Commissioner Long calls for strengthening N.C. building codes

Tougher building code standards aimed at reducing future hurricane damage in North Carolina have been sent to a state committee studying disaster management. Insurance Commissioner Jim Long petitioned the Joint Study Committee on Energy Preparedness and Dis-aster Management Re-covery Sub-committee on Building Code Issues in Hurricane and Flood Prone Areas to consider his recommendations.

His petition indicates that while the North Carolina Building Code is a model in fire protection and accessibility for the disabled, it remains the only state code along the southern Atlantic coast that has not incorporated strict building requirements.

“Department officials believe a better code is essential to further protect property along the coast and safeguard the state’s strong property insurance market,” the petition said.

It suggests the following improvements:

1. The addition of windborne debris provisions are inexpensive when compared to the potential costs of property damage that could occur without implementing them; generally speaking, for every $1 invested in windborne debris protection, property owners will save $5 in repair costs should a major storm hit.
2. Further, stronger building codes could directly impact the amount of federal assistance that North Carolinians would see if a major storm hits and produces extensive damages.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has acknowledged that unless North Carolina adopts the International Building Code’s windborne debris protection, federal assistance in rebuilding homes that are destroyed may be limited, possibly non-existent. Further, it is possible that insurers will deem North Carolina to be an undesirable place to do business, which would leave home and business owners with few options for insuring their properties.

At a meeting of the Study Committee in Raleigh, N.C., Wanda Edwards, Deputy Commissioner of Engineering and Codes, explained the need for additional provisions within the building code indicating that the importance of windborne debris protection is one of the most misunderstood concepts.

According to prediction models from North Carolina insurance companies, the 2006 hurricane season is expected to cost the state approximately $350,000,000 in residential hurricane-related insurance claims.

“With North Carolina’s history of hurricane damage, we can’t afford to not up-date and improve our building code,” Long explained. “Not to mention, FEMA has already threatened to cut back on what the state can receive in disaster relief for major disasters.”

Topics Hurricane North Carolina