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http://www.mdboa.org
Newsletter
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http://www.mdboa.org Call For NominationsAre you enthusiastic and interested in promoting building
code enforcement professionalism throughout the state of Then, how about serving on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Building Officials Association? If you are interested please e-mail or mail to me a brief bio or resume for the consideration of the MBOA Nominations Committee. Robert Hubbard, President Department of Permitting Services 255 Rockville Pike robert.hubbard@co.mo.md.us The Board of Directors and Officer are elected on a semi-annual basis and assume office the first of January in each odd numbered year. A nominations committee has been seated and will put forward a ballot of individuals interested in positions on the Board of Directors at the fall business meeting. MBOA members are also welcome to seek election from the floor during the business meeting, but I would encourage individuals truly interested in serving on the Board to seek the support of nominating committee. As
a member of the Board of Directors you can expected to
participate in the educational meetings conducted by the MBOA (minimum 2 /year), attend monthly Board of Directors
meetings and chair one of many standing committees with the organization.
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OUR WEB SITE The MBOA web site is up and running. The web site contains useful information including upcoming training, news articles, our by-laws, and links to regional, state and national governmental bodies, code organizations and regulatory agencies. Your comments constructive comments are greatly appreciated. WEBSITE
“INFORMATION COORDINATOR “ SOUGHT
Past MBOA President Bob Brown, formerly on staff at the International Code Council (ICC), developed the site on a voluntary basis. Many thanks are due Bob for the great job. The MBOA Executive Committee is proud to have a professional Webster as a worthy representation of our organization. In order to keep our Webster up to date, and current, we are seeking a volunteer to serve as an “INFORMATION COORDINATOR.” This position will serve as the point of contact for collecting information that should be placed on the website. Bob has been retained to provide updates and upgrades to the site and this position will be the channel through which this information is passed to Bob. This position is a critical part of our public relations
image. Any MBOA member interested in this position is asked to contact the
MBOA Secretary before |
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INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE ECONOMIC IMPACT If you have not done so, you may want to look at changes in Chapter 4 Foundations of the IRC. Changes to the presumptive soil bearing capacities may have significant impact on construction in your jurisdiction. For example, in Howard County where most of our soil falls in the sand, silty sand, clayey sand, silty gravel and clayey gravel (SW, SP, SM, SC, GM, and GC) soil classes, Table R401.4.1 reduced load bearing pressure from 2500 psf to 2000 psf. A 20% reduction, which significantly increases, required footing size. I am not sure about your jurisdiction, and I understand
the concept of International Codes, but no one has come into Additionally, Table R404.1.1 (1) Plain Concrete and Plain Masonry Foundation Walls, in the column addressed “Plain Concrete Minimum Nominal Wall Thickness”, and again under soil classes GM, GC, SM, SM-SC and ML, an eight (8) inch poured concrete wall can only have a maximum unbalanced backfill height of six feet (6 ft.), as opposed to the previous code standard of seven feet (7 ft.). Again, I am trying my best to adhere to the IRC prescriptions. However, with more than 25,000 foundations already in place in Howard County and no structural failures, I find it hard to ask someone raise their house a foot to meet a requirement that I am not sure is going to increase foundation performance. Yes, I know I can increase the wall thickness or I can go to Table R404.1.1 (2) and add #6 bars at 48" o.c. Have you ever bent a #6 bar? It takes a special tool, and I am not talking a hand tool, I’m talking one you would have to truck onto the site in order to make the bends needed for your dowels. Continued On Page 3 INTERNATIONAL
RESIDENTIAL CODE ECONOMIC
IMPACT Continued
From Page 2 I am willing to change code requirements to increase safety and quality, but I find it difficult to change something that will increase consumer costs but provide no increase in safety or quality. This is my opinion. If you are having problems with foundations, then by all means use the new code as it stands. If not, please do what you think would be best for your area. The comments
and opinions expressed in this message are not necessarily those of
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They Don’t Make Us Do That Over In … County! How many times have us folks in the code enforcement business heard that line? Contractors, tradesmen, even architects and engineers, occasionally try to tell us that the code officials in some neighboring jurisdiction are much more lenient and easier to get along with than we are. As matter of fact, if you took them at their word, you’d think that those other counties and cities are downright negligent in the way they enforce their codes. I work for the City of Speaking of talking to people from other jurisdictions, getting to know and talk to other people in my profession from all over the state has been a great benefit of being affiliated with MBOA over the years. The educational seminars that increase or brush-up our professional knowledge are, of course, the main feature of the show. But don’t discount how useful, how important, and how enjoyable it is to chat with our fellow inspectors, plan reviewers, and the like. Many of the contacts I’ve made with other code professionals over the years have been at an MBOA seminar or meeting. All for a very cheap price (just compare the cost of an MBOA seminar to a BOCA seminar) with lunch included! So, keep coming to our seminars, keep your memberships up (those are pretty cheap, too), and don’t forget to pick up that amazing telephone “thing” and call your neighbor to check out what’s really allowed or not allowed in their jurisdiction. Chances are good that they’re doing pretty much the same thing you’re doing. RESOURCES (Continued) career field from school or the industry side of construction. Their experience I find is unlimited and this type of networking is something I tend to use often. We are also quite fortunate to have members that hold positions on the national level with BOCA. These members keep us informed on changing issues and represent our interests in the development of the new codes. You will find them all quite knowledgeable and willing to give you a professional opinion (at the drop of a hat). Some of the additional sources that I use are 800-USA-ABLE for help with the Federal Disabilities Act, which will translate down to the Maryland Accessibility Code. You can reach Stephen Chen, who is the head of the State Accessibility group with the Maryland State Codes Administration, at 800-756-0119. Also at the State level you can get assistance on Systems Built buildings from Charles Cook and the Model Energy Code from Jim Magliano. These are just a few of the resources that are available to all of us as MBOA members. I’m sure you all have plenty of sources that you use as part of the Code Enforcement Team. As we all strive to accomplish more continuity in our interpretations and enforcement I hope we all can use these resources to help out. So saddle-up code enforcement officers because you’re not alone! MD REHAB CODE HOTLINEThe Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development has established a technical assistance Hotline for users of the new Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code. The new code, which took effect on June 1, 2001, establishes the construction code requirements for rehabilitation projects in all buildings over one year old. The toll free number and e-mail addresses are: Hotline Toll-Free Number : 1-866-424-6269 Hotline E-mail Address: mdrehabcode@nibs.org TRAINING NEWSIntroduction to IMC/2000 9/27/01 MBOA Annual Conference 11/14 &15/01 |
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