Climate change is making design and construction more challenging and increasing the potential for lawsuits against building teams, according to insurance experts.
Building to code is not enough to reduce liability because codes have not kept up with the rapid climate changes that are making extreme weather more common. Courts expect contractors and designers to keep up to date with trends in climate science that can impact their projects.
Building teams are not expected to design and build structures for long-term climate change, but those that adapt to current and foreseeable conditions have a better chance of defending their actions in court.
When considering climate impacts, building teams should also factor in the effects of their projects on adjacent properties. They should also consider the impact of projects on vulnerable populations as they have fewer resources to adapt to climate change.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Apr 22, 2015
OSHA’s estimated cost of silica rule said to underestimate impact by $4.5 billion annually
The coalition says that OSHA’s flawed cost estimates point to flaws in the rule, and has urged the federal agency to reconsider its approach.
Codes and Standards | Apr 22, 2015
2016 Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings draft available for public review
The comment period is open until May 29.
Codes and Standards | Apr 22, 2015
GBCI renamed Green Business Certification Inc.
The name change reflects the organization’s expanded certification and credentialing services.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 16, 2015
Seattle’s size restriction on micro apartments blamed for rise in rents
Seattle’s city planner recently said that the council’s new rules have made small apartments more expensive to build and charged the board with “overreaching” and not giving micro-housing “a fair shake.”
Green | Apr 16, 2015
New version of Building Energy Data Exchange Specification launched
BEDES is a dictionary that facilitates consistent exchange of building characteristics and energy use data between tools and databases in the building energy efficiency sector.
Codes and Standards | Apr 16, 2015
New York tops U.S. cities in walkability
Revitalization pushes Detroit and New Orleans up the rankings
Green | Apr 14, 2015
USGBC will recognize energy and water standards for the Living Building Challenge
This move means that projects achieving the energy and water requirements in Living Building Challenge will be considered as technically equivalent to LEED.
Codes and Standards | Apr 14, 2015
New York City preparing new codes for evacuation elevators
New York City’s Fire, Buildings, and City Planning Departments in New York are writing rules to govern occupant-evacuation elevators, reflecting a change in philosophy of how to evacuate people from skyscrapers in an emergency.
Codes and Standards | Apr 12, 2015
California imposes stringent new water standards
California is the first state to adopt standards that are more efficient than those set by EPA's WaterSense program.
Codes and Standards | Apr 12, 2015
Virginia surpasses Florida for strictest hurricane building codes
Virginia has edged out Florida as the state with the most stringent hurricane building codes, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety’s “2015 Rating the States” report.
