Jackson aldermen approve new building codes

New houses will have to meet tougher earthquake guidelines; basements will need more exits.

The Jackson Board of Aldermen adopted new international building codes Monday that should improve the city's Insurance Service Office rating, and could lower future insurance rates.

Janet Sanders, Jackson's building and planning superintendent, said by adopting the new building codes, the city has a chance of improving the ISO rating to at least a seven. The rates go into effect Oct. 10.

The 2003 International Codes address earthquake, wind and fire issues. They will require new buildings to be constructed with more stable materials and withstand 90 mph winds. Restrictions will be tougher on the number of emergency exits in basements as well.

The ISO's building code grading schedule is a fairly new concept and many insurance companies have yet to use the building code rating to set rates. However, the ISO has provided fire ratings for years and those ratings have become a standard benchmark for insurance companies.

Since the ISO's building codes schedule is so new, Sanders said she isn't sure if it will have a direct effect on insurance rates or not.

But the ISO believes that the more emphasis that is put on building codes and enforcing them, the less susceptible buildings will be to fire, wind and earthquakes.

The ISO encourages insurance companies to offer discounts to buildings in communities with good ratings.

Sanders said the new codes and possible lower insurance rates will apply to only building submissions after the date the ordinance goes into effect. Existing buildings will not be effected by the new code book.

City officials were worried that area builders and contractors would have a problem with the new codes, but no complaints have been made.

The ISO rated Jackson last September with a building code effectiveness at 9 on a 10-point scale, with 10 being the worst. The city had a year to make changes within the building department for a chance to improve its rating.

The city previously operated under codes from 1993.

jfreeze@semissourian.com