Issue No. 8

Sullivan Code Group at BuildBoston

We will be offering three seminars at BuildBoston this year:

A67 "Negotiating Zoning Approvals in the City of Boston"

with Doug Anderson and Tom McNicholas

A76 "Existing Buildings and the Massachusetts Stae Code"

with Paul Sullivan and Vernon Woodworth, and

B79 "The Future of Existing Building Codes"

with William Connolly of the New Jersey Division of Codes and Standards and Gary Higbee of the New York Department of State and the ICC Existing Buildings Code Committee.

Also, look for our booth to learn more about our full-service engineering and code consulting services.

State Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) votes to form Chapter 34

Subcommittee

At their monthly meeting on Tuesday October 9th the BBRS voted to form a committee to review and make proposed suggestions for the amendment of Chapter 34 which contains building code requirements for existing buildings. This move was made in anticipation of the publication of the 7th edition of the Massachusetts State Building Code sometime next year. Chapter 34 is unique to Massachusetts and allows for different levels of compliance with the code for new construction depending upon the nature and amount of the work being performed. This chapter regulates all repair, alterations, additions to, and changes of uses to existing buildings. Part of the new Chapter 34 will be more stringent energy conservation requirements for existing buildings as recommended by the Energy Advisory subcommittee. The Loads Advisory Committee has also proposed revisions to the structural sections of this chapter. The reworking of Chapter 34 will be the topic of the October 17th meeting of the BSA Codes Committee. See schedule below for more information.

Massachusetts Architectural Access Board Issues Amendments

A series of proposed amendments to 521 CMR, the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board Regulations, is available for downloading at the MAAB website, www.state.ma.us/aab/ . Public hearings regarding these amendments will be held as follows: November 1st (Worcester), November 2nd (Hyannis), and November 6th (Boston). Debbie Ryan, Executive Director of the MAAB will be the guest speaker at the December 19th meeting of the BSA Codes Committee to discuss the promulgation and enforcement of access regulations. See schedule below for more information.

Department of Housing and Community Development Building Code Subcommittee approves Recommendations for Codes and Permits

After studying the code enforcement and permitting structures in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to identify barriers to the construction of new housing units the Department of Housing and Community Development has accepted recommendations from its Building Code Subcommittee which could have a significant impact on the future of the construction industry in Massachusetts. These recommendations include: 1) the creation of a code coordinating council at the state level to coordinate all construction codes and the process for the promulgation of regulations, licensing, inspections and appeals; 2) require minimum training and continuing education requirements for local officials, regulators and design professionals; 3) use current technology to make code compliance and enforcement a more user-friendly efficient process; 4) increase funding and staffing of local building departments; 5) establish six Regional Building Support Centers under the auspices of the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Fire Services; and 6) provide appropriate training for municipal regulators, planning boards and legal counsels in an effort to prevent the creation of local building codes that represent a barrier to building construction, especially residential development. To review these recommendations visit our website at www.rwsullivan.com.

New Energy Requirements for Existing Buildings: Draft Released, Comments Sought

The Energy Advisory Committee of the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards

has released draft revisions to the energy conservation section of Chapter 34, governing existing buildings. These proposed requirements are designed to bring Chapter 34 into line with the requirements of the revised Chapter 13, which governs energy conservation for new construction. (To view draft recommendations view attachment to this e-mail.)

Buildings and Codes after September 11

BSA President Robert Brown would like opinions regarding the impact of the September 11th events on future building codes, design, and construction. This topic will be on the agenda of the BSA Codes Committee on October 17th. Please come to share your ideas or send me an e-mail at avw@rwsullivan.com.

BSA Codes Committee Upcoming Schedule

October 17th

Chapter 34: What will it look like in the 7th edition? Also:Buildings and Codes after September 11th.

November 14th The Future of Existing Building Codes (at BuildBoston)

B79 6-7:30 PM

Introduction to the New Jersey Rehabilitation Subcode and the ICC

International Existing Building Code. Discussion of what to incorporate into Massachusetts' Chapter 34.

December 19th What's Up with the Access Code?

Special Guest: Debbie Ryan, Executive Director

January 16, 2002 Construction Control for one- and two-family dwellings:

Is it in the best interest of Architects and the general public?

(Code Amendment Proposal by Anatol Zukerman)

February 20, 2002 New Energy Requirements for Existing Buildings: David Weitz

Special joint meeting with the AGC Codes Committee

All meetings except November 14th are held in the 5th floor conference room of the Architect's Building at 52 Broad Street in Boston.