Ohio Department of Commerce Board of Building Standards Receives a $1.6 Million Federal Grant to Streamline Building Code Modernization, Enforcement Processes

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Industrial Compliance's Board of Building Standards (BBS)has received a three-year $1.6 million grant that will support initiatives to more effectively and efficiently update, implement, and enforce hazard-resistant building codes throughout the state.

Priority initiatives include evaluating adoption and/or implementation of codes that reduce risk; enhancing existing, adopted codes to incorporate more current requirements or higher standards; and developing professional workforce capabilities related to building codes through technical assistance and training.

"Natural events such as severe weather and other major occurrences present a constant, significant, yet unpredictable risk to Ohioans," said Timothy Galvin, BBS Chair. "What we do have the power to do is take steps to better prepare for these disasters not if, but when they occur. We are grateful for these funds that will be critical to helping us put into action steps that have already been identified to protect the lives, properties and livelihoods of all Ohioans."

Over the next three years, the BBS plans to use these funds to support various projects related to training, code review, certification technology, and building department resource support. These projects and initiatives include:

• Enhanced training of code enforcement officials, particularly as it relates to the development and enforcement of residential building codes.
• Replacement of a 20-year-old database used to process applications for modular construction projects in Ohio. Given a substantial increase in modular construction throughout the state, the existing database is inadequate to handle current and future needs. The updated system will allow the board to process applications with greater capability and capacity.
• Implementation of new technology initiatives and development of enforcement support materials for local building departments to help ensure building codes are being followed in a more efficient and uniform manner across Ohio. This is necessary since the BBS adopts Ohio's building codes and, for those localities that have their own building departments, certifies those local departments to enforce building codes. The Division of Industrial Compliance enforces the commercial building code in those communities that don't have their own local commercial building department.

"These projects were already on our radar screen; however, this funding provides us with the resources we need to more quickly take these projects from the plans and blueprints stage to reality," Galvin said.

The grant is being awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program's new Building Codes Plus-Up program. The $1.6 million awarded to Ohio is part of $137 million FEMA is making available for states, territories and tribal nations to support projects that carry out eligible building code modernization adoption and enforcement activities.

###

Division of Industrial Compliance

The Division of Industrial Compliance is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohio's chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at com.ohio.gov.