Proposed Research Project

Fire TAC

Ranked as Research Project Two by the Fire TAC

Reason: Additional Information added to the ongoing legislative mandate to provide cost impacts to Code Changes to the Florida Building Code.

Based on a legislative mandate the University of Florida has developed, through previous research, a number of models to determine the cost of changes to the Florida Building Code. This however is only part of the evaluation and makes it appear that the only criteria that is being considered is cost.

With all code changes there is also a reason and a perceived benefit. This project is intended to research the reasoning for the code change as well as the cost and if possible provide a cost benefit analysis and/or reason for the change.

Requested research:

This project would require additional information be provided along with the cost analysis. At a minimum it shall provide the logic behind the change and where possible provide a cost benefit analysis of the change.

The result of this project will provide a balanced approach to evaluation of the code modifications particularly the modifications brought forward from the I-Codes.

Most of this information is available within the I-Code process and therefore cost should not exceed 25,000 dollars. Note if HB1021 becomes law this project may become mute because the current FBC Modification process already requires a reason for the Modification.