House approves minor changes to Louisiana’s building code

AP – The Louisiana House approved minor changes last week to the statewide building code that was enacted soon after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, aimed at reducing property damage when another storm strikes.

Rep. James Fannin, D-Jonesboro, won approval for his compromise measure after deleting a provision that would have significantly weakened the code.

“This is a tweaking of the building code,” said Rep. Gil Pinac, a supporter of the compromise bill.

Under current law, construction of a new home or renovations of existing homes requires certification from a licensed inspector that the structure conforms with a uniform building code. The code, based on international standards, was enacted in hopes that building tougher, more wind-resistant homes would reduce damage in future storms and lower property insurance rates.

Fannin had originally wanted major changes to the inspection process after hearing complaints from rural north Louisiana residents who said the inspectors are scarce and expensive.

House members narrowly rejected Fannin’s bill two weeks ago, after the insurance industry and Pinac, chairman of the House Commerce Committee, warned that insurance companies might stop writing homeowners policies for new houses if the inspection process were weakened.

The House voted 89-13 to approve an amended version of the bill last Wednesday after Fannin rewrote it, deleting the changes to the inspection process. His amended bill would make several changes to the building code law:

• Loosen code enforcement on simple renovations to existing homes. Builders doing a renovation would only have to perform their work according to the code if the renovation covers more than 50 percent of a home.

• Administrative changes to the state body that oversees the code and the inspection process.

• Loosen requirements regarding the installation of insulation.

The House also approved an amendment that would allow licensed building contractors to be hired inspectors. Currently, only architects and engineers are allowed to serve as inspectors.

The measure moves to the Senate. The House also passed an identical bill, by Pinac, that also moves to the Senate.

On the Net:

House Bills 486 and 704 are posted at http://legis.state.la.us/