Building Science

Literature Review on the Impact and Need for Attic Ventillation on Floirda Homes

Commission Proposes Florida Building Code Changes

The Florida Building Commission has taken the first step toward implementing 'expedited' code changes to address issues related to last year's storms, according to FHBA's Technical Services Director Jack Glenn.

The information printed below is a recap of code recommendations that will be voted on by the Commission when it meets in Miami on August 22-24, 2005. Upon adoption, the code changes will be immediately incorporated into the code.

The Department of Community Affairs will draft the code changes and make them available to the public in early August, but it would be a good idea for builders and housing professionals to begin studying them as soon as they are available and assessing their potential impact.

When available, the proposed code changes will be posted on http://www.fhba.com/.

Hurricane Research Advisory Committee Recommendations for Expedited Adoption

Water Intrusion: FHBA/HBAMO Water Intrusion Study Recommendations.

• The moisture storage capacity of mass walls be increased by providing a 'seat' at the base of these assemblies.
• A bond break be provided between primary drainage planes and stucco renderings in drained assemblies. In simple terms this will require two layers of building paper or a layer of building paper over a plastic housewrap.
• The specification, rating and testing of WRB's be consistent with their installed exposure - i.e. tested and rated as part of a stucco assembly. Appropriate performance specifications need to be developed for WRB's used with stucco renderings and the Florida Building Code altered to require them.
• Code officials be instructed regarding the correct interpretation of ASTM C1063 and the Florida Building Code be explicitly altered to require drainage where drained assemblies intersect mass assemblies.
• The Florida Building Code be altered to come into compliance with the International Residential Code to explicitly allow for the construction of unvented roof assemblies.
• Define the terms 'weather resistant' and 'weather protection'
• Require application of exterior surface coatings to appropriate standard or manufacturer's specification.
• Delete the criteria of chapter 14 that deems walls constructed according to the masonry chapter and concrete chapter requirements to be weather resistant.

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