https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE Expo
    • Calendar of Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Commentaries


Commentary

Viewpoint: Building code adoption, enforcement trends suggest decreasing safety

Viewpoint: Building code adoption, enforcement trends suggest decreasing safety

By Ralph Dorio — Reduced attention to building codes means reduced safety for new homes and businesses.
  • Written by Ralph Dorio
  • 7th December 2011

Ralph DorioBy Ralph Dorio

There has been a decade of steady progress toward implementing a single national model building code in all communities across the country. Since the legacy code groups combined forces to release the first international code in 2000, many states have put such model codes into effect. Adopting and enforcing the latest model code ensures that buildings will be constructed to the highest level of engineering knowledge available, promoting safety for the occupants and emergency responders, structural stability and sustainability.

However, as the pace of new construction has slowed significantly, economic issues threaten code adoption and enforcement progress in many areas of the country. Many states have slowed their new code edition adoption rate, which is a problem because as construction methods and materials are constantly evolving, so are proper application and installation procedures. The latest edition of the codes guides designers and builders in the proper application and installation of the complex array of interdependent systems in a modern building.

Because many local building code agencies depend entirely on permit fees to fund their operations, many are suffering now as new building construction rates are low. A sizable number of communities have cut back on staffing, loading up remaining workers with inspection and code enforcement responsibilities or curtailing operations. In places where code enforcement is not mandatory, communities could eliminate their departments altogether or outsource to private code enforcement agencies. Adopting updated building codes may present communities with additional costs of reviewing the national code for local suitability, purchasing code books for staff, and training staff in the newly adopted code.

Since the mid-1990s, the Jersey City, N.J.-based Insurance Services Office (ISO) has been monitoring code adoption and enforcement activities through its Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) program. In 2002, the year before code groups published the 2003 code, 90 percent of departments had adopted the 2000 code. In 2005, the year before the industry published the 2006 code, 50 percent of departments had moved to the 2003 code. Then in 2008, the year before the industry published the 2009 code, slightly more than 40 percent had moved to the 2006 code. It appears that just 30 percent of code agencies will adopt the 2009 code before the publication of the 2012 edition.

Analysis of ISO BCEGS data demonstrates that the national code adoption and enforcement landscape varies significantly. But around the country, adoption of the latest code edition is slowing, so local code enforcement agencies cannot require the latest construction features despite the intent of code development groups. And to complicate the issue further, analysis of BCEGS data also reveals that the revenue-to-expense ratio of local building code enforcement agencies is dropping. That means future budgets will be even harder to balance — leading to staffing and workload issues.

The importance of communities adopting and enforcing the latest codes is particularly evident in the 2009 residential code — the first to require the installation of residential fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family dwellings. Studies from communities that have adopted the regulation show that they have reduced their fire loss by 80 percent and have not had a loss of life fire in a residence with fire sprinklers.

The 2009 International Building Code also has many new requirements for the structural stability and wind resistance of commercial buildings. One noteworthy example enhances the general structural integrity of high-rise buildings by establishing minimum requirements for tying primary structural elements together. Studies of recent wind events have shown that wall sheathing can fail in wind speed as low as 60 miles per hour. New provisions use structural panels to resist wind pressure.

Local officials will need to make critical decisions to retain the integrity of the essential mission of code administration. ISO continues to monitor, evaluate and report the status of code effectiveness to insurers and the building code community. It will be important for insurers to track those trends carefully with the BCEGS program. The future of code effectiveness may well hang in the balance.

Ralph Dorio is community hazard mitigation manager at ISO Risk Decision Services, www.iso.com.

Tags: Administration Public Safety Public Works & Utilities Commentaries Commentary

Most Recent


  • environmental
    Seasons change: Addressing environmental issues takes many forms
    With extreme temperatures, increasing natural disasters and seasonal changes that are no longer predictable, environmental concerns are growing across the world. As a result, government and educational institutions, through their political bodies and leadership, are now mandating and prioritizing sustainability for their communities. The measures being taken, and goals being met, take many forms to […]
  • federal grants
    Best laid plans: Here are a few steps cities and counties should take when a federal grant comes their way
    Part 1 of this report on managing federal grants and funds appeared in the June 2023 issue of Government Procurement. In recent years, Congress has approved legislation giving local governments access to new sources of federal grants and funds. The laws include: American Rescue Plan Act (APRA), Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), […]
  • sustainability
    5 ways procurement can lead on government sustainability
    A seat at the table.” “No longer a back-office function.” “Purchasing is tactical, procurement is strategic.” You can’t spend a day diving into the world of public sector procurement without running headlong into this sentiment. Conference keynotes, webinars, certification curricula and more have been dedicated to advancing the premise that procurement is at its best […]
  • diverse hiring
    How state governments can help revitalize workforce development
    Siloed and disjointed workforce development ecosystems can’t keep up with the dynamic needs of today’s economy. Isolated departments across government, business, nonprofits and academia are sometimes too slow to adapt to new workforce needs or to adjust to new technologies—resulting in significant skills gaps and talent shortages. To keep pace, state agencies across the country […]

Related Content

  • NLC releases State of Cities 2021 report
  • How governments can keep employees safe as they return to work
  • Lessons from your friendly neighborhood public service employees
  • Harris County deploys next-generation security in 150 public buildings

WHITE PAPERS


7 Resources to Level-up Your Federal Grants Administration and Compliance

5th September 2023

Elevator Phone Line Replacement Strategy | A Guide to Reliable, Code-Compliant Solutions

29th August 2023

2023 State of Public Sourcing Report: The Bright Future of Public Procurement

23rd August 2023
view all

Webinars


Grant Preparedness: Unlocking Funding Opportunities for Your Success

10th August 2023

2023 State of Public Sourcing: Taking Local Governments into a Bright Future

1st August 2023

Stop Playing with Fire: How to Manage Infrastructure Asset Risk So You Know You’re Covered

20th June 2023
view all

Podcast


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


Gallery: Hottest temperatures recorded in American cities during July

12th September 2023

The top 10 Asthma Capitals for 2023

7th September 2023

U.S. cities with the cleanest air from latest “State of the Air” report

5th September 2023
view all

Twitter


Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.