flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Post-Katrina roofing codes creating more resilient buildings on Gulf Coast

Codes and Standards

Post-Katrina roofing codes creating more resilient buildings on Gulf Coast

Ten years after storm, notable progress on stronger roofs, IBHS says


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | August 21, 2015
Post-Katrina roofing codes creating more resilient buildings on Gulf Coast

Photo: New Orleans in 2005/Wikimedia Commons

New research by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) indicates that stronger building standards and codes have contributed to stronger roofs in the Gulf Coast region.

In the 10 years after Katrina, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, have also added tougher requirements for inspections, building permits, and contractor licensing. Combined with beefed up codes, this is good news for the resiliency of buildings in the region, IBHS says. 

IBHS researchers examined changes specific to roofing requirements by evaluating and analyzing key aspects of roofing regulations, including codes, contractor licensing, permits, and inspections. Building codes have substantially improved, with 100% of surveyed jurisdictions currently enforcing either the 2012 or 2009 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC). Prior to Katrina, only about one-third (36%) of coastal communities surveyed were known to enforce the IRC.

In addition to enactment and enforcement of the latest building codes, IBHS recommendations for hurricane-exposed communities include adoption of IBHS FORTIFIED HomeTM–Hurricane superior roofing construction standards. These standards provide increased resilience through stronger construction techniques, and were specifically developed for these locations.

Related Stories

| Jul 11, 2013

DOE releases stricter energy efficiency standards for new federal buildings taking effect in 2014

The Energy Department released stricter energy efficiency standards this month for new federal buildings. 

| Jul 11, 2013

Pennsylvania legislators work on bill to update demolition codes following fatal building collapse

Pennsylvania lawmakers are working on a bill to update demolition codes, in the wake of a fatal building collapse in Philadelphia in June.  

| Jul 11, 2013

Lawsuit challenges modular apartment project in New York City

A plan to build pre-fab apartment buildings at Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn, N.Y., has been challenged by a lawsuit filed by the Plumbing Foundation in Manhattan Supreme Court.  

| Jul 5, 2013

OSHA to launch program to protect workers from isocyanate exposure

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced a new national emphasis program (NEP) to protect workers from serious health effects caused by occupational exposure to isocyanates.

| Jul 5, 2013

New California building code expected to boost energy demand response technology

The California master building code, set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2014, includes a few changes that could push automated, open-standards-based demand response into the mass market.

| Jul 5, 2013

USGBC adds several new LEED pilot credits

The U.S. Green Building Council has added several new LEED pilot credits to the LEED Pilot Credit Libraryin the past few months.

| Jul 5, 2013

Spray Foam Coalition supports new professional certification program for applicators

The Spray Foam Coalition (SFC) of the American Chemistry Council announced its support of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance’s (SPFA) new Professional Certification Program for spray foam applicators.

| Jul 5, 2013

Some industry insiders see design-build as easier path to LEED certification

The design-build construction delivery method may have advantages during a LEED certification process.  

| Jun 27, 2013

Lease-accounting legislation could hurt construction industry

Regulatory bodies have proposed changes in how leased equipment is treated on a corporate balance sheet.

| Jun 27, 2013

AGC urges Congress, Obama to reject caps on construction workers in immigration legislation

The unemployment rate in the construction sector in May was the lowest it has been in five years, which could signal a coming worker shortage, according to the Associated General Contractors of America.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021