California reinstituted an ambitious plan to study dangerous earthquake faults and create zoning maps that could restrict development. In July, the California Geological Survey began to zone the Santa Monica fault, which is among 2,000 miles of fault lines statewide that still need to be mapped.
California drastically reduced these mapping efforts over the past 20 years because of budget cuts. Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed off on $1.49 million in new funding and $1.3 million in annual dedicated funding to be paid for with increased building permit fees.
Without the maps, many communities have limited information on the location of faults, and whether they might impact new development. More than a dozen properties were approved for construction on or near the Hollywood and Santa Monica faults over the last decade without in-depth studies that would have been required had the state zoned those faults, according to the Los Angeles Times. Both faults could cause major temblors.
Building permit fees were increased by about 30% to fund the mapping project.
(http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-quake-faults-20140702-story.html)
Related Stories
| Jan 16, 2013
Standards that include reflective roofs must take into account local climate
Roofs painted white can reflect heat and reduce warm-weather energy use, but in cooler regions like Minneapolis or Chicago, the issue of energy-efficiency is less straightforward.
| Jan 16, 2013
New standard for geothermal heat pump systems piping to be included in 2015 International Mechanical Code
NSF International, an independent global organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products, has published the first in a series of American National Standards for Ground-Source Geothermal Piping Systems – NSF/ANSI 358-1.
| Jan 16, 2013
ANSI passes new safety standards for reinforcing steel and post-tensioning
The ANSI A10 Accredited Standards Committee for Construction and Demolition Operations recently approved amendments to the ANSI A10.9 Concrete and Masonry Standard.
| Jan 8, 2013
Congress passes Drywall Safety Act
Congress recently passed the Drywall Safety Act; President Barack Obama is expected to sign it soon.
| Jan 8, 2013
Building-integrated PVs could help boost green standards over the next few years
A developing technology could begin to have an impact on sustainable standards over the next few years.
| Jan 8, 2013
Revamp of codes among nine low tech steps to raise community resiliency
Updating of local zoning and building codes is one of nine low-tech steps that can boost sustainability and storm resiliency, according to this article.
| Jan 8, 2013
Group releases safety and building codes from 24 countries
Public.Resource.Org released 10,062 public safety documents including building codes covering 24 countries and 6 regions.
| Jan 8, 2013
Montana developing high-performance building standards for state projects
The Montana Department of Administration is developing a single building standard for all state facilities, and hopes to have a plan in place this spring.
| Jan 4, 2013
AGC economist says "fiscal cliff" deal will give construction a boost
The deal in Congress to avoid going over the so-called fiscal cliff "should encourage many businesses to go ahead with projects they have held in reserve," said Ken Simonson, chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America.
| Jan 4, 2013
California standards on furnishings, insulation to be revised
California is revising the state’s standards on interior furniture and insulation to maintain or improve fire safety while reducing or eliminating the use of toxic chemicals.
