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NMI looks to adopt int’l building codes
Sen. Sixto K. Igisomar (R-Saipan) has re-introduced a bill that would require the CNMI to adopt the International Building Code as the official building code of the Commonwealth. The IBC, a model building code developed by the International Code Council, aims to address health and safety conditions of buildings.
Senate Bill 21-3 was introduced as S.B. 20-46 in the previous Legislature. At that time, the House and Senate passed the legislation after making some amendments. It was left unassigned to a committee after being recalled from the Governor’s Office.
S.B. 21-3 is the same bill that Igisomar introduced in the 20th Legislature.
Right now, the CNMI is still using the 2009 version of the building code as established by the International Conference of Building Officials. The ICBO-established building code is updated every three years. The new bill would require the Building Safety Code Division of the Department of Public Works to adopt the IBC.
The bill states that it is critical that that the latest building code is up-to-date with national standards.
“It is the intent of the Legislature, therefore, to adopt the [IBC] as the official building code of the [CNMI], to make the 2012 edition the current version applied in the Commonwealth and to direct the Building Safety Official to adopt subsequent updates to, or new editions of the [IBC] as needed,” states S.B. 21-3.
The ICC publishes the IBC. The building safety code would provide standards for location, design, material, construction, enlargement maintenance, use, occupancy, and moving of buildings and structures in the CNMI.
The CNMI regulations shall be applied if conflicts or contradictions exist between BSC regulations issued under the IBC.
