Building Codes and Standards – FAQs

Only projects under DOT regulation 49 CFR 37.21 require detectable warnings.  Please review 406.7 here. https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/buildings-and-sites/about-the-ada-standards/ada-standards/chapter-4-accessible-routes#406%20Curb%20Ramps

Go to www.floridabuilding.org > click the top button “Florida Building Code” > click “Access the FBC online > click 2010 code > states > Florida > click Accessibility Code volume.

Register at www.floridabuilding.org > click on “User Registration “ and provide a valid email address.

Go to the following link: http://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/committees/accessibility/aac/ACC_App_Due_Dates.html.

Florida can only issue waivers on Florida specific requirements. Please visit the following link for more information : http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=553.509,+F.S&URL=0500-0599/0553/Sections/0553.509.html.

A declaratory statement is the means for obtaining an opinion from the Florida Building Commission relating to the intent of issues within the scope of the Florida Building Code.  You may obtain information on how to file a request for declaratory statement at this website: http://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/dec_statements/1_request_decs.htm.  You may locate previously published declaratory statements at this link: http://floridabuilding.org/bc/bc_srch.aspx. For additional information, please visit the Floridabuilding.org website link at: http://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/dec_statements/chpt28-105.PDF or contact the Florida Building Commission directly at (850)487-1824.

Local amendments are issued by the local government or authority having jurisdiction such as the city, county or municipality in which you reside. Under certain strictly defined conditions, local governments may amend the Florida Building Code to be more stringent. Amendments to the Florida Building Code must be adopted by local ordinance and submitted to the Florida Building Commission via the Building Code Information System at least 30 days prior to being enforced. Adoption and Maintenance The Florida Building Code is adopted and updated triennially by the Florida Building Commission.  Minimum requirements for permitting, plans review and inspections are established by the code; however, local jurisdictions may adopt additional administrative requirements that are more stringent. Local technical amendments are subject to strict criteria established by Section 553.73, F.S. Local amendments may be adopted into the code or repealed when the code is updated triennially.  Local amendments are subject to appeal to the Commission according to the procedures established by Section 553.73, F.S. To determine if a local amendment has been established in your jurisdiction, you may visit the following link: http://floridabuilding.org/bc/bc_srch.aspx or contact your local Building Department (City and/or County). For additional information, please visit the Floridabuilding.org website link at: http://www.floridabuilding.org or contact the Florida Building Commission directly at (850)487-1824.

To access the correct website, go to www.floridabuilding.org Training providers must be registered with both DBPR and the Florida Building Commission (FBC) as a training provider. Providers need to have a login and password to use before an advanced course can be submitted or revised. If a password is lost, it will take a minimum of 24 hours for a re-issuance (Please secure). Interaction on the BCIS and with the (FBC) is not communication with any of the DBPR licensure boards (is a completely separate action). Before accessing the BCIS or submitting any kind of inquiry within, collect and have ready the following information (at a minimum):

• BCIS/FBC login and password
• Any advanced course number (s) (The FBC course number is different from any/each licensure board course number)
• Code edition/version (year) for a course or course application
• Name of training provider and/or accreditor

The course provider will log into (using login and password) the Building Code Information System (BCIS) at www.floridabuilding.org. ALL POP-UP BLOCKERS MUST BE DISABLED ON YOUR COMPUTER TO LOG IN! After logging in, click on “New Course” at the top of the page. This is where the course submission process will start. Submit to the BCIS through the on-screen application:

• Course title (If this is an advanced course, it should contain the word “Advanced” in the title of  the course and/or “Internet” if appropriate)
• Course number (Assigned by BCIS)
• Hours of credit
• Name, address, telephone number and email address of the provider
• Course description completely describing what the particular course is designed to address
• Code edition to which the course relates
• Course references cited in the outline
• Methods of course evaluation
• Target Audience (who is this course for)
• Number of hours
• Does the course have previous course approval
• Subject/Trade Area:  Select all areas that apply

The next step is to upload the appropriate files (training materials) in a PDF format.  The following files are required:

• Course Syllabus
• Course Materials (the same materials presented to the participant—not representative or partial)
• Detailed Course Outline (to include instructional methods)
• Detailed Course Timeline
• Learning Objectives

The file names uploaded into the BCIS should not include any symbols and should be limited to 50 characters in length.  Incorrect file names will cause an error in the uploading of documents and the files will not be available for viewing by the selected accreditor, creating a delay in the review of your course. At least 50% of the training materials must contain Florida Building Code, or Florida Statutes or rules related content. Training course materials must accurately reflect the Florida Building Code and topics under the jurisdiction of the Florida Building Commission.

