Translating Knowledge to On-the-Ground Results

1. Congressional Briefing Building Safety in the Face of Disasters October 5, 2011 Translating Knowledge to On-the-Ground Results Henry L. Green, Hon. AIA National Institute of Building Sciences 202-289-7800 hgreen@nibs.org

2. Public Law 93-383, Sect. 809 Congress directed the Institute to “exercise its functions and responsibilities in four general areas………..” • Develop and maintainperformance criteria for maintenance of life, safety, health, and public welfare for the built environment • Evaluate and prequalifybuilding technology and products • Conductrelated and needed investigations • Assemble, store, and disseminatetechnical data and related information

3. Mission “. . . to serve the nation and the public interest by supporting advances in building sciences and technology to improve the built environment.”

4. Attributes for High Performance

5. Institute Programs & Councils • Multihazard Mitigation Council • Provide a focal point for the dissemination of credible information and counsel on major policy issues involving multihazard disaster resilience. • Promote increased all-hazard (man-caused and natural) disaster resilience in homes and commercial buildings. • Promote a whole building strategy that incorporates sustainability, security, and use of GIS and other technological tools. • Address building systems and software applications that play a critical role in disaster resilience and sustainability.

6. Institute Programs & Councils • Building Seismic Safety Council • Promote development of seismic safety provisions suitable for use throughout the U.S.; • Recommend, encourage, and promote adoption of appropriate seismic safety provisions in voluntary standards and model codes; • Assess progress in the implementation of such provisions by federal, state, and local regulatory and construction agencies; • Identify opportunities improve seismic safety regulations and practices and encourage public and private organizations to effect such improvements;

7. The Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) 2012-13 Code Resource Support Committee (CRSC) focuses on the International Code Council’s next update cycle and identifying CRSC proposed changes for the International Building Code (IBC) or International Existing Building Code (IEBC)

8. Institute Programs & Councils • Building Seismic Safety Council • Promote the development of training and educational courses and materials for use by design professionals, builders, building regulatory officials, elected officials, industry representatives, other members of the building community, and the public; • Advise government bodies on their programs of research, development, and implementation; and Periodically review and evaluate research findings, practices, and experience and make recommendations for incorporation into seismic design practices.

9. Overview of Codes and Standards Enforcement Education & Training Adoption

10. Overview of Codes and Standards • Minimum requirements to protect health, safety and welfare in communities • Generally adopted and enforced at state and local level • Model codes developed to make use of vast array of building knowledge, efficient process and facilitate commerce • Developed through openness and consensus engaging stakeholders and experts

11. Improved Model Codes and Standards “The speed, magnitude and scope of the changes to building and fire codes, standards and practices in response to or consistent with the recommendations of the WTC investigation have been truly remarkable, Beyond changes to model codes and regulations, the industry itself has made significant advances in practice to improve the robustness and resilience of tall buildings. . .” Dr. Shyam Sunder, Sc.D., Director, Engineering Laboratory at NIST.

12. From Lessons to Codes

13. Government should endeavor to better understand the role of design and construction in infrastructure resilience. Application of this understanding will help to shape policy, R & D Funding, and incentives that can spur technological innovation as well as the robust design and construction of critical infrastructures needed for resilience. The National Infrastructure Advisory Council, September 2009

14. Benefits of Codes and Standards at the National Level • MMC report for FEMA • On average, $1 spent on hazard mitigation provides the nation about $4 in future benefits • Mitigation is most cost effective when carried out on comprehensive, community-wide, long-term basis • Resilient communities can better respond to hazards and remain economically and socially viable following an event

15. Reaching the Community

16. Thank you www.nibs.org