AIA|WA Supports Changing Requirements for SBCC Membership

The AIA/WA testified in support of HB 2775, in the Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee on Feb. 23. Previously the AIA/WA testified “with concerns” on HB 2775, regarding membership on the State Building Code Council (SBCC), on Jan. 21.

AIAWA was concerned with a section of the bill that would have made appointments to the SBCC subject to Senate confirmation. Currently members are appointed by the Governor with no confirmation procedure. Subjecting volunteers to confirmation could deter qualified people.

However, the section that mandated Senate confirmation was removed and the AIAWA testified in support of the remainder of the legislation.

HB 2275 will restrict people from representing a specific sector on the SBCC if they are no longer employed in that sector. AIA/WA believes this will ensure that SBCC members are appropriately knowledgeable for their sector.

You can see the AIAWA testimony below.

AIA|WA Opposes Move of SBCC to Labor and Industries

The AIA/WA testified in the House Community, Economic Development, Trade Committee today, Jan. 20, regarding HB 2658. Section eight of HB 2658 proposes to move the State Building Code Council (SBCC) to the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I).

Primarily, the AIA/WA opposes the move because there is a conflict between the function of L&I and the role of the SBCC. The SBCC does not conduct any enforcement activities. Whereas, L&I is enforcement oriented. In order to be effective the SBCC must combine divergent views to create codes that are proper, safe and able to be implemented; this requires independence from enforcement.

The AIA/WA is also opposed because this transfer is unnecessary to save funds and could be greatly disruptive. The SBCC is self-funded through fees so this move has no fiscal impact. Currently, the SBCC is successful in the Department of Commerce, especially in regard to the synergy it has created with energy efficiency programs.

This was not a shift that was determined by a stakeholder process, unlike other changes suggested in the legislation. You can see testimony by AIA/WA Executive Director, Stan Bowman, below.

AIA WA Member Testifies in Support of Efficiency First Legislation

AIAWA members Marc Jenefsky, of JensenFey, testified in support if SB 5854 which aims to reduce climate pollution in the built environment.

Jenefsky testified about how this bill and its goals are good for creating quality jobs and the environment. Jenefsky also detailed how the goals of the bill are achievable, affordable and desirable. See his testimony below. For the entire hearing on this bill visit TVW here.

Residential Fire Sprinkler Report Released

Today, member John Neff, AIA, testified before the House Local Government Committee about the results of a year-long study of barriers to installing residential fire sprinkler systems. The Committee was interested in why standards and rates vary across the state.

Neff reported that the State Building Code Council created a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of nearly 30 people. The TAG was composed of representives for architecture, water systems, insurance, building inspections and other affected groups. While the TAG looked at many issues, but focused on the cost of supplying water to residential fire suppression systems, liability concerns and water efficiency.

Fire sprinkler systems require larger water meters. Large meters are less efficient at tracking water usage under normal residential conditions; which results in uncharged water usage and funds lost to the purveyor. Also, larger meters can lead to increased water use due to the installation of additional water using systems, such as lawn and garden irrigation.

Liability is a concern for water purveyors who may need to shut off water for routine maintenance or unpaid bills. If there is a fire and water service is interrupted to the sprinkler system at that time, then water purveyors are concerned about being liable for damages.

Finally, regarding the cost of systems and water hook up; the report found that system prices vary because some jurisdictions have a preferred or required system that must be installed and required special inspectors.

The full report is located on the State Building Code Council’s website along with background information. The Committee is expected to draft legislation for consideration later this year.

Amazing Time Lapse Construction Video

On June 12 Tacoma Public Utilities officials dedicated a $19 million, 110,000-square-foot addition to their administration building off South 35th Street; it now houses 325 employees. Construction took about two years. The building, designed by BCRA, is touted as a model of energy efficiency. Click below to watch the amazing time-lapse video showing the demolition and construction.

AIA/WA Testifies Against Expanded Liability for Building Officials

The legislature’s concern over the poor construction in the residential market continued today with a hearing on a bill to add statutory liability for building officials if a problem occurs. SB 5892 was introduced in 2007 by Senator Jim Honeyford (R-15, Yakima). The hearing was held before the Senate Consumer Protection & Housing Committee.

The bill would hold a city or county building official “liable for damages caused by their negligent failure to enforce the provisions of the state building code.” AIA/WA testified that there are many other measures before the legislature to address problems with residential construction including, licensing home inspectors, licensing residential construction contractors, and other bills. More fundamentally, the solution to bad construction practices is not to create new lawsuits. Education, training and enforcement are better ways to address the problems.

Legislative Deadline Stops Anti-Vesting Bill

SB 5507 to significantly alter the laws for vesting projects under state law failed to pass a key step and died when the Senate adjourned yesterday. The AIA/WA had been actively lobbying against the bill and had gained key allies in legislature. On March 8, at an AIA/WA briefing, Governor Chris Gregoire expressed serious concerns about the bill and pledged to work with the design and construction community to stop the bill if it passed the Senate. A companion measure in the House was stopped in committee earlier this year.

Housing Liability Expansion Heard in House Committee

The House Judiciary Committee today held a hearing on HB 1935, sponsored by Representative Brendan Williams (D-22, Olympia), to expand liability on housing projects. At the hearing, Representative Williams presented a proposed substitute that would be an exact copy of SB 5550, which was introduced by Senator Brian Weinstein (D-41, Bellevue). SB 5550 is pending further action in the Senate Rules Committee (see the summary posted previously). AIA/WA’s contract lobbyist Cliff Webster testified against the bill. AIA/WA supports the study committee portion of the bill. However, AIA/WA opposes the substantive provisions in the bill, because they presuppose the policy outcome that the study is designed to ascertain. To listen the hearing, go to http://www.tvw.org/ and enter the bill number in the search engine.

Bill to Alter Vesting Laws Passes Senate Committee

Today, the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee passed SB 5507 to dramatically alter the state’s vesting laws for building codes, zoning and growth management laws. This bill would shift the point in time for vesting projects under current laws from when a complete permit application is submitted to when the application is approved. The bill would basically eliminate vesting because if a law is changed before the start of “substantial construction” it allows changes in the laws to be applied retroactively and the permit to be divested or rescinded. For the Growth Management Act (GMA) it would apply all Growth Management Hearings Boards’ decisions to be applied retroactively and permits to be rescinded.