The quest to develop a stronger, more resilient community is never ending. Construction tools and techniques change, and new challenges may threaten a community's social or economic viability.
The local building code is one element of community resilience that is subject to constant refinement and revision. There are many standardized building codes, which are maintained by the International Code Council (ICC). Typically, jurisdictions adopt codes every six years on average, though the level of code adoption and enforcement varies from place to place.
Codes are an essential component of community resilience, but they are, by no means, all encompassing in their development guidance. For coastal communities to foster a strong culture of community resilience, it is necessary to go beyond the code and implement an even higher standard for coastal construction.
Smart Home America’s Coastal Construction Code Supplement is an essential tool for communities looking beyond code protection. The Code Supplement exists to close the gap between existing building codes and FORTIFIED Home™ construction. Standard building codes tend to focus on life safety rather than property protection. While recent versions of the building code is improving its approach to property protection, the code supplement continues to provide communities the option to go beyond model building codes to protect properties better.
A property built to these beyond-code standards can still be viable after a storm has passed, allowing the homeowners to move back in more quickly. This goal is attainable by employing the latest building science research from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS).
Since creating the code supplement, many jurisdictions in coastal Alabama have adopted the document. Over 70% of coastal Alabama jurisdictions and 19 local zoning boards require new, re-roofed and reconstructed homes to meet the basic requirements of the FORTIFIED program. Since its adoption, many new FORTIFIED properties have been built in coastal Alabama. These properties would receive their first big test when Hurricane Sally hit the region in 2020.
Sally threatened more than 17,000 FORTIFIED homes. Of these FORTIFIED properties, approximately 95% had little to no damage and did not have to file a claim because of water entry via the roof. Also, because coastal Alabama jurisdictions adopted the supplement, insurance companies and federal programs can pay to repair homes to the beyond-code standard.
The success of the code supplement in Alabama has prompted Smart Home America to partner with Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant to promote the supplement’s value to coastal Mississippi communities. On July 15, a lunch-and-learn event was held with the Biloxi Community Development Department staff to go over the supplement in greater detail.
Other outreach events are planned across coastal Mississippi to spread the word about the supplement and its local applications. Communities interested in learning more and arranging a lunch-and-learn event can contact me at [email protected].
Meet the author
Stephen Deal
Extension Specialist (Land Use Planning)
Stephen works with floodplain managers, building officials, city officials, scientists and Sea Grant partners to provide information and training related to flood and storm resilience. He holds a... Read more
Phone: 228-435-9527
Email: [email protected]