Controversial Proviso to Study the Validity of Wind and Seismic Residential Building Requirements Remains in 2008-2009 SC Budget Going to the Senate Finance Committee

The Structural Engineers Association of South Carolina and the SC Building Code Council are opposed the a proviso directing the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to spend $100,000 to contract with Clemson University’s Department of Civil Engineering and The Citadel to establish a research project to determine the validity of wind and seismic residential building requirements for South Carolina.

The opponents say this proviso “negates over 20 months of review and work by the SC Building Code Council. The codes including the International Residential Code, which began its adoption cycle in May, 2006 and was completed July 1, 2008 with statewide implementation of the codes.”

The proviso also stops the implementation of these new codes until the universities complete their report, which is due June 30, 2009.  The structural engineers say the current wording of the proviso is unacceptable and should be modified immediately to delete the moratorium on enforcement of the 2006 IRC.