The Editor, Sir:

This is the time of the year for resolutions and the Government is not exempted. The Farquharson Institute of Public Affairs believes that a decision for a compulsory building code for Jamaica is overdue.

We know the floods will come in Jamaica and that severe weather conditions with flooding and extreme wind have caused avoidable death, destruction of homes and other buildings, and damage to roads and bridges.

The country must also be protected from death and damage resulting from a possible earthquake and the horror of a fire at one of the 'hermitically-grilled' houses.

Usually, after the lamentation, all is forgotten until the next disaster when there will be further loss of life and damage to property.

An enforceable building code will go a far way in mitigating loss from the consequences of uncontrolled building practices.

In an article on 'Jamaica National Building Code', published in the October-November 2008 issue of the Building Safety Journal of the International Code Council, Noel C. daCosta, points out "The simple, fundamental fact is that the enforcement of appropriate building codes is necessary to ensure public safety. It is, therefore, essential that the code has the force of law behind it."

Extract

What is the status of a building code for Jamaica? The following extract may provide an answer to that question.

Source: 'Jamaican building codes under construction', The Gleaner, December 12, 2006:

"The Jamaican construction industry could finally see the emergence of legally enforceable regulations in January, says Noel daCosta, chairman of the National Building Code Committee. Based upon the International Building Code (IBC) of the United States-based International Codes Council (ICC), it is to be approved by the Bureau of Standards and then made available for further public consultation. It will be then readied for legislation to make it legally enforceable.

"The national building code will require all new residential developments to install solar water heaters (SWH) on housing units, among other regulations.

"Mr daCosta said that four of the 11 sub-codes had already been submitted to the Bureau of Standards. He acknowledged that the process had taken longer than expected - it was previously expected to be presented to Cabinet before its summer recess. The process has relied largely on the voluntary efforts of engineers, surveyors, architects and other professionals involved in the construction industry from Jamaica and the Diaspora.

"Dr Keith Miller, who is responsible for the project within the Ministry of Local Government and Environment, said the new code would be flexible since the ICC codes are updated every three years, from which Jamaica can choose to modify its own code. The IBC was chosen partly because American building standards mitigate for hurricanes, earthquakes, and heavy rains, conditions that occur in Jamaica.

"Currently, Jamaica is relying on the 1907 Building Act of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation and the Caribbean Unified Building Legal Code (CUBLC) (sic) which is used by fewer than half of Jamaican engineers. A previous national code in 1983 was never made into law."

The Farquharson Institute understands that a draft proposal for the Jamaica national building code is with Government.

National code

While the demand for regulating building in inappropriate locations (e.g. on gully banks and in riverbeds) needs urgent attention, planning to build anywhere requires an enforceable code.

Legislation for a Jamaica national building code should be a new year's resolution for the present Government.

I am, etc.,

FRANK PHIPPS

phipps@infochan.com

Chairman

Farquharson Institute

of Public Affairs