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First Bill Seeking to Strengthen USVI Building Codes in 14 Years Breezes Through Committee
In a move to bolster resilience against natural disasters and enhance safety standards, the U.S. Virgin Islands is set to adopt a series of robust building code changes.
Spearheaded by Senator Donna Frett-Gregory, Bill 35-0172, which breezed through the Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure, and Planning, proposes to amend Title 29, Chapter 5 of the Virgin Islands Code. This revision will incorporate specific provisions from the 2018 edition of the International Building Code, a critical update considering the territory's building codes have remained unchanged since 2010.
The proposed changes are comprehensive and targeted towards mitigating the impacts of natural disasters, especially in the wake of lessons learned from the devastating 2017 hurricanes. Among the key changes, the bill requires hurricane shelters in certain buildings and specifies standards for their design. Additionally, it aims to limit the use of stone and loose materials in roof gardens, enhance flood resistance in flood hazard areas, and enforce stricter guidelines for the construction of one- and two-family dwellings.
A notable emphasis is placed on environmental sustainability and resilience. The bill mandates that roof-mounted solar panels be resistant to hail impact and requires that gutters can withstand wind loads, aligning with nationally recognized standards. It also includes provisions for protecting exposed construction materials from weathering, particularly in cases where residential construction is staged six months and over.
