IHPA GENERAL MEETING, NETWORKING RECEPTION

Join the IHPA for a General Meeting and Networking Reception on Thursday, May 10 at 4:30 p.m. at the Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina, Tampa, FL.

This meeting will be held in conjunction with the 5th Annual World of Hurricane Protection Trade Show and Conference. This meeting is always a well-attended event featuring industry news and information, the presentation of the Annual Industry Achievement Award as well as the reception that follows.

The IHPA is great way for your company to be heard in the hurricane protection industry. It is a way for companies to obtain important information on building code updates and how it will affect business. The IHPA welcomes everyone to attend. Complimentary refreshments and appetizers will be served immediately following the General Meeting at the Networking Reception.

Please visit www.worldofhurricaneprotection.com to find out more or to sign up.

IHPA SETS 2007 MEETING SCHEDULE

At the IHPA meeting held February 21, the board of directors set the meeting schedule for the remainder of 2007. Please mark your calendars now. Future meetings and events are posted to ihpaprotect.org/meetings.aspx.
The proposed schedule for the remaining meetings will be:

• August 8, Fort Myers area
• November 8, Pensacola Beach area

All industry professionals are welcome to attend IHPA General Meetings. The meetings often feature informative guest speakers and you will always be informed of the latest information affecting your business.

IHPA 5TH ANNUAL GOLF SCRAMBLE TOURNAMENT SET

The IHPA golf scramble will take place Wednesday, May 9 at the Westchase Golf Club in Tampa, FL. Registration begins at 11:15 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. with lunch being provided. The shotgun start is promptly at 12:45.

This event is being held in conjunction with the 5th Annual World of Hurricane Protection Trade Show and Conference presented by Hurricane Protection magazine held at the Tampa Convention Center. Westchase is located 20 minutes from the convention center. Registration is open and sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more information on this great social event or to sign up, please call the IHPA office at (561) 282-2395 or visit ihpaprotect.org/golf.aspx.

HURRICANE PROTECTION UNIVERSITY TO OPEN IN FALL

The IHPA has partnered with Hurricane Protection magazine to develop Hurricane Protection University, a complete educational program for the hurricane protection professional that will launch this fall.

The mission of the university is to promote long-term industry growth and success through the participation of its members—the hurricane industry professional—in establishing a higher level of education to qualify and increase the value of the industry professional within the area of hurricane protection to the consumer.

Hurricane Protection University will offer a wide variety of seminar courses, which will be CEU accredited by the Florida Department of Business Regulations and the American Institute of Architects. The seminar speakers will be qualified members of the IHPA.

Some of the course study areas offered are: Business Management, Marketing Strategies Plans and Budgets, Certified Sales and Installation Program for Impact Protective Coverings, Product Safety and Liability, Product Testing, Product Approvals, and Risk Management.

Look for more information on Hurricane Protection University in Hurricane Protection magazine as well as online at www.inthpa.com.

2007-08 OFFICERS, BOARD ELECTED

The IHPA announces its new 2007-08 officers and board of directors. Elections were held February 21 IHPA meeting in Deerfield Beach, FL.

The IHPA would like to recognize and thank the outgoing officer and directors who have stepped down after many years of dedicated service: Amy Yelverton (secretary), Gary Stokes (director) and Jeff Robinson (director).
IHPA’s new officials are:

OFFICERS:
• President: Bill Feeley, Eastern Metal Supply
• Vice President: Tom Johnston (Supplier), Town & Country Industries
• Secretary: Darius Grimes (Contractor), Skyetec Environmental Services
• Treasurer: Greg Mann (Supplier), All Points Screw, Bolt & Specialty Co.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Suppliers
Adrian Lemon, Elero USA, Inc.
Manufacturers
Steve Miller, QMI Roll Shutters
Dave Olmstead, PGT Industries
Scott Kuntz, Transparent Protection Systems, Inc.
Contractors
Gene Enyart, Signature Storm Protection, Inc.
Bill Spindel, Windshutters
Associate
Frank L. Bennardo, Engineering Express
V. John Knezevich, Thornton Tomasetti

FBC MODIFICATIONS APPROVED

The various Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) met at St. Augustine, FL, March 11 to 16 for the first hearing on proposed changes to the Florida Building Code (FBC) 2004 with 2005 and 2006 supplements. All changes submitted on behalf of the IHPA were recommended by the appropriate TAC for approval or for approval as modified.
Modifications of interest to the hurricane protection industry include:

• Permits. Requires a permit for the installation of impact resistant coverings. The Administration TAC modified the original proposal to require permits for the installation of “required” installations of impact resistant coverings. Unanimously approvaled as modified.

