Proposed Modification to the Florida Building Code

 

Modification #:                                            Section 553.73, Fla Stat

 

Name: Joseph D. Belcher                                                                       

Address: 41 Oak Village Boulevard Homosassa, 34446

E-mail: JDBCodeservices@tampabay.rr.com                                                           

Phone: 352-450-2631                                                                   

Fax: 813-925-4152

Code: Florida Building Code - Residential                                                    

Section #: R301.2.1.2.1

 

Text of Modification [additions underlined; deletions stricken]:

 

R301.2.1.2.1 Modifications to ASTM E 1996. Section 6.2.2 of ASTM E 1996 shall be modified as follows:

6.2.2 Unless otherwise specified, select the wind zone based on the basic wind speed as follows:

6.2.2.1WindZone 1 - 130 mph ≤ basic wind speed < 140 mph, and Hawaii.

6.2.2.2 Wind Zone 2 - 140 mph ≤ basic wind speed < 150 mph at greater than 1.6 km (one mile) from the coastline. The coastline shall be measured from the mean high water mark.

6.2.2.3 Wind Zone 3 - 150 mph (58 m/s) ≤ basic wind speed < 160 mph (63 m/s), or 140 mph (54 m/s) ≤ basic wind speed ≤ 160 170 mph (63 m/s) and within 1.6 km (one mile) of the coastline. The coastline shall be measured from the mean high water mark.

6.2.2.4 Wind Zone 4-basic wind speed > 160 170 mph (63 m/s).

 

 

Fiscal Impact Statement [Provide documentation of the costs and benefits of the proposed modifications to the code for each of the following entities.  Cost data should be accompanied by a list of assumptions and supporting documentation.  Explain expected benefits.]:

 

A.     Impact to local entity relative to enforcement of code:

            No impact to local entity relative to enforcement of code.

 

B.     Impact to building and property owners relative to cost of compliance with code:

Will result in a reduction in cost to building and property owners in areas currently included in Wind Zone 4 that are not intended by ASTM to be included in Wind Zone 4.

 

C.     Impact to industry relative to cost of compliance with code:

Reduction in costs as only products with approval for use in HVHZ have been designed and tested to meet the increased impact requirements and the offset criteria intended for Wind Zone 4.

 

Rationale [Provide an explanation of why you would like this Proposed Modification to the Florida Building Code.]:  1. I have spoken with the proponent of the change, Eric Stafford, P.E. Mr. Stafford states the intent of the change was to correlate the provisions of ASTM E 1996 and the ultimate wind speeds of ASCE 7-2010 within the code. There was no intention to expand Wind Zone 4 into new areas of the State. The correlating change does much more than correlate the code by expanding Wind Zone 4 provisions for impact resistive systems intended for Miami-Dade County into more areas of the State than intended by ASTM.

 

2. The creation of Wind Zone 4 within ASTM E 1996 first appeared in the 2002 Edition of ASTM E 1996 at the request of the Miami-Dade County representative on the ASTM Committee. The wind zone was intended to apply to Miami-Dade County and Monroe County. Broward County, although not a greater than 140 mph wind speed area, indirectly adopted the wind zone throughout by accepting only products approved for use in the HVHZ which have to meet HVHZ Protocols, which incorporate the more stringent provisions for Wind Zone 4. In addition, the FBCR prohibits deformation of impact protective systems from contact with glass. (FBCR §4403.16.2.6.1; §4403.16.3.6.1)

 

The wind zone was created by ASTM to address the more stringent provisions adopted by Miami-Dade County to encourage the use of ASTM E 1996 by Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade County (M-DC) standards (TAS 201 and 203) are more stringent than those of ASTM E 1996 for Wind Zones 1, 2, and 3 and ASTM E 1996 Wind Zone 4 was created to allow the use of ASTM E 1996 in Miami-Dade County. The downturn in the economy prevented the continued participation by the county and as a result the task was not completed. Specific differences are found in the number of strikes and the offset criteria of the standard.

 

The M-DC test standards and ASTM E 1996, Wind Zone 4, require each specimen to withstand two strikes for the large missile test;  ASTM E-1996 Wind Zones 1, 2, and 3 requires a single strike to each specimen. In addition, in Wind Zone 4 the standard calls for strikes directly on integral mullions and other intermediate members. The added requirements add cost to the products as well as to the testing of the products and go beyond the intent of the adopted standard.

 

Even more disconcerting are the requirements related to the offset of the impact protective systems. In Wind Zone 4 all impact protective systems are required to comply with the greater of the maximum deflection measured in accordance with Section 5.5, plus 25%, or the sum of the maximum deflection and residual deflection, as measured at Section 5.5, plus 25%. (ASTM E 1996-2005) ASTM E 1996-2006 and 2009 modify the requirements to apply to all non-porous systems in Wind Zone 4 requiring an offset of the greater of the maximum dynamic deflection measured at Section 5.5, plus 2 mm, or the sum of the maximum deflection and residual deflection as measured at Section 5.5, plus 2 mm. (ASTM E 1996-2006 and 2009, §8.3) In the field these requirements result in an offset of from three inches to more than eight inches depending on the materials used in the impact protective system. The added requirements add cost to the products as well as to the testing of the products and go beyond the intent of the adopted standard.

 

 

 

 

Please explain how the proposed modification meets the following requirements:

1.    Has a reasonable and substantial connection with the health, safety, and welfare of the general public: The proposed amendment properly correlates the adoption of ASCE 7-10 with ASTM E 1996 within the Florida Building Code, Residential which has a reasonable connection with the health, safety, and welfare of the general public by not posing provisions greater than intended by the adopted reference standard.

 

2.    Strengthens or improves the code, and provides equivalent or better products, methods, or systems of construction: The proposed amendment properly correlates the adoption of ASCE 7-10 with ASTM E 1996 within the Florida Building Code, Residential which strengthens and improves the by not posing provisions greater than intended by the adopted reference standard.

 

3.    Does not discriminate against materials, products, methods, or systems of construction of demonstrated capabilities: The proposed amendment does not discriminate against materials, products, methods, or systems of construction of demonstrated capabilities and, in fact, removes what could be considered a discriminatory provision.

 

4.    Does not degrade the effectiveness of the code: The proposed amendment properly correlates the adoption of ASCE 7-10 with ASTM E 1996 within the Florida Building Code, Residential which does not degrade the effectiveness of the code.

 

5.    The provisions contained in the proposed amendment are addressed in the applicable international code.

The provisions are not addressed in the IBC 2009 as they were a Florida Specific Amendment intended to correlate the code and the ASTM standard with the adoption of ASCE 7-10. The same provisions appear in the 2012 IBC and the proponent intends to submit a revision in the next available IBC Code Change Cycle.

6.    The amendment demonstrates by evidence or data that the geographical jurisdiction of Florida exhibits a need to strengthen the foundation code beyond the needs or regional variations addressed by the foundation code, and why the proposed amendment applies to this state.

The amendment is intended to address a correlation issue between the code, the adopted ASTM standard, and the Florida adoption of ASCE 7-10. The change was intended to correlate the three documents, but the correlation did not occur. Wind Zone 4 in the ASTM standard is intended to address Miami-Dade County and Monroe County. The revision as adopted expands shutter requirements intended for Miami-Dade County to numerous other counties in the State of Florida.

7.    The proposed amendment was submitted or attempted to be included in the foundation codes to avoid resubmission to the Florida Building Code amendment process.

The amendment will be submitted to the ICC Group B Code Change Cycle for the 2015 International Residential Code.