 
Is this a tool for plan
check only? How will it
impact the building industry?
Yes.
Commercial Building Inspector
will have a direct impact
on the period in which
construction plans are
reviewed by plan reviewers.
Thus, as a result, CBI
will be a huge factor
in freeing up some current
plan review resources
for the administrative
aspect of the submitted
application.
Several days of typical
review time (manual review)
have been reduced to a
few hours. The process
can be utilized in the
design stage by engineers
and architects to determine
acceptable design elements
prior to completion and
submission of plans for
review by the permit issuing
authority. The automation
of this process achieves
a significant improvement
in productivity and consistency
in the planning and review
process for the building
industry.
How
does this impact the role
of the code official?
Do we still need to check
anything? Will a computer
eliminate the need for
plan reviewers?
The
code official will still
have authority for code
compliance checking. As
long as the building information
are included in the software
modules, or that designers
submit Commercial Building
Inspector original file
with their permit applications
that have been checked
by CBI's “Intelligent
Review Engine” then the
code official is more
likely to get complete
code compliance design
documentation that complies
with the code.
In one sense the code
official may not have
to spend as much time
addressing designer questions
related to applying the
code, as submittals will
have a higher probability
of compliance and designers
can interact with the
project CBI file. This
will save time, but the
code official will still
have to run the submitted
file or check the output
submitted by the designer
and in the near term there
will continue to be a
number of code issues
that will
still have to be checked
by hand.
Commercial Building Inspector
should eliminate some
of the more routine checking
associated with prescriptive
provisions in the codes.
There will always be a
need for plan reviewers
and as construction volume
increases then it may
be possible for government
agencies to handle increased
workload without having
to add more staff. Whatever
resources are saved in
plan review could be transitioned
over time to conducting
field inspections, which
would further enhance
building safety, or applied
to addressing performance
based designs, which can
be superior in terms of
cost and performance to
designs following more
prescriptive criteria.
This
tool is most valuable
when widely used by design
professionals. How does
OptaSoft make it available
to them, at a cost, which
both small (especially)
and large Architectural
& Engineering firms can
justify in their project
budgets?
The
ramification of plan review
delays can’t be ignored.
Commercial Building Inspector
cost is negligible considering
the detrimental financial
impact due to delays in
the proposed construction
starting date. As an owner,
not meeting such date
will increase the project’s
overall cost and will
increase the ROI period
in which will be a source
of frustration for all
concerned.
OptaSoft provides several
options tailored to meet
the design profession
community needs; One scenario
is to charge designers
a nominal fee for access
and use of CBI each time
a code check is done on
a project (CBI on Demand).
Another is to allow unlimited
use of CBI during a project
or over a set time period
for a set fee (Rental
Program). Yet another
option is to purchase
a site license that yields
5 simultaneous users without
any restrictions.
How
will OptaSoft address
the local code requirements
for different states and
smaller jurisdictions?
The
caveat to this question
is that one must understand
the International Building
Codes; cbi unique flexibility
allows the creation of
a hyperlink to any section
of the jurisdiction’s
adopted code that has
been amended on Local/State
level to be displayed
in the “Code Compliance
Result Screen”. This will
force the user not to
over-see such code amendment
and makes the management
of thousands of jurisdictions
code amendments much easier
to handle.
Will
OptaSoft generate reports
from the data that is
entered in the system?
If so will they make it
available for others?
Somehow - the information
about building trends
would be very useful.
No,
OptaSoft business model
is not to recommend or
suggest as other available
systems. OptaSoft’s plan
review application is
not a database that collects
information to be shared
among industry users for
a subscription fee. Keep
in mind that our innovative
solution is not a basic
database driven solution
that stores and then prints!
Commercial Building Inspector
generates a compliance
status report which is
a result of a smart building
codes interpretation process
that contains all user's
entry. To track physical
building information,
you need to consider an
Electronic Content Management
System. This enables you
to run analysis, generate
reports, share and grant
access to building trends
information.
In order to share the
compliance status report
(by email, project management
system or any other electronic
systems), you can convert
the report into a pdf
format using a 3rd party
component. We have used
pdf995 for the past few
years, and it is proven
to be a stable and reliable
component. For more information
you can visit (www.pdf995.com)
Do
you anticipate entering
local amendments into
the (Intelligent Review
Engine) being
done by a computer programmer,
code official, or clerical
staff?
No,
OptaSoft will do this
task for a fixed fee and
will store all code amendments
on a remote server for
accessibility.
What
skill level would be necessary
to use the software?
From
a computer standpoint
the skill level should
be no different than using
any standard Microsoft
Office program. However,
one will need knowledge
of the building code usage
and application and be
able to understand plan
review protocols that
covers how to perform
a plan review. The software
does the work and the
code official would review
the output, make notes
directly in the output
file, etc. The level of
computer knowledge should
be comparable to using
any Windows based application.
What
level of computer knowledge
will a code official need
to incorporate and use
Commercial
Building Inspectors®
in their municipality?
The
straightforwardness of
the software leaves little
necessity for training.
However, OptaSoft provides
7 days full trial access
that enables users becoming
familiar with the software,
protocol and process for
creating code compliance
status report.
How
long will it take a municipality
to fully incorporate Commercial
Building Inspector
into their existing workflow?
The
jurisdiction’s amendments
and number of users will
drive the time to incorporate.
On an average, this will
probably take about a
day including training
and guidance.
Will
OptaSoft continue to update
the building code checking
software as new codes
are promulgated by a jurisdiction
and/or when the national
model codes change?
