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Members express optimism that codes will be passed soon
In response to what is characterized as a lagging response to national improvements in building codes and technological advancements, City Council members held a hearing in June to approve a possible solution.
In attendance were officials from the Department of Buildings and the Fire Department. The last time that building codes were overhauled city-wide was 1964.
"98% of us are here, united in our efforts," said Council member Madeline Provenzano, chairwoman of the Housing and Buildings committee and Bronx Democrat. "We all have to focus on getting this legislation passed."
Provenzano also noted that although city codes have a reputation of strict nature, the updating of old codes instead of a complete revision has also made them difficult and costly for architects and developers to work with. When the codes are finally passed, she said, she hope New York City can stand as an example for emulation.
Among the updates are additions from of International Building Codes, a preservation of city-specific initiatives including the World Trade Center and the Carbon Monoxide bills along with a rolling three-year review process to assure that I-Codes do not became out-dated. If eventually approved by the City Council, the changes would go into effect a July 2006 with a one-year phase in period before making the new codes exclusive by July 2007.
The codes that are currently under consideration, were completed in 2003 and would form the new base of the Building Code, Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code, Existing Building Code, Residential Code and Fuel Gas Code for the city.
The International Code Council, publisher of the I-Codes, was established in 1994 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a uniform set of codes spanning from zoning and construction to private sewage disposal and urban-wildlife interface. The ICC holds an annual conference to review suggestions made by industry professionals and update the codes in response to technological advancement. The I-Codes are currently used in 48 states on either a state-wide or city level.
Full updates are issued every three years.
According to the Department of Buildings website, over 400 local engineering, architectural, labor, real estate, and government leaders reviewed the IBC and I-Codes and are amending them for use within the city. In addition to this, advisory groups were involved to lobby for issues not normally included in government codes, including green initiatives.
As represented by the large contingent of union workers at the hearing, whose t-shirts and jeans seamlessly mixed with the three piece suits on the gallery floor, labor interests were also solicited in the process.
By the end of DOB Commissioner Patricia Lancaster and Fire Department Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention Howard Hill's respective presentations, Provenzano took the opportunity to relay a dream she had and ask only one question. She told the gallery that the dream saw her obsessing over codes even while atop of a crumbling building.
She asked with a smile: "Have I spent too much time thinking about building codes? Should I get a life?"
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