Construction Code: (no title)

Title:
Name:: Stuart Adams
Date:: 4/20/2018
Entity/Company:: Stantec
Submitted on Behalf::
Address:: 6110 Frost Place
City:: Laurel
State:: MD
Zip:: 20707
Phone:: 2026009019
Ext::
Fax::
e-mail:: stuart.adams@gmail.com
CODE IDENTIFICATION: ADM
PROPONENT:: Stuart Adams
REPRESENTING:: self
CODE IDENTIFICATION label::
CHAPTER/SECTION:: Introduction, Development
PROPOSED TEXT:: In Puerto Rico, development of the process to update the building construction codes commenced in 2007 with no results due to a lack of the proper structure. This first edition of the Puerto Rico Building Code was started in 2009 when the Permit Office formally established a Construction Codes Committee, composed of representatives from the Construction Industry, Architects, Engineers, and Regulatory Government Agencies, to review and implement a transition from the existing 1997 Uniform Building Code to the family of the International Codes® of the ICC (I-Codes®). Several seminars were offered with the help of the ICC to familiarize all stake holders with the 2009 I-Codes®. Three days were used for Technical Hearings where proposed amendments were evaluated in order to produce a Building Code for Puerto Rico which took into consideration it unique geographical, climatic, social, and economic characteristics. These series of amendments to the family of codes of the ICC (I-Codes®), together with the original 2009 code composed the Puerto Rico Building Code. A new edition such as this based on the most recent edition of the the family of codes of the ICC (I-Codes) or equivalent nationally recognized voluntary consensus standards will be promulgated every 3 years.

 


These codes are founded on principles intended to establish provisions consistent with the scope of building codes that adequately protects public health, safety and welfare; provisions that do not unnecessarily increase construction costs; provisions that do not restrict the use of new materials, products or methods of construction; and provisions that do not give preferential treatment to particular types or classes of materials, products or methods of construction.



REASON/SUBSTANTIATION/BIBLIOGRAPHY:: The Puerto Rico Construction Code (PRBC 2011, as amended in 2012) "recognizes the need for a modern, up-to-date buidling code" and includes language to promulgate the PRBC "on a 3-year cycle to allow for new construction methods and technologies to be incoroporated into the code." The PBRC further recognizes the PRBC and I-Codes "provide minimal requirements to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare." The I-Codes are updated on a 3-year cycle and  follow a governmental consensus process that includes open forums of debate and refinement. The process includes input from industry experts and considers new construction methods and technologies. The latest editions of standards such as ASCE 24 Flood Resistant Design and Construction and ASCE 7 Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures are considered for reference in the I-Code updates. Collectively the I-Codes, reference standards and local amendments update the minimal code requirements. Updating the PRBC based on most recent edition of the ICC can help incorporate the latest hazard-resistant building code provisions and better aligns the Commonwealth with FEMA Policy 204-078-2, a policy that requires "the use of, at minimum, hazard-resistant standards and provisions found in the most recent edition of the family of codesdeveloped by the ICC or equivalent nationally recognized voluntary consensus standards as a condition to receiving federal assistance."

COST IMPACT:: The current PRBC 2011 (as amended in 2012) includes multiple references for a 3-year cycle for promulgating the code "to allow for new construction methods and technologies to be incorporated into the code." The Development section includes a summary of the successful structure that was started in 2009 and resulted in the 2011 PRBC. The summary includes references to the Construction Codes Committee, a review of the exisitng code and a transition to the most recent edition of the family of I-Codes, which were the 2009 editions at the time. The code development cycle structure also included technical hearings for proposed amendments. Future promulgations for a new edition of the PRBC outline a process "such as this". This Code Change Proposal for Consideration clarifies the "such as this" statement. Limited to no cost impact is assumed.

Myself: No
Other: No
PROPOSAL NUMBER #: PRBC-PR
field4:
myself: Yes
Firma: Stuart Adams
Please type or print full name: Stuart Adams
Company: Stantec
Entity Represented: self
Contact info: Phone: 2026009019
e-mail: stuart.adams@stante.com
Date signed: 4/20/2018
field15: No
group:

Created at 4/20/2018 8:48 PM by
Last modified at 4/20/2018 8:48 PM by
 
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