Yes.
As long as being notified
by the changes, OptaSoft
will continuously support
and maintain any code
updates approximately
75% of the codes do not
change from edition to
edition, and OptaSoft
will simply need to identify
and update the remainder
that does change.
How
long will OptaSoft continue
to support previous software
editions of building codes?
Will government agencies
be forced to adopt newer
versions of the software
in order to be able to
use Commercial Building
Inspector?
Everything
is accessible at any point
in time; OptaSoft software
provides a simple mechanism
to switch between previously
incorporated codes with
a support strategy that
combines software subscription
"upgrade protection" and
remote technical support
in a single feature called
Annual Maintenance. Such
subscription ensures our
customers always have
access to the latest version
of their software and
to remote technical support.
Annual Maintenance can
be purchased with any
license acquisition for
all distributed software
products.
OptaSoft corporate policy
doesn't include or encourage
any practices to force
any current/potential
clients to use any of
our products. Our annual
maintenance package is
strictly optional and
it is the sole discursion
of the client to decide
whether to purchase or
renew such maintenance
package.
How
fast can Commercial Building
Inspector display the
code compliance status
report?
It
depends on the computer’s
CPU speed and the amount
of RAM included. The healthier
the computer’s specifications
are, the faster the code
compliance report is generated
and displayed.
I
lost my Internet connection
shortly after I launched
the software. Do I still
display
the code compliance status
report?
Yes.
Unfortunately, the only
thing you won’t be able
to display is the actual
building code text with
any associated amendments
and the online help section
in which contains the
occupancy classification
and/or definition search
engines.
What
are the technical requirements
(i.e. internet bandwidth,
Windows version, internet
browser, etc.) needed
to use Commercial Building
Inspector?
At
all time, you need an
Internet connection for
license authentication
only. This does not require
high quality broadband
to perform. But for best
results in displaying
actual code text and amendments,
a high quality broadband
dedicated T1 connection
is recommended.
OS:
Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000,
XP, Vista and Win 7.
Internet
browser: IE
5.5 or higher.
Is
there a special price
when a new code software
edition is released?
No,
if you are an existing
client with uninterrupted
annual maintenance coverage,
you’ll be provided with
unbroken access to all
new releases, versions
of your covered OptaSoft
software and the newly
released edition, as well
as to OptaSoft's technical
support staff.
I
did not obtain software
maintenance coverage when
I initially purchased
the software, can I still
obtain the newly published
code software edition?
Yes.
We strongly recommend
that customers continuously
renew their Software Maintenance
coverage because it will
provide them with unbroken
access to all new releases
and versions of their
covered OptaSoft software
and the newly released
edition, as well as to
OptaSoft's technical support
staff. The cost of renewing
Software Maintenance after
it has lapsed is greater
than keeping current.
A renewal order must be
placed by the customer
and received by OptaSoft
before the anniversary
date. This will ensure
that Software Maintenance
coverage is not interrupted
and the customer will
avoid the additional cost
of having to buy a Software
Maintenance Reinstatement,
which is required if Software
Maintenance coverage lapses
and needs to be re-established.
What
do I get with the software
maintenance coverage?
OptaSoft's
software support strategy
combines software subscription
(upgrade protection) and
remote technical support
in a single feature called
Annual Maintenance. To
ensure our customers always
have access to the latest
version of their software
and to remote technical
support. Annual Maintenance
can be purchased with
any license acquisition
for all distributed software
products.
(1) - Authorization
to use all new product
releases (fixes, patches).
(2) - Authorization
to own newly product
versions.
(3) - Access to unlimited
email software support
(excluding building
code related issues).
(4) - Two phone calls
for additional support
(excluding review related
issues).
(5) -Two-hour target
for response time, contingent
upon the severity of
the issue.
Can
I be notified before software
maintenance coverage expires?
Customers
will be notified of any
pending Software Maintenance
renewals approximately
90 days before the anniversary
date and a quote will
be sent to them by email.
Software Maintenance renewals
can then be purchased
either directly from OptaSoft
or through the customer's
preferred OptaSoft reseller.
Customers also have a
choice in how to place
their renewal order -
it can be easily placed
the "traditional" way
(phone).
I
would like to purchase
cbi, but I don’t need
all modules that it provides.
Can I pick my own?
Yes,
users can select any modules
to customize the plan
review process. With this
platform you can pick
and pay for ONLY the modules
of your choice.
I
am a small government
agency and would like
to purchase CBI, but I
don’t have enough money
allocated in this year
budget. Can I obtain the
software?
Yes,
Purchase orders are welcomed
to obtain short-term business
credit line from OptaSoft.
A payment arrangement
must be structured first
to process such request.
I
finished using the trial
software and I would like
to purchase it. Do I have
to wait till I pay
and then, receive a CD?
No,
our innovative software
license authentication
technology allows us to
convert the trial software
edition into a full-working
edition within seconds
to prevent any business
interruption. All what
you have to do is to either
email or call us with
your purchase decision.
I
am in a busy governmental
agency and receives a
lot phone calls with questions
such as "Can I build?"
How would CBI help me?
CBI's
point and click application
is user friendly, allowing
you to enable or disable
modules and their contents
to be displayed in your
code compliance status
screen. Each module in
the software is independent
from others. On the other
hand, at any giving point,
you can obtain the compliance
status only for the module
that you're working with
by clicking on the "Review"
button.
Based on the subject matter
that its being discussed,
you can select the module
that relates to your
discussion while you're
on the phone and obtain
the answer (multi-tasking).
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