The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety has released an update to its Rating the States report, which looks at building codes of the hurricane-prone states from Texas to Maine.
"This update provides each state a useful analysis of their latest building code activities and what steps they can take to better protect their communities. It also gives interested citizens useful information so that they can understand the need for, and demand, better building codes," says Julie Rochman, IBHS president and CEO.
IBHS plans to release a new report in 2015, so the nonprofit research organization is billing this report as "midterm update."
Have states made progress with building code activity since IBHS' original report was released in January 2012? Then, IBHS assigned each of the 18 states studied a score on a 100-point scale. This report assesses the states on whether they have taken positive action, negative action or no action.
Yesterday we looked at the Southeast Atlantic Coast and Friday we reported on the Gulf States. Today we look north to cover the rest of the East Coast. Click ahead to see more….
NEW JERSEY
NO ACTION
The Garden State is considering reversing deleted requirements for residential dwelling automatic sprinklers. Maryland's steps to keep these requirements made it the apple of IBHS' eye. Jersey scored a high 93 in the original report, so a "no action" isn't terrible. However, it has yet to adopt 2012 ICC standards. So homes destroyed by Superstorm Sandy won't be rebuilt to the most-recent code. IBHS gives Gov. Chris Christie credit for adopting FEMA's standards for base elevations…though IBHS suggests homes are built higher.
NEW YORK
POSITIVE ACTION
For a state that scored 60 in the original report, some positive action is looked upon favorable by IBHS. The Empire State is in the process of adopting 2012 ICC codes, set to be effective 2014. But New York City remains exempt from New York State building code requirements.
CONNECTICUT
POSITIVE ACTION
The Nutmeg State (80 points originally) is indeed taking positive action but it's catching up. It was enforcing 2003 ICC codes but is in the process of adopting the 2009 edition of the codes—which is still not the latest available. This is concerning to IBHS "particularly given the number of significant tropical and winter storms that have plagued Connecticut in recent years."
RHODE ISLAND
POSITIVE ACTION
The first state to declare independence from British rule continues to use some deficient building code requirements. Nevertheless it get a "positive action" nod from IBHS due to is adoption of 2012 ICC codes. The Ocean State originally scored a 78.
MASSACHUSETTS
NO ACTION
IBHS gave Massachusetts a very respectable score of 87 original but the state may be losing favor. It is still enforcing 2009 ICC codes and plans to bypass the 2012 edition and wait for the 2015 edition. But skipping a set of code improvements "could result in a significant gap between the time when safety improvements and new requirements are included in the model code and when they become part of the Commonwealth's building codes."
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NO ACTION
Short and sweet: New Hampshire hasn't done anything since IBHS scored it a 49 in the original report. The state has a statewide building code but requires no mandatory enforcement. "Live free or die."
MAINE
NO ACTION
The Pine Tree State continues to use lumber to building structures to the 2009 ICC code—unless you live in a town of less than 4,000 people. Then you don't have to have a building code.
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