Florida Building Commission

Code Administration Technical Advisory Committee

Meeting Minutes

August 07, 2015 at 9:00 AM

                  

Meeting Location:  Teleconference Meeting from Tallahassee, Florida

 

TAC/POC Members and Objectives

TAC Members Present Via Teleconference:  Jay Carlson, Chair; Bob Boyer; Dick Browdy; Don Brown; John O’Connor; Bill Dumbaugh; David Gilson; Tim Tolbert.

TAC Members not Present: Hamid Bahadori

Staff Present:  Nick Duval, Jim Hammers, April Hammonds, Mo Madani.

Guest Present: Jennifer Hatfield, Brian Kelly, Arlene Steward, Brad Schiffer, Larry Zucker, Janet McIlvaine, Rob Vieira, Bob Conney, Larry  

Facilitator: Norman Bellamy

Objectives: To consider, discuss and provide recommendations for consideration by the Commission on a request for Declaratory Statement.

 

Meeting Minutes

Objective

Discussion of objectives included the following: 

1)

 

9:03 AM Welcome and Opening. A quorum was present.

Norman Bellamy, facilitator for the Florida Building Commission, provided a welcome and a brief overview of the agenda items to be presented.

2)

The agenda was approved unanimously by the committee members. 

The meeting minutes for the February 2th 2015 Mechanical TAC meeting were approved unanimously by the committee members.

3)

Objective:  To consider and discuss the following Declaratory Statement DS 2015-080 by Jennifer Hatfield of Wilson & Associates, LLC

 

  • Jennifer Hatfield and client Brian Kelly were available to present their Declaratory Statement to the TAC. Mo Madani was present and gave the staff analysis of the Declaratory Statement.  Afterwards there was discussion by the TAC.  There was no comment from the public.  

 

  • After discussion by the TAC a motion was made to accept the staff analysis of the Declaratory Statement by John O’Conner and seconded by Bob Boyer.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

4)

Objective:  To consider and discuss the following Declaratory Statement DS 2015-085 by Martin R. Dix of Akerman LLP.

 

  • Martin R. Dix was available to present the Declaratory Statement to the TAC. Mo Madani from staff was present and gave the staff analysis of the Declaratory Statement.  April Hammonds, legal counsel for Florida Building Commission, provided commentary and concerns about the Declaratory Statement’s potential impact and applicability.  There was no public comment. Afterwards there was discussion from the TAC.

 

  • A motion was made by John O’Conner and seconded by Bob Boyer. The motion was to accept the Staff Analysis for the Declaratory Statement with the following amendments to the Staff answers in the analysis:

 

“Question A:  Does the Florida Building Code’s definition for “registered design professionals” include Florida registered interior designers who may sign and seal interior design plans, drawings, specifications or reports?

 

Answer: Yes, the term “registered design professional,” as defined in the 5th Edition (2014) Florida Building Code, Building includes any registered design professionals practicing within the scope of their license, which includes those licensed under Chapters 471 and 481, Florida Statutes.”

 

Question B: Does the Florida Building Code’s definition for “registered design professionals” include Florida registered interior designers who may sign and seal interior design plans, drawings, specifications or reports which may, in some instances, be submitted for the issuance of building permits for interior construction?

 

“Answer:  Yes, the term “registered design professional,” as defined in the 5th Edition (2014) Florida Building Code, Building, includes any registered designer professional practicing within the scope of their license, which includes those licensed under Chapters 471 and 481, Florida Statutes.”

 

            The motion was accepted unanimously by the TAC. 

 

5)

To recommend and discuss potential research topics for consideration by the Building Commission and other business for the Commission.

 

  • Mo Madani, staff for Florida Building Commission, presented two research projects for possible adoption by the TAC.

 

Project #1:

 

-          To evaluate the economic impact of the delayed code provisions:  (a) Mandatory blower door for residential buildings, (b) Mechanical  ventilation for residential buildings and (c) The requirements for a second fire service access elevator. 

 

Project #2:

 

-          To estimate the cost impact of the 2015 International Building Codes changes.  The study will consist of the following tasks:  Task #1: Reviewing/analyzing the code changes to the 2012 I-Codes to identity those code changes/provisions that are prescriptive in nature and have the potential of adding cost to construction;   Task #2: Reviewing all available literature/studies on the subject of estimating costs of the code changes to the 2012 I-Codes including the ICC code proceedings/code hearings.   Information gathered from this task will be used to document potential costs for the code changes as identified in Task #1 and as applicable; and Task #3:  Estimating the additional cost to construction of those provisions that are not covered under Tasks #2 using good engineering judgment and feedback from general contractors and consulting engineers.  

 

There was discussion from the TAC.  Public comments were also provided.

 

  • A motion was made by Dick Browdy and seconded by Bob Boyer. The motion was to approve for submittal to the Florida Building Commission the two research projects proposed by Mo Madani. It was also asked that Project 1 and 2 be submitted as one action item. The motion passed unanimously.

 

  • John O’Conner of the TAC also proposed 2 research projects. But discussion by the TAC and staff indicated this would be outside of the scope for research projects. It was put forward that another venue to discuss those issues might be more applicable.

 

6)

Public Comment. There was public comment by Bob Conney, Arlene Steward, and Larry Zucker volunteering resources and comments for the research project approved.

7)

Member Comment.  There was no member comment

8)

Adjourn:  Having no other TAC business, the meeting was closed after a Motion and Second to Adjourn. Time 10:22am

 

Staff Contacts: Norman Bellamy, Government Operations Consultant (850) 717-1834 Norman.Bellamy@myfloridalicense.com or Mo Madani, Manager mo.madani@dbpr.state.fl.us (850) 717-1825