• Inspection. Requires the building official to establish inspections of the installation of impact resistant coverings installed to meet the requirements of the code. The Administration TAC unanimously approved as submitted.

• Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings. Modification submitted to eliminate the provision allowing the temporary covering of emergency escape and rescue openings with impact resistant coverings when there is a threat of a storm. After testimony by the proponent, the proposal died for the lack of a second from the Fire TAC.

• Permanent Installation Provisions HVHZ. A modification was submitted to eliminate the exception to the requirement for the permanent installation of shutters on openings above the first story of a building in Group R3. Hearing no testimony, the proposal died for a lack of a second from the Fire TAC.

• Impact Resistant Coverings Labeling and Installation. Adds labeling requirement for impact resistant coverings. Adds provisions related to installation. Adds language addressing substitution of fasteners and components. Approved by Structural TAC unanimously.

• Habitable Spaces. Excludes Category I – III sunrooms from AAMA 2100 from definition of habitable space. The Structural TAC unanimously approved as submitted.

• Sunroom. Deletes partial definition of sunroom from FBCB Chapter 2 in favor of expanded definition adopted in 2006 Supplement in Chapter 12. The Structural TAC unanimously approved as submitted.

• Sunrooms. Adds sunroom categories from AAMA 2100; requires sunroom category be specified by permit applicant or property owner. The Structural TAC modified the proposal to require the sunroom to be categorized, but to strike the language requiring the category to be declared by the permit applicant or owners. The Structural TAC unanimously approved as modified.

• Impact Resistant Coverings. Adds labeling requirements for impact resistant coverings. Adds provisions related to installation. Adds language addressing substitution of fasteners and components. Approved by Structural TAC unanimously. Proponent directed to make certain provisions are to correct sections and to correlate with FBCR via public comment.

• Exposure Category. Clarifies effects of open patches. Structural TAC approved Comment 1 containing modifications by proponent. These modifications are of interest to the industry because they will affect the determination of the Exposure Category. The new definitions result in more areas being classified as Exposure Category C, which translates to a 21 percent increase in the components and claddings design pressure for the average single-family dwelling with a mean roof height of 15 feet.

The second public comment period for commenting on the TAC recommendations, including TAC recommendations for modification, begins April 15. The public comment period runs for 45 calendar days. Members are encouraged to visit the BCIS at www.floridabuilding.org and submit a public comment in support of the IHPA changes. The Florida Building Commission will meet in June to finalize action on the proposed changes. The TACs will meet again to develop final recommendations to the Commission and the Commission is scheduled to take final action on the recommendations during the June meeting in Miami Lakes, FL.

CHAPTER 2007-1 LAWS OF FLORIDA

As previously reported legislation addressing opening protection and the definition of the wind-borne debris region (WBDR) was passed during a special session called by the Florida governor in December 2006. The legislation eliminated the option to design structures in the WBDR as partially enclosed in lieu of protecting glazing in openings and adopted the WBDR definitions contained in the International Building and Residential Codes, 2006 Editions (see HP, Spring 2007, page 9). The changes became effective when the governor signed the bill into law on January 25, 2007.

Reportedly, a number of coastal jurisdictions began implementing immediately, while other jurisdictions did not. Jurisdictions not enforcing the law stated they were waiting for the Florida Building Commission to direct enforcement or to update the code as directed by the legislation. The Commission discussed the issue at the February 2007 meeting with the only recommendation being that local enforcement authorities consult their attorneys regarding the mandate to enforce the law. To date, there are mixed reports as to the number of coastal jurisdictions enforcing the terms of the law.

As of this writing, the legislature is conducting the 2007 Regular Legislative Session. In the ongoing session, the Florida Senate has passed a bill to extend the January 25 implementation date until June 1. The sole purpose of the bill is to delay the effective date of the opening protection provisions and wind borne debris definition of Ch. 2007-1, LOF until June 1. The law provides retroactivity, which would severely indemnify jurisdictions that did not implement the provisions on January 15.

The primary concern of proponents of the bill is contracts entered into for the construction of houses that did not contain the cost of protecting glazing. At of this writing, there is no companion bill in the House. There is a bill addressing the issue; however, the main topic of the House bill is property insurance and those issues may result in the bill being stopped in the House.

—submitted by Joe Belcher, IHPA Code Consultant, JDB Code Services, Inc.