Introduction to the North Carolina Rehab Code

1. Introduction to the North Carolina Rehab Code

2. Introduction • What is the Rehab Code? • Establishes code requirements, tailor-made for existing buildings • Establishes a common sense approach to rehab problems • Rehab Code is a rare opportunity • Means a great deal to our community

3. Introduction • Rehab Code requires new approach • Solving building code problems alone won’t do it • Must remove local obstacles • Local agencies must be proactive in solving problems • New approach to rehab code issues will require a new approach to solving local regulatory issues • Rehab projects must be identified as special

4. Introduction • Become champions of the program • Special assignment • Embrace the Rehab Code • Use it • Get others to do the same

5. Introduction to the Rehab Code Concept:“Common Sense Codified”

6. History of the Rehab Code • Developed in New Jersey in the late 90’s; in place for 5 years • Hailed as a national model for urban redevelopment efforts • 1999 National Award Winner - Innovations in American Government

7. History of the Rehab Code • Development driven by: • Dissatisfaction with the model codes used on existing buildings • The Problem: • Building codes typically oriented to new construction • Applying code requirements for new buildings to “old” buildings major problem for builders and developers

8. Development Process • Rethought 100 years of code development • 40 person advisory board • All segments of stakeholders represented

9. Development Process • Guiding Principle #1: Predictability • When beginning a rehab project, not the time to beat them over the head with the code requirements • Should be able to determine scope and cost ahead of time

10. Development Process • Guiding Principle #2 Maintain Building Safety: • Work performed should leave the building no less safe than when work began

11. Development Process • Guiding Principle #3: Coordination • Coordinate Rehab Code with Fire Prevention Code; emphasizing/ establishing minimum level of life safety

12. Development Process • Guiding Principle #4 Predictability • Should be able to determine work scope and cost ahead of time

13. Development Process • Guiding Principle #5: Proportionality • Requirements are in proportion to work planned

14. Development Process • Discovered the following: • Scoping for model codes ok for new buildings • But don’t necessarily work well on older buildings • So rethought role of : height and area; construction type; arbitrary dimensions • With much less emphasis on these

15. For the Fire Marshal: About Safety • Key player in the development of New Jersey Rehab Code: George Miller • New Jersey State Fire Marshal • President, National Association of State Fire Marshals

16. For the Fire Marshal: About Safety • This code gives you more • Premise: minimum level of life safety maintained by fire prevention code: • Minimum level can’t diminish • Puts emphasis on the benefits of alarms and suppression…even if partial

17. How the Code Works • Cookbook Approach • 6 categories • 4 on rehab scope • Repair • Renovation • Alteration • Reconstruction • Other • Change of Use • Historical

18. How the Code Works

19. How the Code Works • Code applies to variety of projects that enhance the community

20. How the Code Works • Residential • Single-Family • Affordable Housing

21. How the Code Works • Multi-Family • Economic Development

22. How the Code Works • Historic Preservation • Urban Redevelopment

23. Benefits of the Rehab Code • Ensures safe buildings • Encourages upgrading of buildings • Applies common sense standards to renovating buildings • Encourages reinvestment in existing buildings and neighborhoods • Promotes “Smart Growth” • Simplifies and speeds building code enforcement

24. Additional Benefits of the Rehab Code

25. Secondary Benefits of the Rehab Code • Encourages adaptive reuse

26. Secondary Benefits of the Rehab Code • Mitigates sprawl

27. Secondary Benefits of the Rehab Code • Encourages urban investment

28. Supports projects where non- conventional funding is used Brown fields, ITC, etc. Stretches these funding dollars Secondary Benefits of the Rehab Code

29. Secondary Benefits of the Rehab Code • Supports affordable housing

30. Secondary Benefits of the Rehab Code • Supports main street programs

31. Secondary Benefits of the Rehab Code • Supports transit

32. NC Rehab Code Development Update • Tentative completion date: March 15, - April 15, 2002

33. NC Rehab Code Development Update • Code Development • The Rehab Pilot Code is described in Session Law NC2001-372 • “Lead Local Jurisdiction” must deliver a draft cross-reference document to the NC DOI by February 17, 2002 • Cross referencing the NJ Rehab Code to: • 1999 NCSBC (SBC) • 2002 NCSBC (IBC)

34. NC Rehab Code Development Update • Training • Working with Asheville, Wilmington and Raleigh on redevelopment • Also, AIA-North Carolina • We have contracted with a trainer, qualified in the New Jersey training program, as the primary educator

35. NC Rehab Code Development Update • Training • Code officials train with architects, engineers and others • 2-Day Training Sessions

36. NC Rehab Code Development Update • Training • Training locations will be Mecklenburg, Asheville, Wilmington and Raleigh

37. The North Carolina Rehab Code“Common Sense Codified”