• Coordinate with the geotechnical plan check consultant.
• Provide preliminary plan review.
• Resolve customer complaints.
• Represent the Building Department on the Development Review Committee.
• Review and decide on applications for modifications to the California Building Code.
• Manage the Plan Check and Permits Division.
• Prepare the budget for the Plan Check and Permits Division.
• Work on the amendment and adoption of the building codes.
• Write department policies and standard operation procedures.
• Recruit and train plan check and permitting staff.
• Review and decide on documentation of unreasonable hardship requests for disabled access.
• Prepare reports to the Building and Fire Codes Board of Appeals and participate in public hearings.
• Provide technical support to plan check engineers and inspectors.

Chief Plan Check Engineer, 1983 - 1998

• Review drawings and calculations for complex projects.
• Manage the plan check operation and supervise plan check engineers.
• Provide preliminary plan review.
• Provide technical assistance to plan check engineers, inspectors, design engineers and architects.

Plan Check Engineer, 1981 - 1983

• Review drawings for complex projects and high rise structures for compliance with the structural and nonstructural requirements of the California Building Code.
• Coordinate project approval with other departments.
• Provide technical support to architects, engineers and inspectors.

John A. Martin & Associates, Los Angeles, CA, Design Engineer, 1979 - 1981

• Perform structural design of concrete, steel, masonry and wood structures.

Honors & Publications

Credentials

License

• California Licensed Civil Engineer

Certifications

• Certified Building Official, ICC
• Certified Building Plans Examiner, ICC
• California Access Specialist (California Division of State Architect)
• Instructor Credential, California Community College
• Certified Green Building Professional (Build It Green)

Languages

• Speak, read and write Arabic.

Academic and Professional Affiliations

• International Code Council.
• American Society of Civil Engineers

Professional Activities

• Served as chairman to the education committee and code development committee of the ICC Orange Empire Chapter - served as Treasurer, Vice president, and President.
• Worked on the adoption of the California Building Codes including writing code amendments, staff report, and preparing the related power point presentation to the Newport Beach City Council.
• Taught the California Building Code and disabled access requirements at community college.

Education

• M.S. Degree, Civil Engineering, California State University, Northridge, CA
• B.S. Degree, Civil Engineering, California State University, Northridge, CA