The Importance of Strong Building Code Legislation

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The Importance of Strong Building Code
Legislation

• Nanette Lockwood, PE
• Solutia Inc.

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Todays Construction vs. Tomorrows Needs
Institute for Business Home Safety
www.disastersafety.org
3
Residential vs. Commercial Adoption
Institute for Business Home Safety
www.disastersafety.org
4
Penalties for Further Delays
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Katrina Could Have Been Much Worse
Nanette Lockwood

• If Katrina struck 40 miles west
• 2 x more homes damaged
• 6 x more homes destroyed

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Vulnerable Gulf Coast States
Nanette Lockwood

• Alabama
• No statewide code beyond schools, movie theatres
  and state buildings
• Only 6 of jurisdictions currently enforcing
  updated codes
• Mississippi
• Only wind and flood provisions required for 5
  coastal counties
• Older codes dont have to be updated until 2010
• Only 27 jurisdictions currently enforcing
  updated codes
• Texas
• Dated model code applies only to areas enforcing
  codes
• Unincorporated areas dont have to enforce codes
• Local amendments unregulated

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Vulnerable Southeastern States
Nanette Lockwood
Georgia Optional enforcement North
Carolina Limits opening protection to 1,500 feet
from water
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Vulnerable Northeast States
Nanette Lockwood
Connecticut Decreased wind design and wbd
region Delaware No model codes adopted at
state level Massachusetts Decreased wind
design Maryland Allows cities to opt out of
enforcement (12 have) New Jersey Weakened wbd
region Rhode Island Decreased wind design and
wbd region
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What Legislators Face

• Mandatory model code adoption
• Jurisdictions must modify existing adoptions ()
• Mandatory enforcement
• Unincorporated areas see as unfunded mandate ()
• Model codes as minimum standards
• Jurisdictions like to make modifications (votes)
• Builders want lower standards (votes)

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State Success Begins with You
Industry Coalitions
Research/ Experts
Media
Business Community
Strong Legislation With Funding
Strong Public Support
Stronger Codes
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Financial Help for Willing States

• HR 3926
• States that adopt and enforce model building
  codes become eligible for additional 4 post
  disaster mitigation funding under FEMAs Hazard
  Mitigation Grant Program
• State and local governments can obtain
  pre-mitigation grants to establish building code
  enforcement programs
• Builders opposed late in session
• Efforts will continue in 2009 please get
  involved!

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Thank you.