National Modular Housing Council staff participated in the International Code Council committee meeting on Hurricane Resistant Construction Standards in Orlando, Florida, on August 31 thru September 1.

The committee was briefed on the FEMA 550 document entitled Recommended Residential Construction for the Gulf Coast: Building on Strong and Safe Foundations by John Ingargiola. FEMA had briefed the ICC Board of Directors earlier in the year meeting on this initiative. The Board then requested that FEMA provide the Hurricane Resistant Construction Committee (HRC) with a copy of the FEMA 550 document. The HRC Committee voted to include the FEMA document in the HRC standard as an appendix. The HRC Committee recommended that FEMA re-name the document to allow for use in not only the Gulf coast region but in all high wind areas

ICC Hurricane Committee members reviewed suggested changes and edits to the HRC Ballot Draft Version 1.0 HRC Standard. The HRC Committee discussed what to include in the draft document that will be reviewed through the ANSI ballot process. One of many issues the National Modular Housing Council (NMHC) will need to review is the provision that states “All exterior walls, bearing walls, interior shearwalls, columns, and piers shall be supported on concrete footings, piles, or other approved structural systems which shall be of sufficient design to meet the requirements of the International Residential Code (IRC) and this chapter” (standard).

NMHC will solicit members, who build products for high wind areas, to review the standard and the connection details specified in the Chapter 3 figures. Some of these details may be difficult if not impossible for our members to comply with. Other chapters that will need review by NMHC and the members will include Chapter 5 Roofs and Chapter 6 Fenestration where all openings will be required to be impact resistant. Another new provision included in Chapter 7 will create restrictions on the use of vinyl siding with foam sheathing as an underlayment.

Important dates Upcoming Dates
October 2006, Draft for public comment issued.
December 15, 2006 Public comment period closes.
February, 15 2007 Public comment document report issued.
April 1, 2007 Final meeting of HRC committee to review public comments.
May 1, 2007 Submit document to ANSI for certification.

For more information, please contact Bob Kelly at (703) 558-0671 or bkelly@modularcouncil.org.