FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION

 

HURRICANE RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

REPORT TO THE FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION

 

May 9, 2007

 

Tampa, Florida

 

 

Meeting Design & Facilitation By

 

 

Report By Jeff A. Blair

Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium

Florida State University

 

 

 

jblair@fsu.edu

http:// consensus.fsu.edu

 

This document is available in alternate formats upon request to Dept. of Community Affairs, Codes & Standards, 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399, (850) 487-1824.

FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION

 

HURRICANE RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT

May 9, 2007

OVERVIEW

 

At the January 26, 2005 Commission meeting, Chairman Rodriguez appointed a small coordinating group consisting of Commissioners and other stakeholder representatives, charged with identifying what research is being conducted related to building failure issues resulting from the 2004 hurricanes, identifying any research gaps on key issues identified but not being researched, and finally, to ensure that the Commission is provided with all relevant research findings on each of the major issues, prior to the Commission considering code enhancements resulting from lessons learned.

 

Following is the chronology of events and subsequent Commission actions resulting from the 2004 hurricanes.

 

  • Hurricane Charley hit on August 13, 2004 near Cayo Costa, Florida.
  • Commission met in Miami on August 29 – 31, 2004 and staff presented early observations from the storm.
  • Hurricane Francis hit on September 6, 2004 over Southern Hutchinson Island, Florida.
  • Hurricane Ivan hit on September 16, 2004 between Gulf Shores, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida.
  • Hurricane Jeanne hit on September 26, 2004 near Stuart, Florida.
  • The Commission met on October 18 – 19, 2004, following three additional hurricanes and presented preliminary data collected from the four storms.
  • The Commission met on December 6 – 8, 2004 and a hurricane researchers workshop co-sponsored by the Commission and the Institute for Business and Home Safety, was held on December 6, 2004.
  • On January 12, 2005 the Florida Homebuilders Association released an assessment report concerning water intrusion during the 2004 hurricanes.
  • At the Commission’s January 2005 Commission meeting the Chair convened a workgroup to assist the Commission by ensuring they have all relevant research on each of the key issues identified during the hurricane assessments to assist the Commission with any needed code enhancements.
  • At the Commission’s January 2005 meeting, the Florida Home Builders Association presented findings and recommendations regarding water intrusion.
  • On February 11 – 13, 2005, the Commission, the Department of Community Affairs, and the International Code Council jointly sponsored a Hurricane Symposium on the Impact of the 2004 Hurricanes on the Built Environment.
  • On March 16, 2005 the Commission held a joint session with the Hurricane Research Advisory Committee and heard presentations and recommendations on studies related to water intrusion, building code performance, roof tiles, and the design of aluminum structures.
  • At the May 10, 2005 meeting of the Hurricane Research Advisory Council the committee heard additional presentations and recommendations on water intrusion, and a window

            assessment failure study. In addition, at the May 10, 2005 meeting of the Hurricane       Research Advisory Council, the committee was asked to make the following preliminary       determinations relative to the various recommendations: First, based on the studies and related recommendations, do members support the recommendation, and second should             the recommendation be recommended for early implementation (as a part of the             legislative authorization for expedited code amendment implementation for hurricane           related provisions) or should it be reviewed and considered through the regular        Commission code amendment process. The HRAC evaluated each of the options and   identified a preliminary list of options recommended for expedited code adoption as well     as options that were recommended for adoption through the normal code amendment   process.

  • At the June 28, 2005 meeting of the Hurricane Research Advisory Council the committee was asked to further consider those options that received a consensus for the recommendations and a 50% or greater level of support for expedited code adoption. The HRAC evaluated these as well as additional options identified by members. At the conclusion of the June meeting, the HRAC reached consensus on a package of recommendations for submittal to the Commission. The recommendations were for amendments recommend for expedited code adoption.
  • Hurricane Dennis hit on July 10, 2005 in the Western Florida Panhandle region of the State, between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach Florida.
  • At the August 23, 2005 meeting the HRAC evaluated the issues for consideration during the 2006 annual code amendment process, and identified issues that needed additional information or development prior to developing recommendations and that should be deferred for future code changes.
  • The Commission adopted a draft package of code amendments following public comment received during the rule development workshop conducted at the August 2005 meeting.
  • Hurricane Katrina landed on August 25, 2005 near the Miami-Dade Broward County Line in Florida, and on August 29, 2005 hit Plaquemines Parish Louisiana just south

            of Buras La, and again at the Gulf Coast border of Louisiana and