2010 Florida Building Codes Update ADA Requirements, Energy Provisions, Wind Design

The International Code Council and the Florida Building Commission, housed within the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, have announced changes to the Florida Building Codes they say will result in safer, sustainable homes and buildings.

One of the most visible changes to the 2010 codes is the integration of the 2010 Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements within the 2010 Florida Accessibility Code. The Florida Building Commission also centralized all energy provisions, including the energy provisions formerly located in Chapter 13 of the Building Code and Chapter 11 of the Residential Code, creating the 2010 Florida Energy Conservation Code to promote ease of use and application. The new code also includes substantial revisions to wind- and flood-design provisions found in Chapter 16 of the Building Code. In accordance with the new American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE 7-2010, the standard creates a new wind map for the state.

The updated Florida State Building Codes are mandatory for all new construction or rehabilitation projects with a permit application date of March 15, 2012, or later.