Proposed Research Project

Structural TAC

Reason: The Florida Building commission has an ongoing research project with the University of Florida to provide Damage Assessment after a declared disaster to review the effectiveness of the Florida Building Code. This damage assessment for the past 10 years or so concentrated on wind damage and the effectiveness of the FBC wind provisions, an important effort to be sure.

However with the addition of water intrusion code language in the code put forward be the Water Intrusion work group and the additional Flood regulations added to the FBC in 2010 the need to expand the damage assessment research has become apparent particularly in the wake of recent hurricane events.

This project is met to expand the Damage Assessment program to include the FBC effectiveness for not only wind but also of the FBC requirements pertaining to water intrusion, Flood requirements and construction requirement seaward of the CCCL (FBC chapter 3109)

Requested research:

This project would require additional assessment of the effectiveness of the Florida Building Code for wind, water intrusion, flood, and construction seaward of the CCCL. This enhanced assessment may identify additional research requirements, code modification recommendations or confirm that current code language appears to be effective.

In addition to the current wind damage assessment the future assessments shall include but not limited to the following:

1. Review structures constructed after the enhanced water intrusion requirements were added to the code and evaluate the effectiveness. Determine if the FBC was effective, whether additional research is needed and develop the scope of that research or any code modifications that may be in order as low hanging fruit.

2. Review the current flood regulations added through out the Florida Building family of Codes and evaluate the effectiveness. Determine if the FBC was effective, whether additional research is needed and develop the scope of that research or any code modifications that may be in order as low hanging fruit.

3. Review the current Coastal Construction Control Line regulations added into Chapter Section number 3109 of the Florida Building Code and evaluate the effectiveness. Determine if the FBC was effective, whether additional research is needed and develop the scope of that research or any code modifications that may be in order as low hanging fruit

This research should evaluate the construction requirement between that of the Coastal High Hazard Area (VE Zone) and the property seaward of the CCCL and determine if the VE requirements are adequate or are higher construction standards appropriate. This research should also evaluate the use of private sewage systems constructed seaward of the CCCL and legal ramifications as limiting these types of system in relation to being a government taking of the property.