The Trump Administration has rescinded an Obama-era rule that required higher elevations on new buildings constructed in flood-prone areas.
The Obama executive order had required that new public infrastructure projects, including subsidized housing, hospitals, and fire departments, to be built a few feet above the 100-year floodplain. The requirement factored in future sea-level rise predicted by “the best-available and actionable science.”
Obama’s action is believed to be the first time the federal government took sea-level rise projections into account rather than relying only on historical data. The director of the Sierra Club reportedly slammed Trump’s decision as “climate science denial at its most dangerous,” adding that it would put vulnerable communities at risk and make infrastructure less safe.
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Project Aims to Automate Code Compliance Assessment
FIATECH, a consortium of owners from the industrial, power, and retail markets that build large structures, launched a project this year to validate the use of automation technology for code compliance assessment, and to accelerate the regulatory approval process using building models. Long-term objectives include the development of an extensive, open-source rule set library that is approved by industry and regulatory bodies for use by technology developers and code officials.
| Sep 1, 2011
EPA Says Additional Lead Paint Cleaning Rules Not Necessary
The EPA has concluded that current Lead: Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program (LRRP) cleaning requirements and lead-safe work regulations are sufficient to protect the public from lead dust hazards. “Our members have been instrumental in contacting legislators to detail the detrimental impact of the current LRRP," says Richard Walker, American Architectural Manufacturers Association’s president and CEO. “This collective industry voice has prompted the EPA to make the responsible decision to refrain from adding further, unnecessary costs to homeowners under the current economic climate."http://www.aamanet.org/news/1/10/0/all/603/aama-commends-its-members-congress-for-vacating-lrrp-clearance-rule
| Aug 11, 2010
Best AEC Firms of 2011/12
Later this year, we will launch Best AEC Firms 2012. We’re looking for firms that create truly positive workplaces for their AEC professionals and support staff. Keep an eye on this page for entry information. +
