Updates to Florida Building Code Now in Effect

After Hurricane Andrew pummeled South Florida in 1992, one positive development that came from the widespread destruction was the development of a statewide building code and tougher inspections to stop the kind of inferior construction that can’t stand up in the face of hurricane winds. The Florida Building Code, adopted statewide in 2002, replaced a hodgepodge of building codes and regulations that were enforced by more than 400 local municipalities and state agencies.

Code amendments in 2010 increased the wind speed requirements for building design. Updates for 2015 are now in effect.

New Updates to Energy Code

The International Code Council and the Florida Building Commission, operating under the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), have introduced significant updates to the Florida Building Codes that are intended to result in safer, more sustainable homes and buildings. Use of the new 2015 Florida State Building Codes is mandatory for all new construction or rehab projects that are permitted June 30, 2015 or later.

One of the biggest changes from the 2010 code amendment is the revision of the Energy Code, which divides low-rise residential and commercial or high-rise residential into two independent sub-documents. For more information, visit the Florida Building Commission website or the International Code Council website.

Southeastern Metals™ offers many products that are Miami Dade County and Florida Building Code approved, which means they conform to some of the strictest code requirements in the nation. For a complete list, call us today at (800) 874-0335 or submit a contact request. SEMCO’s distribution area includes Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.