Bob Phoenix
Member
So, Florida adopts and implements the 2010 Florida Building Code (the 2009 IBC with Florida amendments) and in my infinite wisdom (or lack of common sense) decide to propose a "Local Amendment" to Chapter 1... (beyond just changing phrases like "the local authority") :banghd
Now, mind you, this town has never, ever heard of a local amendment to the Building Code, or, for that matter... had any idea that Chapter 1 could be amended... But, create an amendment I did...
When I proposed it to my Town Manager, he said... "leave it with me and I'll look it over...", and I did... (That was my second mistake... the first one was believing he would actually pick up the 55 pages to look at.) After two weeks I asked him what he thought of the amendment and he replied "Geeze, it's really complicated..." (Um, I think that's why you need a license to drive it...) and... "If you’re going to put this before the commission for their approval you're really going to have to make it simpler..."
I don't mean to berate my commission but... when they were faced with their last major decision... this is how it turned out :beatdhrs
Regardless, my manager thought it would be prudent to run the amendment by our P&Z Board and Board of Adjustment, first, get their comments... and then take all of that to the Commission for a presentation and their approval...
WHAT A COLOSSAL MISTAKE THAT WAS!!!
The reaction from the P&Z Board was... "There's no way in H*ll this is going to be approved..." (are you ready for this... wait for it...) "Not only is this impossible to read... this change makes you the only person who can make the desision about determining was an unsafe building is and condeming it!!!"
After I picked my jaw up off the floor... I thought I just stand there and take the rest of my harpooning like a man...
fourty-five minutes of mis-informed, mis-understood theories about building code administration later... I said "thank you for your comments, I'll be sure to pass them along to the commission..." collected my three months of work and went back to my office... Then... a week later... I was before the Board of Adjustments where the chairman was a contractor... (I thought I might have a chance their because he might have a little better clue...) ops
The Chairman never made it past 102.6 Existing Structures, because I added 102.6.1 "...Existing structures that are found to be occupied illegally and not in compliance with this code on the date of adoption of this code shall be made to conform to the requirements of this code upon notice to the owner, occupant or agent by the Building Official in accordance with 104.3 Notices and Orders below." (Not half bad, so I thought...) Of course, I never once thought that anyone... especially the chairman, would mis-inturprit the word "occupancy"... Here I'm thinking about "use" and he's thinking "to have possession of..." (silly me...)
So, the point of all this is to ask my peers (whom I respect the opinion of...) what do you all think of the changes that I've made to Chapter 1 of "The Code..."
(Access my version of the code by clicking here...)
Please, if you all would do me the favor of taking a look my amendments and making a comment, I would appeciate it...
I need to have comments that will allow make the changes and still let me to administer "the Code"... And, from people who have a clue!!!
Thanks
Bob
Now, mind you, this town has never, ever heard of a local amendment to the Building Code, or, for that matter... had any idea that Chapter 1 could be amended... But, create an amendment I did...
When I proposed it to my Town Manager, he said... "leave it with me and I'll look it over...", and I did... (That was my second mistake... the first one was believing he would actually pick up the 55 pages to look at.) After two weeks I asked him what he thought of the amendment and he replied "Geeze, it's really complicated..." (Um, I think that's why you need a license to drive it...) and... "If you’re going to put this before the commission for their approval you're really going to have to make it simpler..."
I don't mean to berate my commission but... when they were faced with their last major decision... this is how it turned out :beatdhrs
Regardless, my manager thought it would be prudent to run the amendment by our P&Z Board and Board of Adjustment, first, get their comments... and then take all of that to the Commission for a presentation and their approval...
WHAT A COLOSSAL MISTAKE THAT WAS!!!
The reaction from the P&Z Board was... "There's no way in H*ll this is going to be approved..." (are you ready for this... wait for it...) "Not only is this impossible to read... this change makes you the only person who can make the desision about determining was an unsafe building is and condeming it!!!"
After I picked my jaw up off the floor... I thought I just stand there and take the rest of my harpooning like a man...
fourty-five minutes of mis-informed, mis-understood theories about building code administration later... I said "thank you for your comments, I'll be sure to pass them along to the commission..." collected my three months of work and went back to my office... Then... a week later... I was before the Board of Adjustments where the chairman was a contractor... (I thought I might have a chance their because he might have a little better clue...) ops
The Chairman never made it past 102.6 Existing Structures, because I added 102.6.1 "...Existing structures that are found to be occupied illegally and not in compliance with this code on the date of adoption of this code shall be made to conform to the requirements of this code upon notice to the owner, occupant or agent by the Building Official in accordance with 104.3 Notices and Orders below." (Not half bad, so I thought...) Of course, I never once thought that anyone... especially the chairman, would mis-inturprit the word "occupancy"... Here I'm thinking about "use" and he's thinking "to have possession of..." (silly me...)
So, the point of all this is to ask my peers (whom I respect the opinion of...) what do you all think of the changes that I've made to Chapter 1 of "The Code..."
(Access my version of the code by clicking here...)
Please, if you all would do me the favor of taking a look my amendments and making a comment, I would appeciate it...
I need to have comments that will allow make the changes and still let me to administer "the Code"... And, from people who have a clue!!!
Thanks
Bob