Evaluation of the Cost Impact of 2015 IBC Prescriptive Code Changes

Presented to the

Florida Building Commission

State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation by

R. Raymond Issa, Ph.D., J.D., P.E., F. ASCE, API, raymond-issa@ufl.edu, (352) 273-1152

Project Lead: R. Raymond Issa

1. Issues

The proposed research assesses the cost impact of the 2015 International Building Codes changes to the 2012 International Building Codes that are prescriptive in nature and that have the potential of adding cost to construction. In addition, the cost impact of the following delayed code provisions will be evaluated: (a) Mandatory blower door for residential buildings; (b) Mechanical ventilation for residential buildings; and (c) the requirements for a second fire service access elevator.

2. Relevant Sections of the Code (and related documents)

· All Code sections

3. Statement of Work

(1) Review/analyze the 2015 I-Codes 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.

(2) Review available literature/studies on the subject of estimating the 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 (1) and as applicable.

(3) Estimating the additional construction cost of those provisions that are not covered under (2) using good engineering judgment and feedback from general contractors and consulting engineers.

(4) Select a standard set of baseline residential and commercial building designs based on input from stakeholders for use to determine the cost impact of code changes.

(5) Upon approval of these standard, baseline building designs, use building information modeling (BIM) to develop a digital set of one permit-ready residential (~1800 sqft. house) and one commercial/institutional building (school) model.

(6) Use BIM tools to produce for each standard building for each of the 2012 and 2015 I-Codes:

a. Schedule of Material Quantities (exportable to MS Excel)

b. Architectural 3D view and walk-through

c. Isolated Structural 3D view and walk-through

d. Isolated MEP/MEPF 3D view and walk-through

(7) Use the information in 6(a) and RS Means database to produce cost estimates and extract cost impact of changes.

5. Deliverables

· A report providing technical information on the problem background, results and cost implications of the prescriptive Code changes submitted by December 2016.

4. Budget