Issue No. 7

State Board Votes to Adopt IBC 2000 for 7th Edition

The sole architect on the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards made a motion at the BBRS Board meeting held June 12 in West Springfield to adopt the International Building Code (with 2001 supplement), the International Residential Code, and the International Mechanical Code for the Commonwealth's next building code. Sandy MacLeod included in his motion the request that all Massachusetts amendments to the IBC be "front-loaded", i.e. be placed in front of the main body of the code. Massachusetts has traditionally rewritten the BOCA model code, producing a document that appears to be unique. By separating the amendments from the main body of the text Massachusetts will be moving towards a more uniform format with other IBC users. Sandy asked that all amendments be reviewed to determine if they are needed prior to being included in the 7th edition, and he asked that the BBRS staff and various advisory Boards and Committees work to have the code available for adoption by July 1, 2002, to be in effect concurrently with the 6th edition until January 1, 2003. A motion from the BSA Board of Directors supporting the adoption of the International Family of Codes in Massachusetts as well as a letter of support from AGC Massachusetts Director Bob Petrucelli were read by BSA Codes Committee Chair Vernon Woodworth. After discussion that the timing of the adoption of the new code should be flexible (a year is very little time) Sandy's motion was unanimously adopted by the nine Board members present. This vote reflects the active involvement of the architectural and construction communities working together in the process of code development.

NFPA and Building Performance Research Institute sign M.O.U.

Last year the BSA sponsored a training for Architects and Engineers willing to volunteer to investigate building performance at fire scenes. Dubbed the "Fire Incident Documentation Program" or "FIDP" this program was put on ice when AIA national withdrew funding. Now the NFPA and FIDP's non-profit, the Building Performance Research Institute, have reached an agreement that will provide support for this project. The M.O.U. states that "NFPA will provide library access and staff time from the Fire Analysis and Research Division, which includes the NFPA Library to support this initiative. The level of resources to be contributed by NFPA, and the portion to be compensated or donated without charge, will be determined in the specification of proposals for the project and for any grants or cooperative agreements with sponsors". Boston will be the pilot city for this project thanks too the cooperation and assistance of the Boston Fire Department and the Boston Society of Architects.

New Energy Code Hits the Street

Since January 1 of this year revised energy requirements have been adopted for use in new construction. Between January 1 and June 30 2001 projects may utilize either the provisions of the revised Chapter 13 ("Energy Conservation") or the existing chapter. As of July 1, 2001 compliance with the new energy requirements will be required for all permit applications for new construction other than low-rise residential. The revised Chapter 13 of the Massachusetts State Building Code is available on the BBRS website (www.state.ma.us/bbrs/) or at the State Bookstore (Room 116 of the State House) The Sullivan Code Group is currently offering a one-hour introduction to the new energy code requirements for groups 15 and over at architectural offices. Contact Vernon Woodworth, AIA at avw@rwsullivan.com for more information.

BSA Codes Committee Reviews Proposed Energy Amendments to Chapter 34

The BSA Codes Committee will be meeting on Wednesday morning, June 20 at 8:30 in the 5th floor conference room of the Architect's Building at 52 Broad Street to review draft proposals for amendments to the energy requirements section of Chapter 34, covering alterations to existing buildings. For more information contact Vernon Woodworth at avw@rwsullivan.com.

DHCD Seeks to Identify Code Barriers to New Housing Construction

Why are housing starts in Massachusetts 47th in the nation? The Department of Housing and Community Development has convened two subcommittees in an attempt to answer this question. One will deal with zoning issues while a second committee is devoted to building code, permitting, and enforcement barriers. Here are a few preliminary recommendations that are being kicked around by the Building Code Subcommittee:

1. Create a Code Coordinating Council at the state level to coordinate codes and the processes for the promulgation of regulations, licensing, inspections and appeals.

2. Offer additional training opportunities and continuing education requirements for local officials and regulators.

3. Establish minimum staffing requirements for state regulating agencies and local communities to ensure sufficient resources to process applications and inspections efficiently.

4. Provide every community with equipment and software for computerized permitting and tracking.

5. Develop a single website with all the state codes and the capacity to key-word search all of them.

6. Conduct a review of MGL c.802 to determine if recommending revisions might be an appropriate means of removing barriers to housing.

Do you have your own ideas on what can be done? If so, please contact Vernon Woodworth at avw@rwsullivan.com