Building code documents presented
The days of building what you like, the way you like may soon be at an end. The Government intends to adopt stricter building codes and to enforce them. A committee was established last year to review past attempts to bring buildings up to international standards and assess current needs, especially in light of Hurricane Mitch. Today, those proposed codes were presented to Prime Minister Said Musa.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Throughout the years, scores of Belizeans have lost their homes to fires and hurricanes. While nothing can be done to stop a hurricane, buildings can be made safer and strong enough to withstand high winds. In May of 1999, the task of proposing a National Building Code was given to the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The Belize Business Bureau and the Organization of American States.
Yolanda Crombie, President, BCCI
“We believe the business community had to take on this role because construction takes place annually both in the public and private sector. And really while it is the smaller people who get hurt in this whole process, they don’t have the facilities or they don’t have the funds to pursue those contractors who would not build average or less construction, so we think it is a safeguard for everyone.”
It took the group nine months and the assistance of many relevant departments to compile the Building Standards Documents.
Godwin Sutherland, Facilitator, Building Codes
“Prior to that there have been a number of efforts to take on a board or to look at a review of the Belize Building Legislation. This included as far back as 1970, you had people like Bob Mahler and others, who had been involved in the process and have identified the need for a closer review of building legislation in Belize and what we did was use all those efforts and we built on them. We set up a advisory committee which was headed by Cadet Henderson, the Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Works and we included in that committee all those agencies, for example health, public health, we included the fire department, I mean there have been a lot of issues involving fire. We included BTL, BEL all the statutory bodies that would in fact impact on construction and so a lot of what we produced had the input of these agencies and local professionals in the country.”
The new building code consists of a set of three books. A Working Papers for a proposed Building Legislation, a proposed Belize Residential Construction Standards and a proposed Belize Building Standards.
Said Musa
“I think the time is long overdue when we should have that and I know many have been trying over the years for us to achieve that. As far as I know at this time, we have only a building regime for Belize City and to a lesser extent one for Corozal town. So just about any people can do what they like in other parts of the country and unless they seriously violate the law with a gross
negligence, people are left defenseless, consumers, homeowners, so really this is an important work that is being undertaken today.
I am a little bit disappointed, I must share this with you, that the Hurricane Disaster Project is not moving as fast as we want it to and I am hoping that all who is involved with this, both the IDB side as well as the government side will find a way to move this project a little faster.”
The documents are being praised for the simple way they have been presented including the graphic illustrations. Sutherland says whether you are a professional builder, homeowner or student there is information for you in the codes.
The proposed Building Standards documents will now be presented to Cabinet. Once the legislation process is complete the National Building Code will be enforced by the municipal authorities, Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Housing.
