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FEMA FLOOD MAPS:
The new FEMA Flood Maps have finally hit the
streets and no one is very happy with them. As
currently drawn, the new maps would expand the
flood zones and include thousands of new homes
that were not previously included. It would also
result in much higher insurance premiums for
those in the flood zones. The towns that are most
affected by the new maps have been raising loud
concerns because there is some evidence that the
science behind the maps was inaccurate. In some areas, home owners
who have never had a drop of water in their basements are now included
in the new flood zones.
As a result of the uproar over the new maps, FEMA is delaying
implementation of the new flood insurance maps… at least in some
counties. FEMA executives have said that the maps won’t be used to set
new insurance rates until sometime in 2015.
In the meantime, Representatives of the U.S. House from the affected
districts have filed legislation to delay an overhaul of the federal flood
insurance program that is hitting home owners with massive insurance
premium hikes. The U.S. Senate has already passed a modified version
of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which would
postpone parts of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of
2012 for four years.
Whatever the final outcome of all this….there will likely be some changes
and many of those changes will, no doubt, be reflected in the Mass State
Building Codes.
STRETCH ENERGY CODE:
As of this writing, the BBRS has still not seen the latest Stretch Energy
Code that is rumored to add an additional 15% to the cost of a new
home with nebulous long term savings. Builders are becoming more
and more frustrated over having to build one way in some towns
and another way in other towns. This is an insidious code that has
fractured the uniformity of the State Building Code, confused builders
and inspectors alike and in the minds of some, should be done away
with. It has served its purpose. Massachusetts is now #1 in the nation
in energy conservation! And, we are mandated to adopt the latest
version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) within
a year of it being published. This should keep Massachusetts in the
forefront of energy conservation for the foreseeable future without
any so-called “stretch codes.”
NEW CSL CLASSIFICATIONS:
At their regular meeting in February, the BBRS heard testimony regarding
two new license classifications. One would be a new classification for
CSLs that would be required for buildings over 35,000 CF. This would
apply mostly to the towns outside of the greater Boston area where there
is no ABC type of licensure such as required in Boston and the nine
cities and towns around Boston. There has been a problem, particularly
with out-of-state contractors who are not familiar with our climate and
methods of construction. The other classification is a “retired” category
for a CSL holder who is no longer active but wants to retain his license
and does not wish to partake in the Continuing Education requirements
for maintaining his license. The “retired” license could not be used to pull
permits or supervise any work, but could be re-activated upon taking the
required Continuing Ed. Courses and paying the fee.
The BBRS will be studying these two new license classifications to first
see if they have any merit and, if so, what the guiding regulations will
be… stay tuned.
WEYERHAEUSER ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE OPTION:
The Weyerhaeuser team made a presentation to the BBRS at the February
meeting outlining that they believe that the evaluation that they received
from ICC qualifies as an acceptable alternative to 2x10s as allowed in
exception 4 of R501.3 of the IRC. They also brought samples of their TJI
joists with their “Flack Jacket” protection applied.
Unfortunately, there are some members of the board that are suspicious
of the ICC evaluation process so there was no vote taken at this meeting.
The board voted to study the matter and bring it back up at next months
meeting. If approved as an excepted alternative, this would negate the
need for the under floor protection.
IBC CHAPTER ONE RE-WRITE:
BBRS staff is putting the finishing touches on Chapter One of the IBC.
This re-write will incorporate and “blend” all of the Mass. Amendments
to Chapter One into one volume. The Amendments will be noted by the
use of a vertical line in the margin, much like the ICC publications.
By Harry Smith
Government
BBRS
UPDATE
A F FA I R S
