New Building Code Legislation to Keep Mississippi Safer During Upcoming Hurricane Season

The Coalition to Build a Safer and Stronger Mississippi, made up of more than 30 building industry organizations and associations, helped push for legislation governing stronger building codes in Mississippi, a recent DuPont news release announced.

With the 2006 hurricane season rapidly approaching, the Mississippi legislature has passed stronger building code legislation to help protect homes and businesses along the Mississippi Gulf Coast from damage caused by hurricane winds. The legislation, which will affect the five costal counties of Mississippi-Jackson, Harrison, Hancock, Stone and Pearl River-ensures that any newly constructed residential and commercial structures have maximum protection for windows and doors by requiring building standards that mandate protection. Governor Haley Barbour signed the legislation on Friday, April 21.

According to DuPont, the coalition took the lead in developing and encouraging support for the building code legislation that will protect people and their property by ensuring that residential and commercial buildings are built to withstand greater hurricane-force wind, rain and wind-borne debris.

DuPont Glass Laminating Solutions (GLS), a member of the coalition, educated government and community leaders on the importance of creating a stronger building code to help protect Mississippi residents.

"DuPont Glass Laminating Solutions is proud to have a role in successfully emphasizing the importance of a stronger building code in Mississippi and throughout the Gulf region," said Hector Rivero, DuPont government affairs manager. "The state's uniform building code is an important piece of legislation, and we applaud the industry's involvement in The Coalition to Build a Safer and Stronger Mississippi to work together to protect the people of this state."

The passage of Mississippi House Bill 1406, titled "Building a Safer and Stronger Mississippi Act," established a uniform building code that includes standards set by the International Building Code and the International Residential Code, the latest and most comprehensive codes available.

DuPont's Glass Laminating Solutions Group says it has extensive experience in providing counsel to states developing stronger building codes. In 1996, following the devastation of Hurricane Andrew, the state of Florida asked DuPont to participate in a group to study the development of a statewide building code and make recommendations on how the state should proceed. This work, along with legislative action, resulted in the formation of the Florida Building Commission, which helped to pass legislation for stronger building codes. Similar work in Louisiana in 2005 also led to the passage of stronger codes, which will apply to buildings rebuilt in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It will also be required for all buildings built or rebuilt statewide starting in 2007.