New building codes now in place, Guam

CONTRACTORS will have to comply with new building codes now that Bill 433 has been enacted as Public Law 30-159.
The legislation amends Public Law 30-25 which was signed to adopt the 2009 International Building Code and enforce it immediately.
The code includes fuel gas, international mechanical, international plumbing, international property, international maintenance, international fire, and international energy conservation.  All must be met with satisfactory results by the agencies implementing the IBC, the Department of Public Works and the Guam Fire Department.
Opposition to the law was raised by realtors and businesses and the author of the bill, Sen. Tom Ada, submitted Bill 433 to postpone the enactment of the law from June 30 to Oct. 1 of this year.
Concerns raised included the amount of money residents would have to pay in order to comply with the law, which would be thousands of dollars.
The new date gives agencies more time to complete the necessary tasks needed to implement the law and also have a public forum on the code.
faredchaWith this in mind, the law also orders public works and GFD to conduct a public forum so that residents can provide input, recommendations and concerns about the building code.  The forum shall be conducted within 45 days after the enactment of the law.