Issue No. 4

BSA Code Committee Update

The Code Committee of the Boston Society of Architects reconvened in December to address an important agenda of code-related items. We will be working in conjunction with the BSA Legislative Affairs Committee to increase the input of architects in the writing and adoption of codes, as well as promoting code-related educational opportunities for BSA members. Our agenda at the January meeting includes: an update on developments at the NFPA in regard to code development (see story below), and code activity at the state level. Please join us at our second meeting on Wednesday January 19th at 8:30 A.M. on the 5th floor at 52 Broad Street. Excerpts from the Minutes of the December meeting are appended to this newsletter.

IBC v. NFPA

Just as efforts to create an International Building Code (IBC) are about to bear fruit the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in conjunction with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) has announced their intention to publish a competing document. As expressed in their publication "NFPA update"(December/January 2000) NFPA's Board of Directors has directed the staff to "develop a detailed plan for integrating NFPA's codes and standards into a full set of codes for the built environment." The newsletter goes on to quote NFPA President George D. Miller as saying that "NFPA is committed to providing an integrated set of codes with maximum emphasis on broad, open consensus, either on our own or in collaboration with other appropriate organizations." One can read two things into this statement: 1) The conflict which led to NFPA's dropping out of the development of the IBC may have had something to do with the process which the NFPA employs to develop codes, which is different from the traditional process used by the other model codes and adopted by the IBC, and 2) There is no certainty that IAPMO will participate in this code development process. Watch this space for further developments.

AIA Codes Task Force

When NFPA originally announced their intention to develop a competing set of codes the AIA responded by appointing a Codes Task Force, chaired by AIA Secretary David S. Collins, FAIA, to study the situation and report back to the AIA Board of Directors. The findings and recommendations of this Task Force concluded that "the ongoing dispute between the NFPA and the International Code Council (ICC) is financially motivated and driven." Stating that "the fundamental reason for the development of building codes is to protect the public, not to turn a higher profit" the AIA Board vowed to "reaffirm support for a single set of comprehensive, coordinated, and contemporary codes for the nation", "develop and aggressively implement a multifaceted strategy for code development and adoption" and "assertively advance the AIA policies on regulatory reform and codes".

NFPA Advances Performance-Based Codes

With the publication of the International Building Code jurisdictions will have their first opportunity to adopt a performance-based code. Not to be outdone, the NFPA has announced their intention to include performance-based options in the next edition of their Life Safety Code, NFPA 101, which also will be available for adoption early this year. The NFPA states that "the new NFPA 101 has a fully usable performance-based option that is clearly attractive to jurisdictions that wish to recognize such approaches". While NFPA 101 has not been adopted in Massachusetts, it is used by the Health Care industry for hospital design. The 1999 edition of the National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72) also now includes performance based criteria for the spacing of initiating devices, such as heat and smoke detectors. According to NFPA, the newly rewritten Appendix B of NFPA 72 "offers the designer an alternative to the prescriptive design in Chapter 2, which may not address unique architecture and room geometry, special fuels, fuel configurations, or special hazards".