Transparent requirements and swift permitting improve safety and encourage decarbonization.
Building codes protect public health & safety, universal access, and energy affordability. Related standards protect public spaces and prepare us for disasters. Permits and inspections are the tools to implement these key public policy goals. Three principles to align the permitting experience with the City’s goals to decarbonize buildings and vehicles are:
- Transparency: Ensure requirements are easy to confirm and as simple as possible
- Speed and predictability: Focus scrutiny where it will most benefit public health & safety
- Affordability: Fees are necessary to recover cost of service, but should not be a burden
SF Environment Department partners with the Department of Building Inspection, Public Health, and other agencies to advance the adoption of cleaner, safer technologies and construction practices.
Heat pump plan review for food facilities: A technical bulletin by the Departments of Environment and Public Health
Hot water and soap protect us from pathogens – cleaning is the core of food safety. San Francisco and other counties across the state enforce California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH) has adopted Guidelines for Water Heating to ensure water heating systems in food facilities are ready to supply plenty of hot water for sanitation.
Most water heaters use natural gas, but natural gas combustion in buildings produces more outdoor air pollution and carbon emissions than motor vehicles. Energy-efficient heat pump water heaters can eliminate on-site pollution, limit energy costs, and help cool workspaces.
The Heat Pump Plan Review for Food Facilities Technical Bulletin explains how environmental health staff can verify hot water systems relying on heat pumps meet CCDEH Guidelines. It’s also for design professionals and plumbing contractors, with references helpful resources to improve safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of food facility hot water design.
