ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
SIDEBAR TO RESILIENCE IS THE NEW SUSTAINABILITY
RESILIENCY FLORIDA FOCUSES ON IMPROVED BUILDING CODES BY MONICA SCHULTES New construction is meeting higher resilience standards than in the past, thanks to the adoption of updated codes and public–private initiatives. One example is Resiliency Florida, which advocates for stronger building codes and has pursued increased investment in critical infrastructure and habitat throughout Florida. Huge strides forward have been made, but at least one significant pain point remains: the existing building stock. Kristin Jacobs, executive director, Resiliency Florida, is optimistic, but Florida still has a long way to go and the new norm doesn’t happen overnight. “When you look at the importance of building codes, most people don’t consider that a sexy topic,” Jacobs says. “I do because it is the key to the future.” That is how we slowly make changes and eventually incorporate holistic resiliency. One step in the right direction is the establishment of a Florida Chief Resiliency Officer to maximize the use of grant money and to focus on achieving statewide goals unique to that region, such as saltwater intrusion. Something as simple as mandating back-flow preventers and raising sea walls are some of the ways that building codes have already changed construction in Florida. In the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma in 2005, entire homes were blown away, while
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those built to higher standards were intact. “It is remarkable what building codes can do. Just by changing the way we build things we can become more resilient, and that is vital to our economy,” Jacobs says. Not surprisingly, municipalities become most receptive to scrutinizing their codes in the wake of tragedy. Hurricane Michael demonstrated that the use of superior construction enabled one house to survive the devastation on Mexico Beach (see sidebar). It was obvious that stronger, more modern construction using precast concrete withstood the storm. Resilient design principles in building codes are still a minimum standard and many architects and engineers take a more vocal stance in advocating for stronger and enforceable codes. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is proposing policies to incentivize states and municipalities to take a more proactive role in mitigating damage—and thus recovery costs. Each May, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes joins with the International Code Council to mark Building Safety Month, a reminder of the need for adoption of modern building codes, a strong and efficient method of code enforcement, and a welltrained, professional workforce to maintain the system. ●
