Mike Silvers, CPRC, Owner, Silvers Systems Inc. and FRSA Technical Director
Our members’ ongoing desire to remain up to date on building code issues is a testament to their professionalism. Our representation at the June Florida Building Commission’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings in Gainesville demonstrates how serious our industry is about being part of the process.
We are fortunate to have five FRSA members who serve on the Commission, Roofing and Energy TACs and workgroups. Several members of FRSA’s Codes Subcommittee also joined us. This set of meetings was for the TACs to consider public comments or proposed code modifications submitted during the first
45-day comment period.
With the continued support of our leadership, committees and members, I have the privilege of presenting our positions both for approval or denial before the various TACs. It is just as important to block unfavorable changes as to include beneficial ones. Our positions have been previously decided on and approved by our Codes Committee and Board of Directors. Our positions prevailed in 142 of 150 of the modifications that the Association took a position on. Only a few of the eight that didn’t go our way are of any significance. Our Codes Subcommittee will meet and review our position on those and any others that need our attention. We will work with other stakeholders as needed to offer alternate language during the second 45-day comment period.
Any modification can be brought back for reconsideration by a public recommendation or by submitting proposed alternate language. Those changes will be either denied or approved by the TACs and then forwarded as the TACs recommendations to the Commission for its final decision. To receive a TAC recommendation for approval, a 66 percent threshold is needed and approval by the Commission requires a 75 percent threshold. So, there is still a lot of work to be done, presentations to be made and votes to be taken – nothing is etched in stone quite yet but, with that said, we now have a good idea of what the new code should look like. As the code progresses, we will share that information over the coming months and year through articles, meetings and seminars to prepare you for what changes to expect in the new 2026 9th Edition of the FBC that will become effective on December 31, 2026.
The success we’ve had with our positions has been aided by our collaboration with many other stakeholders, including TRI, ARMA, FHBA, BOAF, Miami-Dade
County and others. By communicating with them ahead of the meetings and explaining why we intend to take a particular position, we greatly increase our
chances of success. By including representatives from all segments of the roofing industry on our Codes Committee, we can offer proposals and take positions
that have been thoroughly reviewed and vetted, adding credibility to our positions.
We owe gratitude to those who graciously volunteer their time to serve on the Commission, TAC or workgroup capacity. We also want to thank the members of our subcommittee and all our dedicated members who help to steer our efforts in improving the code. FRSA is viewed as a group that finds solutions to code-related issues and has led the effort to make Florida’s roofing-related code requirements – by every measure – the most effective in the country. The consistency in which we have approached the challenges we have faced for our trade, our industry and, most importantly, Florida’s citizens, continue to elevate the overall perception of our trade and what our industry brings to the table.
(Underlined committees indicate FRSA involvement)
Program Oversight Committees (POC)
Product Approval POC
Education POC
Technical Advisory Committees (TAC)
Accessibility TAC
Building Administration
Building Structural
Building Fire
Electrical
Energy
Hurricane Research Advisory Committee
Mechanical
Plumbing
Roofing
Special Occupancy
Swimming Pools
Mike Silvers, CPRC, is Owner of Silvers Systems Inc. and is consulting with FRSA as Director of Technical Services. Mike is an FRSA Past President, Life Member and Campanella Award recipient and brings over 50 years of industry knowledge and experience to FRSA’s team.
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