Marla Jones Managing Editor
FORT PAYNE, Ala.-- Fort Payne City officials met with building contractors on Thursday, January 26, to discuss implementing changes to building and fire codes.
Rodney Ballenger, of the Fort Payne Inspections Department, along with Fort Payne Fire Chief Stacy Smith and Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshall Wade Gorham, addressed the contractors of the changes that the City of Fort Payne was considering.
“City Inspectors have dedicated a lot of time toward researching the codes and the impacts that new codes would have on buildings and business in the City of Fort Payne” stated Fort Payne Fire Chief Stacy Smith. “The City is considering the adoption of the 2021 International Fire Code. The State of Alabama adopted the 2021 IFE, which went into effect on January 1, 2023”.
“Code adoptions affect ISO ratings for a City. ISO (Insurance Services Office) regularly audits a city’s infrastructure such as the 911 system, the water system, fire department capabilities, and the building and fire codes in the jurisdiction” continued Smith.
The better the ISO rating that a city has, the better the insurance premiums are for the homeowner.
Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshall Wade Gorham, discussed designating someone to be a “site safety inspector” for the job and providing contact information to the fire department in case anything happened on the job site.
Building codes are structural requirements for residential and commercial buildings to protect the occupants from hazards.
The City is considering adopting the 2017 electric code, 2015 building code, plumbing code, mechanical, residential, sewage disposal codes, fuel and gas codes, and zoning codes. Codes are updated routinely and keep contractors all on an even playing field.
Over twenty building contractors were present for the meeting. Most all stated that they were already abiding by the new building codes and did not foresee any increases in cost to their customers.
“This insures a better home for the customer” stated Scotty Vaughn of Vaughn Construction. “For example, with the changes of insulation requirements for homes from R-30 to R-35 in the ceilings, this provides a more energy efficient home, with lower power bills, for the homeowner”.
The Fort Payne City Council could adopt changes to building codes this month, with changes going into effect for permits issued after July 1, 2023.