Training providers must be registered with both DBPR and the FBC (FBC cost is $25.00). Only advanced courses are approved by the FBC. Other continuing education courses are approved by the various DBPR licensure boards. Courses are only submitted online, go to www.floridabuilding.org. Click on “Education and Accreditation”, then on “Submit a Course Application”. Complete the on – screen application and upload the appropriate files. As part of filling out the application, choose an accreditor (you will work with accreditor and pay them directly for their services). The accreditor will check and verify that all building code related content in the training materials is up-to-date with the current version of the Florida Building Code (most accreditors take 3-5 business days to complete their review). The accreditor will approve or deny the course materials (If deny, will work with the provider to correct any issues). If the materials are approved by the accreditor, an email will be generated by the BCIS and sent to the training provider and the FBC Education Administrator, stating the course has been accredited and is in “Pending Status” in the BCIS. Also, a BCIS number will be attached to the course (E.g., 123.0). If the course has been placed in “Pending Status” 23 calendar days or more prior to the next FBC meeting, the course will be placed on the next FBC Agenda. If the course was placed in “Pending Status” 22 calendar days or less prior to the next FBC meeting, it will be placed on the following meeting agenda. After a course is placed on the FBC agenda, members of the Education Program Oversight Committee (POC) will also review the course to ensure all building code referenced content is current with the latest version of the building code. The Education POC will then approve or deny those courses. The full Florida Building Commission will approve/deny courses based on the recommendations of the Education POC. After the FBC approves/denies, the Education Administrator (through an email from the BCIS) will notify the provider and accreditor of that approval/denial. The training provider may now take the FBC approval status of their advanced course to the various licensure boards to submit for their respective approval processes.

Currently, as explained in 61G20-6.002 F.A.C., there are four categories of course approvals. Those categories are called New Courses, Revised Courses, Revised Courses-One Change, Self Affirmed Courses (No Changes). Courses in all categories are considered advanced courses. New courses are those courses that are submitted by training providers, which have never been accredited, using the FBC approved and sponsored accreditation process. The accreditation process ensures that all building code related content is both valid and current with the newest version of the building code. Also, a course may be considered new if the format/delivery of the course has been altered, such as an instructor lead course modified to be delivered via the Internet. This modified course may have already been accredited, but will have to be re-accredited with the format/delivery changes. New courses may not be submitted to the DEBPR/licensing boards as advance courses until they are approved by the Florida Building Commission. Revised courses are courses that have been previously accredited, but must be revised as a result of changes to the building code. The number of revisions that can occur in this category are limitless, but must be more than one.  If the course is submitted as a revised course, using previously assigned course numbers, these courses are administratively approved by the FBC Education Administrator, which means they can submitted to the DBPR/licensing boards as revised advance courses while awaiting full FBC approval. Revised courses-One change are courses that have been previously accredited and only require one change to the course materials, which could include a correction or revision to a reference, table, diagram, or quoted provision of code, law, or administrative rule. The one change can occur multiple times. The code version relating to the update must be noted on the course application. These courses are administratively approved by the FBC Education Administrator, which means that they can be submitted to the DBPR/licensing boards as revised advance courses while awaiting full FBC approval. Self-affirmed courses are courses that have not been affected by a new version of the code, which means that nothing has changed in the course materials, as they relate to the Florida Building Code. These courses are also administratively approved by the FBC Education Administrator, which means that they can be submitted to the DBPR/licensing boards as revised advance courses while awaiting full FBC approval.

The Florida Building Code requires the size of your air conditioner to match the size and conditions of your house. Knowing how many windows you have, how efficient they are and the direction they face, as well as how much insulation installed in the walls and ceiling (and other factors) will determine how big the a/c unit has to be to meet the energy “load” of the home.

Air conditioner/heat pump parts are designed to operate at a given pressure for summer or winter conditions using a specific “refrigerant” (fluid). That’s not to say that it has to be made by the same manufacturer, just that the design conditions for your indoor unit need to match those of your outdoor unit for your air conditioner or heat pump to operate properly.

The intent of the Code was for the provisions of Sections 101.4.7.1.1 and 101.4.7.1.2 of the Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, for HVAC equipment replacement to apply to residential buildings. The Florida Building Commission has entered rulemaking to fix certain issues; one of the code changes would be to clarify that these sections apply only to residential buildings.

