About the State of Florida Building Code

The Florida Building Code has to take into account potential disasters like hurricanes.

The Florida Building Code is based on a set of national building codes and standards that are in place to ensure the safety and security of building construction within the Sunshine State.

History

Florida established its statewide building codes in the 1970s. These codes were not as strict as today's. In the 1990s, Florida was hit with a number of natural disasters, one of which was Category 5 Hurricane Andrew. As a result of the significant property damage, the state underwent a research study of its building codes that revealed the rules governing their creation and enforcement were not consistent statewide. Additionally, the hurricane codes in place were found to be inadequate when tested against severe hurricane-strength winds. In 1998, the Florida Legislature created a new building code.

Coverage

The Florida Building Code covers all public and private building construction in the state. It's divided into seven sections covering the different phases of the building process: plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, residential, testing for hurricane zones, electrical and existing building code.

Revisions

The Florida Building Code is updated every three years and may be amended yearly to include any changes. The local government may change any requirements it deems requiring more strict code restrictions. Proposed changes are reviewed by 10 Technical Advisory Committees that include members from the State Fire Marshal's office, and experts in the electrical, mechanical, roofing, energy and structural disciplines.

References

• 2007 Florida Building Code