Florida Building Commission Meeting Highlights

Yesterday, October 15, 2008, the Florida Building Commission completed hearings on the 2007 Florida Building Code Glitch Cycle proposed amendments. I am certain that DCA will begin integration of the approved amendments immediately, with a completed version of the 2007 code available online as soon as possible. Once the final version is available, training courses on the 2007 FBC can be updated and made available for training before the March 1, 2008 implementation date (barring any legal challenges).


While the printed version of the code is settled, there are still several things that are unresolved. The commission took the following actions:

2008 NEC- A new code change cycle will be initiated by January 2009 to consider adoption of the latest version of the National Electrical Code. A target date for implementation would be July 1, 2009. The Electrical TAC will begin review of the code to identify the need for Florida Specific changes to the code.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors- This issue is still a mess because of the way the legislation was written. Legislative action must be accomplished to fix the problems and make this important safety feature practical and effective. A Carbon Monoxide Work Group has been formed to re-write the rule and draft proposed legislation. The work group will probably meet during the December FBC session.

Energy Code- The legislature has been actively addressing ways to impose energy conservation in the built environment. Technology has been advancing at a rapid pace and it looks like the pace will pick up. It has been a challenge for the Energy Code to keep up with new mandates every year. An Energy Work Group will be formed to look at all the issues surrounding the future of this issue and propose a solution that will integrate new technologies and expectations into a set of regulations that design professionals and contractors can use effectively.

Florida Accessibility Code- Impending changes to the Federal Standard will mean that the Florida Accessibility Code will need to be updated. Look for this issue to be addressed in 2009

Core Course- The Education POC has recommended, and the Commission agrees, that the requirement for completion of a Core Course (ss.553.841) is outdated and should be eliminated. This issue will be addressed in the Commission’s report to the legislature.

A Hotel Charette, to address design issues for accessibility at hotels, will be held at the December FBC session. Look for the date, time and place of this event when the agenda for that session is posted.

The next FBC meeting will be December 8, 9 & 10, 2008 at the Embassy Suites Hotel (USF), Tampa.

2009 FBC Meeting Schedule (Locations not identified yet)
Current (~6 wk schedule) Proposed (~8 wk schedule)

February 2, 3 & 4 Cmsn February 2, 3 & 4
March 23, 24 & 25 Cmsn April 6, 7 & 8
May 11, 12 & 13 Cmsn
June 29, 30 & July 1 Cmsn June 8, 9 & 10
August 24, 25 & 26 Cmsn August 10, 11 & 12
October 12, 13 & 14 Cmsn October 12, 13 & 14
Nov 30, Dec 1 & 2 Cmsn December 7, 8 & 9

If anyone has additional information about anything that I missed, please let us know.

Have a great week.

John O'Connor, CBO
Building Officials Association of Florida Vice President
Senior Plans Examiner
Building & Safety
Reedy Creek Improvement District
PO Box 10170
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
(407) 934-6851
www.rcid.org
john.oconnor@rcid.dst.fl.us