DECEMBER 7, 2009 – REPORT #24

 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PULLS OHIO BUILDING CODE (OBC) RULES FROM JCARR; BOARD OF BUILDING STANDARDS (BBS) EXPECTED TO DELAY EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2009 OBC

The Governor’s office came to the rescue, and, as a result, the BBS will likely hold off implementation of the 2009 Ohio Building Code, applicable to all construction other than 1, 2, 3 family.    Throughout the code adoption process, OHBA has continued to raise concerns with the BBS voluntarily adopting new building code regulations in the face of a desperate construction economy.   The BBS rules were originally scheduled to be heard at JCARR on Monday, December 6th, but have since been pulled to be refiled.  The BBS is expected to delay the effective date of the 2009 OBC until January 2011.

30 DAY COMMENT PERIOD COMES TO CLOSE ON RCAC DRAFT OF RESIDENTIAL CODE OF OHIO; COMMITTEE SCHEDULED TO MEET WEDNESDAY TO REVIEW COMMENTS

The Residential Construction Advisory Committee (RCAC) finished up review of the initial draft of the Residential Code of Ohio last month, giving interested parties 30 days to comment on the recommendations.  The 30 day comment period ended December 6, 2009.  The RCAC will meet again Wednesday, December 9th to discuss any comments it has received over the 30 days.  It will then begin making its final review/recommendation to the Board of Building Standards (BBS).   After Wednesday’s meeting, the Committee is scheduled to meet January 13, 2010.  The initial draft of the Code is available at
http://www.com.ohio.gov/dico/docs/bbst_RCO.pdf

OHBA submitted comments on the RCAC draft code commending the Committee on its rational review process and supporting the Committee’s recommendation to keep the 2006 Ohio Prescriptive Path intact.  Additionally, the comments cautioned going forward with the 2009 IECC without first addressing how the code discriminates against various energy saving methods, such as solar and geothermal technology.  

Further information, such as the RCAC meeting schedule, committee list, and BBS schedule is available at http://www.com.ohio.gov/dico/BBS.aspx

BILLS IN COMMITTEE

HB 362  BUILDING SAFETY  (Chandler, D – Kent)  To require fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors in residential buildings and residential units, to direct the Board of Building Standards to adopt rules that establish product and installation standards for fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors, to require transferors of residential real property to disclose whether fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors are installed in their property, and to prohibit a transferor of residential real property from entering into a transfer agreement unless fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors are installed as the bill requires.

SB 187   PLANNED COMMUNITIES (Seitz, R – Cincinnati) To establish the Ohio Planned Community Law.  This bill governs the operation of planned communities that will be governed by a home owner association.  

BILLS INTRODUCED

SB 197  FORECLOSURE MEDIATION (Jones, R – Springboro) To require courts to establish and operate programs of mandatory foreclosure mediation in non-tax foreclosure actions on occupied residential properties and to establish procedures for the operation of those foreclosure mediation programs.

SB 213 WORKERS COMPENSATION (Faber, R – Celina) To require the Administrator of Workers’ Compensation to make specified changes concerning workers’ compensation premium rates.