MyFloridaCode.com

Eric, the original post was about a "wind-certified" contractors
designing under the parameters of the SSTD1099 (and the new ISHS
Guideline for Hurricane Resistant Construction) that took its place.
Contractors have the ability to design (once trained in an accredited
course) homes that fall within the parameters of the manual. The reason
is simple; they are now "ENGINEERED" by way of the pre-engineered,
"deemed-to-comply" document. Back when this was developed (my age slip
is showing again) it was your profession (Architectural and Engineering)
that was a principle advocated for this publication and process. They
did not want to be bothered with "simple design home construction" and
helped develop the manual accordingly.

 

The publication and its subsequent designs have performed perfectly
without fail through many years and many hurricanes. What is the issue?
I know you are passionate and respect you for that, but have you
reviewed the manual? It is a flawless compendium of pre-engineered
standards and details. In fact, many Architects and Engineers simply use
it for their design.

 

Builders have historically designed simple homes for the public and that
ability should not change provided they use pre-engineered publications.
The new one is the ICC 600 and it expands the contractors abilities to
design further by expanding the pre-engineered parameters - OBTY, that
largely was the result of your profession advocating it.

 

Let's saddle up those Iron Horses and go for a ride to the Lakeland
Fly-In. 

 

Life is too short to worry about pre-engineered design.

 

Your Friend,

 

 

R.J.Koning - Director

Contractors Institute

rjkoning at contractorsinstitute.com

8301 Joliet Street

Hudson, Fl 34667

727-863-5147

 

 

 

From: Eric Kuritzky [mailto:kuritzky at bellsouth.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 3:52 PM
To: Building Officials Association of Florida, Inc.
Subject: [boafdiscussion] To all my professional associates

 

Soap box time....

I am amazed at how, when I suggest architects and engineers should be a
required part of the residential design and document process, fully
knowing the exceptions in codes and statutes, how bizarrely defensive
everyone gets, as if the only thing I'm trying to push is some income
source for architects or engineers, or that I'm trying to put
residential designer out of business.  I work with some excellent
residential designers.  So many participants out there seem to think
that Hurricane Andrew, which set in motion the most radical code changes
in the country, meant oh so little to residential construction, as if
I'm totally ignorant.

Please.  

The residential exemption is purely political.

And this repeated mantra that architects are ignorant of the codes,
which justifies their exclusion from residential construction.  No one
ever suggests the less than qualified contractors or municipal
representatives that are equally represented in the ranks of  the 'less
than knowledgeable' construction  professionals.

Please.  

No branch of this industry is without it's weak links.

But those of us who are tested, educated and licensed know that there is
a regulatory board or two, a national licensing and code agency or
three,  that we ultimately must answer to, besides our own conscience.
Our ability to practice what we do is subject to scrutiny, and can
readily be taken away.

If I might be a bit of a smart ass for moment....(really, just this
once?)......architects and engineers don't make the 15%-20% that many
builders make on homes (yes, when the economy is ticking away as it used
to...no one is making squat right now, including architects, so I don't
want to hear about it.  Homeowners all too often try to build their own
home to avoid that 15%-20% markup.  Stupid as they are.).  On the best,
biggest custom homes, they might make 10%.  And they assume remarkable
liability, as we all are.

At what point does adding a layer of protection for a few thousand
dollars not make sense in the construction of the biggest investment
anyone makes....their HOME.

Should all those other little code requirements, which all cost
something, be routinely excluded from homes?  Better windows, doors?
Wind resistant exteriors? Smoke detectors? Arc fault or GFI?  Egress
windows in bedrooms?

History has shown that the industry has not collapsed from the ever
increasing costs placed on construction from ever more demanding codes.
No one stops buying homes.  No one stops putting 60 inch plasma TV's and
Ford 350 dually's in their garage, or bass boats, or jet skis, or
anything else.  Yet everyone yells about the sky falling.

But our responsibility is the security and safety of that home and it's
contents, whatever it might be.

And if architects and engineers are so ignorant of the codes, why not
eliminate them from all construction, and let those wonderful commercial
contractors design hospitals, hotels, city halls, commercial buildings,
etc?
Why?  Because we actually do know what we're doing more than we get
credit for.

But we are no more perfect than everyone else.  There are miscreants on
all professions, even architects and engineers.   I have seen too many
building departments approve plan stamping by engineers of the most
offensive sets of plans. I'm reviewing a suit now on a multi-story condo
project, the plan approval of which should not have happened. But we are
the first, and usually the last line of defense.  Once the building
department signs the CO, and the contractor's company folds, it's
usually the architects and engineers left standing to face the problems.

But I digress, as usual.

Those that know me should appreciate that my interest is in the public
and the quality of my own profession.  I prepare better than average
plans, I consult with building departments, I respect and work with
contractors, and my obligation as a member of the Board of Architecture
has required me to punish far too many of my own profession to not
comprehend all that is really associated with what we do.

So why should homes be excluded?  Really, why?  

And $$$$ is not the answer.

Thank you for your indulgence. I'll go back to being quiet....for a
while.



 

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