Foundation laid for building code

BARBADOS is forging ahead with the “long outstanding” building code.Minister of Public Works John Boyce gave this assurance last Wednesday while addressing the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers during a meeting at The Savannah Hotel, Hastings, Christ Church.He said the Ministry is working on a proposed building act that would provide the legal framework to establish the building standards authority and mandatory use of the building code.Boyce said the building authority was first set up around 2003 in its present skeletal form and offers advice from time to time as requested by the Town and Country Planning Department and any other entity requiringits services.“The team is also preparing a construction manual for detached houses and small buildings.“The Mministry’s staff have been meeting internally to discuss an approach that will allow for proper controls over building construction and occupancy when applying the standards set out in the building code,” he noted.The minister added that the code should be implemented in a manner that does not lengthen the process of regulation and create additional delay and unintended bureaucracy. Furthermore, he said attention is being paid to ensure that this regulatory statute does not add significantly to the prevailing high building costs in Barbados. Self-regulation “The ministry presently envisages a regulatory system managed by the building standards authority but allowing significant levels of self-regulation by professional engineers and architects who, it is envisaged, will be properly accredited by the authority to function in the prescribed manner,” Boyce said.He continued: “For control purposes we are proposing to have three categories of buildings: commercial buildings, private houses and government-owned buildings.“It is proposed that there shall be pre-approved forms designed by the building authority which will be submitted by the accredited professional to the building standards authority once Town and Country Planning approval has been obtained.”He noted that this will allow for an early start of construction by developers and contractors.“It is envisaged that the costfor commercial buildings will be included in the already significant architectural and engineering costs that characterise these designs.“In the case of the private housing stock, the General Insurance Association of Barbados has already signalled its interest in working with home owners to reduce premiums for building code compliance . . . ,” he said. (NB)