STATE OF FLORIDA

BUILDING COMMISSION

 

In the Matter of

 

Walter T. Tillet, Jr., S.E., P.E., and                                           Case #: DCA07-DEC-085

Miami-Dade Product Control Division,

 

            Petitioner.

 

_________________________/

 

 

DECLARATORY STATEMENT

 

The foregoing proceeding came before the Florida Building Commission (the Commission) by a Petition from Mr. Walter A. Tillet, Jr., S.E., P.E.. of TilTeco. Inc., which was received on April 26, 2007.  Mr. Tillet subsequently failed to provide additional information requested by the Commission and necessary to the disposition of this cause.  At the October 3, 2007, meeting of the Florida Building Commission [Commission}, Miami-Dade County Product Control Division [Petitioner], represented by Jamie Gascon, P.E., requested that the matter be resolved by the Commission and provided all information necessary for disposition of the Petition. .Based on the statements in the petition, the material subsequently submitted and the subsequent request by the Petitioner, it is hereby ORDERED:

Findings of Fact

1.  The petition is filed pursuant to, and must conform to the requirements of Rule 28-105.002, Florida Administrative Code.

2.  Miami Dade Product Control serves as a certification entity approved by the Florida Building Commission pursuant to Rule 9B-72, Florida Administrative Code, and performs local product approval in Miami-Dade County, Florida. 

3.  Petitioner, in its capacity as certification entity within the State system of product approval and performing its role with local product approval, is regularly called upon to review test reports and design documents for fasteners and their use in conjunction with concrete and concrete block construction.

4.  Miami-Dade Product Control inquires whether fasteners used to install a product which has been evaluated for Product Approval using testing method to demonstrate compliance with the Code are required to meet the factor of safety of the testing standard and whether the fasteners used to install a product which has been evaluated for Product Approval using that method are required to demonstrate compliance with the factor of safety as required by the material standard?

Conclusions of Law

1.  The Florida Building Commission has the specific statutory authority to interpret the provisions of the Florida Building Code and Rule 9B-72, Florida Administrative Code, by entering a declaratory statement.

2.  Rule 9B-72.060, Florida Administrative Code, provides that “[a]ll products used in construction covered by the Code shall comply with the provisions or standards contained therein or with the intent of the Code.”

            3.  Customary usage dictates that the term “material standards” means specifications and criteria utilized in the design of products.

            4.   Customary usage dictates that the term “testing standards” means those criteria and specifications by which the performance characteristics of a product are measured using testing.

            5.  The factors of safety identified by standards adopted within the code represent the minimum characteristics for the product to which the standards are to be applied.  Products whose performance exceeds the minimum requirements of the standards comply with the standards.

            6.  Section R613.6.1, FBC, Residential Volume, and Section 1714.5.4.1, FBC, Building Volume, require that window and door assemblies be anchored in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations to achieve the design pressure specified.

7.   Based on the foregoing, the answer to the Petitioner’s inquiry is that the fasteners must be anchored in accordance with the fastener manufacturer’s instructions which have been evaluated to the materials standards referenced in the Florida Building Code and/or in accordance with acceptable engineering practices.

 

Petitioner and all other interested parties are hereby advised of their right to seek judicial review of this Order in accordance with Section 120.68(2)(a), Florida Statutes, and with Fla. R. App. 9.030(b)(1)(C) and 9.110(a).  To initiate an appeal, a Notice of Appeal must be filed with Paula P. Ford, Clerk of the Commission, Sadowski Building, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100, and with the appropriate District Court of Appeal no later than thirty days after this Order is filed with the Clerk of the Commission.  A Notice of Appeal filed with the District Court of Appeal shall be accompanied by the filing fee specified by section 35.22(3), Florida Statutes.


 

 

DONE AND ORDERED this ______ of _____________, 2008, in Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, State of Florida.

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    Raul L. Rodriguez, AIA, Chair

                                                                                    Florida Building Commission

                                                                                    Department of Community Affairs

                                                                                    Sadowski Building

                                                                                    2555 Shumard Oak Blvd.

                                                                                    Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

 

            I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing was sent to the following by the method indicated on this ________ day of __________, 2008.

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    PAULA P. FORD

                                                                                    Commission Clerk

 

Via U.S. Mail                                                             Via Hand Delivery

 

Walter A. Tillet, Jr. S.E., P.E.                                       Mo Madani, C.B.O. Manager

TilTeco, Inc.                                                                 Codes and Standards Section

6355 N. W. 36th Street                                                Department of Community Affairs

Virginia Gardens, Florida 33166                                   2555 Shumard Oak Blvd.                                                                                                         Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100

Jamie Gascon, /Acting Chief

Product Control Division

140 W. Flagler St., Suite1107

Miami, Florida 33130