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User Participation in the Development of Standards: Summary of a Symposium (1995)

Chapter: Involvement of Design Organizations in the Development of Standards

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Suggested Citation:"Involvement of Design Organizations in the Development of Standards." National Research Council. 1995. User Participation in the Development of Standards: Summary of a Symposium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9200.
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INVOLVEMENT OF DESIGN ORGANIZATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS

Bob Fowler, FAIA
International Conference of Building Officials

There are both advantages and disadvantages to being near the endof the program. One of the disadvantages is that the speakers beforeyou covered most of the things you wanted to say. I had a preparedspeech, but I think I'm going to put it in the trash and speak extemporaneously.There are some issues that have been brought up that I would liketo address that perhaps fall more within my area of expertise thanthe subject of design firms. I did spend eight years in small designfirms, and was a partner of the firm. I do think I understand theissues involved especially in smaller firms and will address thatissue later.

First, I want to tell you of an incident that happened to me Saturday.I was in Minnesota to meet with the Building Officials of that state.After my program, a fellow who used to be my friend, came up to meand said, “Bob, I know you're from Texas where they raise Longhorn cattle; I wantedto tell you your talk was somewhat analogous to Longhorn cattle,you had a point out here, and a point out here, but there was a lotof bull in-between.” And I'm going to try to skip the bull in-between, tosave some of the time today, and maybe make a couple of points thatI'd like to leave you with.

The first point that I'd like to make is that our model code system and our standard systemare like two sides of the same coin; it's virtually impossible toseparate them. I've been traveling all around the country for thelast fifteen years trying to encourage architects and engineers toget involved and participate in the model code system. That sameencouragement applies to the standards organization even though Ihave not been as deeply involved, nor as close to the standards systemas I have the model codes. Frankly, I'm going to just tell you rightup front one of the main reasons I think that we have a relativelylow level of participation from our design professionals, is theyleave the universities with little knowledge of the codes or standardssystem. I spent six years at Texas Tech in their architecture andengineering program. In the six years there was less than one hourdevoted to informing

Suggested Citation:"Involvement of Design Organizations in the Development of Standards." National Research Council. 1995. User Participation in the Development of Standards: Summary of a Symposium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9200.
×

me about our national codes and standards systems. In my opinion,the codes are the first discipline of design. Any design professionalwho is not thoroughly familiar with codes and standards, and howthey are to be applied, is not proficient in his/her job. They aregoing to be wasting time, making mistakes, and creating confusion.I have met with the deans if at least ten architectural schools aroundthe country. I've asked them, “Why don't you teach students about our codes and standardssystem?” The answer is, What do we teach? There is so much confusionthat we do not know what to teach.” There is a certain element oftruth in what they're saying, but I think they're just evading the question because if nothingelse you need to teach the student that there is confusion and preparethem a little bit for what they are going to have to deal with. TheAIA is expending some energy in working with the schools of architectureto get them to provide some information about codes and standards.

In reality, we don't need every architect or every engineer involved in codes or standards.If we had one out of fifty, or even one out of a hundred, it woulddo. In my opinion, it is essential that the folks using and relyingon these codes and standards participate in their development.

You've heard earlier this morning that the really heavy hitters in thestandards process are the manufacturers. They are the ones that havethe most to gain or loose. They also have the most resources to participate,and you'll never change that. The fact that they have the most togain or loose, they will work the hardest to tip the standards inthe direction that benefits them. The participation of users, likearchitects, engineers, contractors, building owners, or buildingofficials, is essential to keep the codes and standards responsiveto public needs. I have seen areas where manufacturers have influencedstandards to the point that overkill causing unnecessary costs inconstruction. I was talking to some of you earlier, relative to whatmodel code and standard systems can and cannot do. To produce a codeand standard system for the country, we need to look at what shouldbe the minimum standards. The development of minimum standards requiresa broad base of participation.

Sometimes we need specialists, in certain areas; people who knowa great deal about certain features of the building or product andcan focus on special problems, without looking at a broad base. Forexample, we can look at seismic provisions. We have certain buildingsthat need to be virtually seismic proof. Assume you have a seismicevent that occurs every three hundred years. You are designing abuilding, with an expected life of fifty years and it's just a privatestructure without a great deal of need to perform after an earthquake,but merely to protect the lives that are in there, then you don't need to make that building earthquake proof. If you have a militarycommand center, a fire department, a hospital, or something else,perhaps you

Suggested Citation:"Involvement of Design Organizations in the Development of Standards." National Research Council. 1995. User Participation in the Development of Standards: Summary of a Symposium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9200.
×

need to extend the extra protection to make that building earthquakeproof. The broad base participation in codes and standards, alongwith the specialists, help in these special issues to identify wherea more moderate approach is appropriate. The specialist helps toset the standard to fit the special need or each type of building.

One of the reasons that architectural design firms don't participate more in codes and standards, is pure and simple, alot of them are struggling just to survive. They can't spare thetime that it takes. Some of these processes are drawn out over theyears. They don't have the endurance to stay with it. The abilityto travel is not there. It's very difficult to get a two or threeperson office that is able to participate in standards development.I said earlier if we could get one out of a hundred, I think it wouldbe adequate to establish this broader base that we are really lookingfor.