Section 101.4.7, Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, requires the air conditioning contractor or licensed Florida professional engineer to provide the sizing calculations for heating and air conditioning (HVAC) at the time of permit. These sizing calculations can be obtained from the HVAC manufacturers or software approved by the building officials. Original systems installed on buildings constructed under the 1993 Energy Code or later have already been sized for the building and, without changes to the building, may be assumed to have been sized per code subject to approval by the building official. If a copy of a previous sizing calculation is provided, it is within the authority of the building official to accept said alternative.

For a total replacement of HVAC evaporators and condensing units in residential buildings, contractor must certify the equipment meets the minimum energy efficiencies and all accessible (minimum “30” clearance) joints and seems have been inspected and sealed where needed. This inspection can occur through observation. Investigation or testing is not required. The contractor must seal only joints and seems identified through observation.

Per Section 101.4.7, Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, if the unit being replaced is itself a functional unit, such as a condenser, that does not constitute a repair. Matched systems are required. The Energy Code allows matched systems to be verified by several methods, including a letter from the equipment manufacturer or a registered Florida professional engineer The matched system does not have to meet the code minimum equipment efficiencies, but should be returned to its original condition. Associated ducts and wiring do not need to be replaced. The units do not have to be made by the same manufacturer.

The residential brochure is available at: Thinking About Buying A Home? Get An EnergyGauge Rating!.pdf and Get An EnergyGauge Rating!.pdf The commercial building brochure is not available online, but can be obtained from the Florida Solar Energy Center, EnergyGauge Office, at (321) 638-1715.

University of Florida, Shimberg Center Post Office Box 115703 Gainesville, Florida 32611-5703

As defined in Rule 61-41, F.A.C., a “closed construction” structure, building assembly or system of subassemblies, ………manufactured for installation or erection…… as a finished building or as part of a finished building………”.  “Closed construction is defined as a building, component, assembly, etc……manufactured in such a manner that all portions cannot be readily inspected at the installation site without disassembly or destruction thereof”.  This includes residential, commercial, storage sheds, portable classrooms, guard shacks, communication buildings, kiosks, gazebos, ice vending buildings and ATMs (if occupiable). NOTE: Mobile X-Ray/MRI Units, bathrooms, cafeterias, etc. that are mounted on a trailer do not come under the jurisdiction of the FBC or DBPR because they are not considered a building.

Chapter  553.80(1)(d) states, “Building plans approved under s. 553.77(3) and state-approved manufactured buildings, including buildings manufactured and assembled offsite and not intended for habitation, such as lawn storage buildings and storage sheds, are exempt from local code enforcing agency plan reviews except for provisions of the code relating to erection, assembly, or construction at the site. Erection, assembly, and construction at the site are subject to local permitting and inspections. Lawn storage buildings and storage sheds bearing the insignia of approval of the department are not subject to s. 553.842. Such buildings that do not exceed 400 square feet may be delivered and installed without need of a contractor’s or specialty license.

No, 102.2 FBC states “The following buildings, structures and facilities are exempt from the Florida Building Code as provided by law, and any further exemptions shall be as determined by the legislature and provided by law: (d) Temporary buildings or sheds used exclusively for construction purposes. (e) Mobile or modular structures used as temporary offices, except that the provisions of Part II (Section 553.501-553.513, Florida Statutes) relating to accessibility by persons with disabilities shall apply to such mobile or modular structures.

Follow these steps:  Go to: www.floridabuilding.org ,click on the Manufactured (Modular) Buildings icon, click on either “Find an Insignia” or “Find a Plan”, as applicable.

Rule 61G20-3, F.A.C., provides the technical scope and criteria for the State Product Approval System.  Rule 61G20-3, F.A.C., can be accessed at:  https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=61G20-3

Organizations approved by the Florida Building Commission can be located on the Building Code Information System at:  www.floridabuilding.org  > Product Approval>Find an Organization or http://www.floridabuilding.org/pr/pr_org_srch.aspx

The product approval process can take up to 60 days or more depending on the review process (i.e., two months for test and evaluation report methods and ten days for certification methods).  A schedule/process for product applications is located on the Product Approval Meetings and Agendas page.

Go to www.floridabuilding.org: Login, Select “Submit Surcharge”, Enter Surcharge, Select   Report(s) to be submitted, Enter Payment.

As of January 1, 2005, the Florida Building Commission no longer accepts mailed-in paper checks for Surcharge Payment. Only On-Line Payments by electronic check will be accepted.  You must make payment on-line via www.floridabuilding.org.

Please login at www.floridabuilding.org (using your jurisdiction login and password mailed to you last quarter). Go to “Modify My Profile” to make changes to or to add additional contacts.