CS for CS for CS for SB 1232 - Building Codes Summary

• Revises certification examination requirements for building code inspectors, plans examiners, and administrators; allows issuance of provisional certificates valid up to 3 years and requires code-related training as part of continuing education for multiple professions.

• Expands the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund to include Division II contractors (effective July 1, 2015) with maximum payment limits of $15,000 per Division II claim and $50,000 per Division I claim, with aggregate caps of $150,000 per Division II licensee and $500,000 per Division I licensee.

• Provides exemptions for apartment maintenance employees performing minor repairs to water heaters and HVAC systems (up to $1,000 per repair, minimum 100-unit property, with required National Apartment Association certification) and for low-voltage landscape lighting installation.

• Modifies public swimming pool regulations to require Department of Health inspections for compliance, establishes water-level detection device requirements for water heaters in conditioned spaces, limits fire service access elevators in certain residential buildings, and creates the Calder Sloan Swimming Pool Electrical Safety Task Force to report by November 1, 2015.

• Adjusts pool definitions to exclude certain portable pools from public pool regulation, allows combined local appeals boards for building and fire code conflicts, and establishes mandatory blower door testing effective April 1, 2016.