F LORIDA B UILDING C OMMISSION Raúl L. Rodríguez, AIA Chair

F LORIDA B UILDING C OMMISSION Created in 1998 by the Florida Legislature by expanding The Board of Building Codes and Standards Composed of 25 members representing industry, government and other stakeholders Has authorities and responsibilities established by law Operates under a supermajority consensus on policy issues

25 Commission Members Governor’s Chair Architect Structural Engineer Mechanical Engineer Fire Protection Engineer General Contractor Residential Contractor Roofing Contractor Mechanical Contractor Plumbing Contractor Electrical Contractor Pool Contractor Building Products Manufacturers Manufactured Buildings Rep Municipal Building Officials (3) County Code Official Municipal/Charter County Rep Public Education Rep Department of Financial Services Persons with Disabilities Rep Building Owners and Managers Insurance Industry Rep Green Building Industry

Major Authorities & Responsibilities Adopt and update the Code every 3 years Amend the Code every year to incorporate interpretations and clarifications* Interpret the Code Approve structural and related products Accredit Building Code courses

* Annual Amendments The Commission voted in 2006 not to conduct further annual amendments Annual amendments are not planned for the 2007 Code Only glitch amendments between future editions The Commission completed the transition to the International Codes before publishing the 2004 FBC The 2005 and 2006 supplements completed the clean ups

Other Responsibilities Evaluate the effectiveness of the Code and code related law and report yearly to the Legislature Recommend changes to building code law Work with the State Fire Marshal to coordinate the Florida Building and Fire Codes Facilitate recognition of new and innovative technologies

Commission Organization/Consensus Process Majority of work is accomplished through committees with final decisions made by the Commission The Commission adopted 75% supermajority vote rule to approve policy motions and Code amendments Consensus process utilizes a structured approach with a professional facilitator

Commission Committees Technical Advisory Committees TACs Sub-code specific (e.g. Plumbing) Composition follows ANSI criteria for regulatory standards writing Chaired by a Commissioner Report to Commission Workgroups Issue specific Composed of TAC Members, Commissioners and Stakeholders Facilitated by a professional facilitator rather than a chair Report to the respective TAC

Commission Committees Ad Hoc Committees ADHOCs Composed of Commissioners only Address Specific issues Address Political and Procedural issues Program Oversight Committees POCs Composed of Commissioners only Address Product Approval and Education Operate specific programs that are the Commission’s responsibility

Commission Committees Technical Advisory Committees Accessibility Code Administration Electrical Energy Fire Mechanical Plumbing Roofing Special Occupancy Structural Workgroups Hurricane Research Advisory Window/Wall Hurricane Mitigation Soffit Systems Flood Resistance Standards Swimming Pool CO Detector Septic System Sizing Indoor Humidity Control 2010 Energy Code –Energy Efficient Roofs –Swimming Pool Energy Efficiency 2010 Accessibility Code

Commission Committees Program Oversight Committees POCs Product Approval Education Adhoc Committees ADHOCS Commission Process Review Swimming Pool Barriers (completed)

Commission Processes Law requires 75% majority to approve Florida amendments to foundation codes Commission adopted 75% majority to approve policy issues except Declaratory Statement code interpretations (follow Chap 120, F.S.) Advisory committees and workgroups composed mostly by non-commissioners Over 100 different individuals participate on committees Consensus is the rule. Unanimous agreement is the goal!

Major Initiatives and Accomplishments 2001 Florida Building Code Development and Implementation 2004 Florida Building Code Development and Implementation Response to Construction Problems Identified after Hurricanes Florida Product Approval Program Development Green Building and Energy Efficiency Initiatives

Major Initiatives and Accomplishments 2001 Florida Building Code Development and Implementation –Integration of the South Florida Building Code with the Standard Building Code –Integration of state agency facility licensing rules into the FBC –Integration of SREF code requirements into the FBC –Adoption of state of the art hurricane wind design standards

Major Initiatives and Accomplishments 2004 Florida Building Code Development and Implementation –Transition from the Standard Building Code to the International Building Code as foundation code –Integration of the International Residential Code and Existing Buildings Code into the FBC –Major revision of the IRC to update wind requirements to Florida standards

Major Initiatives and Accomplishments Response to Construction Problems Identified after Hurricanes –Conduct a Fall 2004 Symposium on research studies –Appoint Hurricane Research Advisory Committee –Identify building failures and develop of 3 phase response plan –Request special legislative authority to conduct Phase 1- Code “quick fixes” and implement in 2005 Supplement to 2004 FBC –Overhaul IRC wind requirements and implement Phase 2 updates in 2006 Supplement to 2004 FBC –Research window, door, wall and soffit failures and develop consensus performance and labeling requirements for adoption in the 2007 FBC

Major Initiatives and Accomplishments Development of the Florida Product Approval Program –Miami-Dade and Broward Counties made significant improvement to construction after Hurricane Andrew by emphasizing evaluation of products’ compliance with the SFBC and providing the information connection that allowed code officials to verify compliance and proper installation –Wind pressure requirements in the State Minimum Building Code used elsewhere in Florida beginning in The system for enforcing manufactured product compliance proved inadequate –The FBC emphasis on hurricane protection and the statewide product approval system made the biggest difference in improved performance of buildings during the hurricanes

Major Initiatives and Accomplishments Green Building and Energy Efficiency Initiatives –Governor Crist issued Executive Order in July 2007 directing the Commission to increase the Florida Energy Code requirements by 15% –The Executive Order, issued as the Commission completed the 2007 Edition of the FBC forced implementation of the directive through the glitch amendment cycle originally intended to just correct errors in the 2007 Code before it took effect –The approach taken establishes 85 points as the compliance criteria instead of the conventional 100 points (lower points results in more efficiency) –The 2008 Legislature increased the Code’s energy efficiency requirements an additional 5% for the 2010 FBC and further increased by 10% increments for 2013, 2016 and 2019 FBC.for a total increase of 50% versus the 2006 supplement to the 2004 FBC –The Commission is currently working on a plan to meet these future requirements

Future for the Florida Building Code Glitch amendment cycle making corrections to the 2007 Code and implementing Governor Crist’s Energy Code mandate is in effect –The Supplement is on the web for free download –Replacement pages will be available later this summer Commission completed adoption of the 2008 NEC –It will take effect later this summer No major amendment cycles planned before the 2010 FBC

Future for the Florida Building Code The Legislature has increasingly turned to the Commission to address issues such as hurricane damage impact on insurance, carbon monoxide poisoning, energy security and climate change Some stakeholders still prefer to approach the Legislature directly attempting to direct the Commission to address particular issue(s) in a particular way This political versus technical intervention may continue There has been an increase in parties invoking legal action via lawyers intervention in the Code development and programs management processes This legal versus technical intervention may also continue to grow

Future for the Florida Building Code Continue the consensus process that has become engrained in the Commission’s culture Continue to bring together knowledgeable stakeholders to study problems and develop consensus solutions providing balance and effectiveness to government regulations Consensus may be slow and tedious; however, the record indicates that it is worth the effort!

Questions?