A proposal in the California Assembly to extend a deadline for hospitals to make seismic retrofits has drawn sharp criticism from labor groups.
The controversy pertains to two requirements passed in the wake of the 1994 Northridge earthquake that destroyed many buildings in Southern California. Almost all of the state’s hospitals have already met the first requirement to meet standards that ensure buildings don’t collapse during a major quake. The second mandate is more costly for hospitals and more controversial.
It calls for hospitals to be able to remain operable and serve patients after a major quake by 2030. Nearly two-thirds of hospitals have yet to meet that goal. The California Hospital Association is asking for a seven-year extension as well as more limited scope. The association wants the rule to only apply to emergency facilities.
The legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom are still working out details of the state’s $263 billion budget, two weeks after the new fiscal year began. The hospital provision is a major sticking point.
Related Stories
| Feb 17, 2012
Comment period opens March 1 for LEED 2012 update
USGBC says that LEED's strength comes from its continuous evolution.
| Feb 17, 2012
OSHA training videos on proper respirator use available online
17 short videos to help workers learn about the proper use of respirators on the job.
| Feb 17, 2012
Union/employer collaboration on the rise aimed at exceeding OSHA safety standards
Unions have learned to help employers win contracts with bids made competitive through good safety practices.
| Feb 16, 2012
Gain greater agility and profitability with ArchiCAD BIM software
White paper was written with the sole purpose of providing accurate, reliable information about critical issues related to BIM and what ArchiCAD with advanced technology such as the GRAPHISOFT BIM Server provide as an answer to address these issues.
| Feb 9, 2012
Initiative to sell off under-used federal property gaining momentum
The bill is similar to a White House planto cut $8 billion worth of building costs by the end of the 2012 fiscal year, and to establish a panel to identify other sites worth selling or donating to nonprofits or state and local governments.
| Feb 9, 2012
Computer tool helps engineers design roof cladding using Canada's building code
Easier to design roof cladding that can withstand winds in a given area.
| Feb 9, 2012
Webinar focuses on lessons learned from LEED-certified industrial project
This case study will focus on strategies used to save the client money, achieve certification, and effectively market success once the project was complete.
| Feb 9, 2012
Rapid growth of zero energy buildings expected
Much of that growth will be in the European Union, where near-zero energy buildings are mandated by 2019 for public buildings, and by 2021 for all construction.
| Feb 9, 2012
Stiffer OSHA fines put strain on Kansas contractors
A fine for a violation that once cost between $750 and $1,200 now runs $7,000 or more per incident, according to a state industry association official.