Mike Silvers, CPRC, Silvers Systems Inc. & FRSA Director of Technical Services
There is good news from Monroe County. The Board of County Commissioners removed from consideration the following ordinance:
“SECTION 2: METAL ROOFING. Any new or substantially improved or repaired roof in Monroe County must be a standing seam roof.”
The roofing industry, by presenting consistent, well prepared information, helped the commission and their staff conclude that current damage evaluations and data do not support a need for this well-intentioned but unworkable ordinance.
The commission has directed its state legislative delegation to look for ways to allow similar limitations. We will continue to monitor this if it develops further.
In February, a meeting of the Florida Building Code Lightning Protection Workgroup will take place in Jacksonville. They will be discussing a suggested code modification to make lightning protection systems mandatory on all non-residential construction. These
systems are currently required on schools, hospitals and nursing homes only. They are optional on other buildings. Roofing contractors are involved in coordinating the installation, removal and re-installation of these systems. They also have to deal with the attachment points and the numerous penetrations inherent with these installations. FRSA sent a memorandum to the commission stating our opposition to an expansion of the requirements. We will be at the meeting to voice our concerns.
Since Hurricane Irma rebuilding began, we’ve received reports and questions from around the state concerning problems with local interpretation of the code or of manufacturer’s product approvals or notices of acceptance. They range from: verification of deck nailing under previously installed peel and stick underlayment (turns out they’re stuck); new peel and sticks not being allowed over previously installed peel and sticks; metal panels that have product approval for shingle recovers are not being allowed to be installed over one layer of shingles; vents that have received voluntary product approval not being allowed in an area where they had been previously. Some of these examples may be questionable while others are certainly correct, but they are based on local interpretations which can make it very difficult for contractors and manufacturers to comply. Some of these examples are similar to the Monroe County ordinance, they are well intentioned, but short on supporting data and (unlike the ordinance) they are often not in writing. The Florida Building Code was adopted at least partially in the hope of uniformity. If we cannot get a clear understanding
and documentation of local requirements and interpretations we will continue to have this confusion.
Our goal should be for a clear, consistent, teachable and enforceable building code. The Florida Building Commission and the Florida Building Code gives us an opportunity to pursue that goal.
Passage of the Monroe County ordinance would have undermined that objective. So do unwritten and unspecific local interpretations. In contrast, the Lightning Protection proposal is going through a review process that provides an opportunity for input from all interested parties. It will be discussed, debated and eventually voted on. In order for it to pass this must happen at several levels. If it is adopted it will be properly noticed and finally implemented.
This process allows us to separate these well-intentioned proposals and interpretations into the workable and unworkable and, just as importantly, the affordable from the unaffordable.
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 40 years of industry knowledge and experience to FRSA’s team. Mike is available to FRSA members who have code or technical questions and can be reached at 800-767-3772 ext. 169 or by email at silvers@floridaroof.com.
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