White House launches building code initiative to improve disaster resiliency
Research shows that every $1 spent on disaster mitigation can save $11 in repair and recovery costs.
The National Initiative to Advance Building Codes, which was launched by the Biden-Harris administration on June 1, 2022, aims to help communities across the country adopt the latest building codes and standards in an effort to make the country’s infrastructure more resilient to disasters and extreme weather events, according to a release from the White House. The program also includes provisions to improve building energy efficiency.
The administration reported the program will incentivize and support the adoption of modernized building codes and standards by “providing technical assistance, implementing proven strategies and best practices — such as those in the new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Codes Strategy — across all relevant agencies in the federal government.”
The initiative will also leverage mapping tools to track code adoption based on energy efficiency and local flood, earthquake, tornado and hurricane risk levels.
“The National Institute of Building Sciences reports that the adoption of hazard resistant building codes saves communities $11 per every $1 invested,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in a release.
Further, areas that have adopted modern building codes save an estimated $1.6 billion annually in avoided damages. By 2040, this is savings is projected to reach a cumulative total of $132 billion, according to the White House
“By modernizing building codes, we will not only save money by protecting people’s property and lowering energy costs, but we will also protect people’s lives by making our infrastructure more resilient to severe weather and the impacts of climate change,” Criswell added.
Other specifics of the building code initiative released by the White House include:
- A review of federal funding and financing of building construction, to ensure federally supported housing and other building projects follow modern building codes and standards to the greatest extent feasible.
- Promote “above-code” resilience and energy efficiency standards in new projects across the federal building portfolio, as well as develop the first Federal Building Performance Standards to help achieve net-zero emissions across new and existing federal buildings by 2045.
- Harness $225 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for the Department of Energy to support the implementation of updated building energy codes and “create good-quality jobs, including through workforce training partnerships and direct support to state and local agencies, while prioritizing the needs of disadvantaged communities and advancing the President’s Justice40 Initiative.”
Praising the administration for launching the program to improve communities’ resiliency to disasters, Nat Wienecke, senior vice president of federal government relations at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said in a statement: “This action is critical to increasing their (communities) capacity to withstand, respond to, and recover from natural disasters. Property-casualty insurers serve as frontline responders following natural disasters, assisting policyholders in navigating the recovery process and helping their customers rebuild their lives and restore their property.”
Wienecke went on to explain that for decades APCIA members have advocated for policies and increased investments to help prevent and reduce the impact of disasters. This includes establishing organizations such as the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). The IBHS’ work includes developing “scientifically proven building standards that individuals and businesses can employ to help withstand increasingly severe storms, wildfires, and other natural disasters,” according to APCIA.
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