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FLORIDA BUILDING CODE UPDATES Since the last report, the IHPA code consultant has attended all meetings of the Florida Building Commission (Commission) including the Product Approval Program Oversight Committee (POC), the Structural Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), the Building Fire TAC, the Joint (Building/Fire) TAC, and the plenary sessions of the Florida Building Commission. The code consultant also served as a member of the Garage Door and Shutter Labeling Task Group appointed by the Commission. In addition to the Commission meetings, the code consultant attended various meetings of the chapters of the state inspector organization, including meetings of the BOAF Code Development Committee and Board of Directors. Following is a summary of the activities. • The 2006 Supplement went into effect on December 8, 2006, as scheduled. • Local jurisdiction requiring more testing. The Commission received a letter from Sen. Michael Bennett regarding the refusal by some jurisdictions in Dade County to accept products with state approval. The code consultant requested the Commission broaden its response to deal with complaints from IHPA members regarding jurisdictions demanding engineering in addition to that required to be submitted for Product Approval. The Commission Chair expanded the response by responding to Sen. Bennett and writing advisory memoranda covering both subjects, which were distributed to all jurisdictions. In one memorandum dated December 6, 2006, Commission Chairman Raul L. Rodriguez stated, “State approved products must be accepted by local jurisdictions within the limitations of use established by the state approval without requirement for further testing, evaluation or submission of evidence.” He also noted that state approval of products for use in the High Velocity Hurricane Zones is commonly, but not always, based on a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance. • Proposed changes and public comment. Proposed code modifications were submitted by the code consultant on the behalf of IHPA relating to permits and inspections and labeling of opening protection products. The proposed changes are currently on the Building Code Information System Web-site (www.floridabuilding.org). Regarding code changes, the code consultant will review more than 500 proposed code changes to determine the impact on the industry. The public comment period on the proposed code changes began on January 15, 2007, and will end on February 28, 2007. The code consultant will be working with IHPA regarding modifications to IHPA changes and developing positions on proposals submitted by others. At the end of the public comment period, the Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) will take up the proposals and any comments thereto from the public. The various TACs will review the proposals and comments at meetings scheduled March 12 to 15, 2007, at St. Augustine, FL. Once completed, the TAC recommendations to the Commission will be posted for another public comment period of 45 days. The process will be modified such that the TACs will also review public comments on their recommendations prior to the recommendations going before the Commission. Formerly, the recommendations of the TACs and the public comments on those recommendations went directly to the Commission. The currently scheduled implementation date for the FBC 2007 is October 1, 2008. The base code will be the International Codes, 2006 Editions. • Florida eliminates Panhandle exemption. The Florida legislature was called into Special Session to deal with property insurance issues. The legislature passed a bill containing language mandating the use of the ASCE 7 definition for wind-borne debris regions statewide eliminating the Panhandle Exemption. The legislation will override the Commission definition scheduled to go into effect March 8, 2007, and results in a large increase in the areas classified as wind-borne debris regions in the Panhandle. Further, the bill contains language applicable statewide that eliminates the option to design a building as partially enclosed in lieu of protecting glazing in the wind-borne debris regions. IHPA ELECTIONS FOR 2007 OFFICERS, DIRECTORS OFFICERS FIFTH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT SCHEDULED UPDATE YOUR IHPA ADDRESS BOOK |
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