Now how can we do that? I think number one would be, begin to educateat the college level about the system. Number two, do a better jobof publicizing the opportunities that are available and perhaps specificallyseek out and invite individuals to participate. Number three, wecould give credit for participation. The AIA for example, is requiringcontinuing education credits, in order to stay a member of that organization.We could grant credits to an individual for participating. We canalso look for ways to help defray some of the cost. Make the meetinglocation easier to get to, or perhaps hold some of the meetings overa Saturday. I think there is a number of things in that area we couldlook at.

The second point I want to make is on a subject that some earlierspeakers brought up. That is the move toward national uniformitywith our model code. ICBO and SBCCI have just released the 1994 editions.The BOCA codes were released a year ago. As of today, all three ofthe model codes are in the same format. In other words, if you pickedup any one of the three model codes and you turn to Chapter 10, youare going to find Egress Provisions. This is a major step forward.It will serve two purposes, one is going to make the codes more userfriendly. But in my opinion, more important than that is the factthat it's going to make them more easily compared, it's going to identify the differences that are there. It isgoing to put additional pressure to get rid of those differences.This is where we are ultimately headed. It is my dream that whenwe publish the 1997 editions of the code, there will no longer bethree codes but only a single national model code.

In my opinion, the efforts that have been made in moving to thatdocument are very good. In November of last year the three modelcodes' officers met and initiated a process to update the CABO One-and Two-Family Dwelling Code. It is intended that it become the onlynational code, regulating residential construction, both on siteand in the factory. The code

Suggested Citation:"Involvement of Design Organizations in the Development of Standards." National Research Council. 1995. User Participation in the Development of Standards: Summary of a Symposium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9200.
×

will be a complete document. It will contain provisions for structural,electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and energy. New committees wereappointed. I had the opportunity to appoint a number of the committeemembers myself. I appointed some federal government representativesbecause it's my desire that HUD and other agencies will rely on thatdocument for construction standards. There is already a resolutionprepared from the state of Oregon, it will be presented to the ICBOmembership, calling for the elimination of other residential standardsin the UBC and relying on the CABO code. This certainly indicatesthe right spirit and the move in the right direction.

Perhaps more important than the residential code is another eventthat's taking place. Some of you may have heard about this, or hopefullybeen involved in it. This is the move toward a joint plumbing code.SBCCI, ICBO, and BOCA, put their plumbing codes on the table. Weselected six members, three staff members, three volunteers, andwe put them in a room, and requested that they produce a single documentfrom these three codes. That document was made available in June.Hearings were held in Fairfax, Virginia and Reno, Nevada to receivepublic input on it. The new draft document, based on that input isin production now. It will be available in August. I will presentit to our membership at our meeting in Indianapolis, the second weekin September, with a request that they approve it as ICBO's plumbingcode. Dave Smith, President of BOCA, will do the same at their meetinga week later in Dearborn, Michigan. It is my hope that SBCCI willdo the same in their October meeting. SBCCI did coorperate in theproduction of the code, but they have not committed to its adoptionyet. This is far more significant than just the production of theplumbing code itself. If it is successful and our memberships approveit, it is the pattern by which the rest of the codes can be developedinto one national document. There are already plans laid to startwork on the mechanical code. Other documents like our Dangerous BuildingCodes, Building Maintenance Code, and some of those smaller supportdocuments will also be brought together.

There was some mention about our regional aspect of these codes,being earthquake oriented in the west, wind oriented in the southand other problems, weather, etc., in the northeast. All three codesare now sufficiently developed in all areas that any one of themis adequate as a single national code. In other words, we could putthe three in a basket, reach in and pick one and adopt it as ournational construction standard. It will produce safe buildings anywherein the country. We do not need all three of them anymore. It's counterproductive,costly, and confusing. I have dedicated my energy, this year, towardmoving our conference toward national uniformity. I hope, that bythe time I leave office, that we have the snowball sufficiently puttogether, and over the edge, that it will have gained enough momentum

Suggested Citation:"Involvement of Design Organizations in the Development of Standards." National Research Council. 1995. User Participation in the Development of Standards: Summary of a Symposium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9200.
×

to keep going. I believe that it has to happen, and I believe thatit will happen. That is basically where we are, in the model codeorganizations, and the direction that we are going. I departed frommy speech entirely, but I did not record it so when I get home I'll have my secretary type up what I said and send it back. I'd be glad to answer any questions you might have.

Suggested Citation:"Involvement of Design Organizations in the Development of Standards." National Research Council. 1995. User Participation in the Development of Standards: Summary of a Symposium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9200.
×
Page 16
Suggested Citation:"Involvement of Design Organizations in the Development of Standards." National Research Council. 1995. User Participation in the Development of Standards: Summary of a Symposium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9200.
×
Page 17
Suggested Citation:"Involvement of Design Organizations in the Development of Standards." National Research Council. 1995. User Participation in the Development of Standards: Summary of a Symposium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9200.
×
Page 18
Suggested Citation:"Involvement of Design Organizations in the Development of Standards." National Research Council. 1995. User Participation in the Development of Standards: Summary of a Symposium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9200.
×
Page 19
Suggested Citation:"Involvement of Design Organizations in the Development of Standards." National Research Council. 1995. User Participation in the Development of Standards: Summary of a Symposium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9200.
×
Page 20
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