Building Code Legislation to be introduced at Special Session of Louisiana Legislature Beginning November 6

SOLUTIA PRESS RELEASE 11/04/2005

ST. LOUIS – November 4, 2005 – On the heels of a sobering post-Katrina hurricane study conducted by the Louisiana State University (LSU) Hurricane Center, statewide building code legislation is set to be introduced at a special session of the Louisiana Legislature beginning Monday, Nov. 6.

“Adopting a statewide building code could be a significant factor in rebuilding Louisiana to safer standards,” says Nanette Lockwood, legislative affairs manager at Solutia and one of the authors of the proposed legislation. “Louisiana should be commended for responding quickly to this need for improved construction methods.”

The LSU study, sponsored by Solutia Inc. (OTCBB: SOLUQ), found that more than 75 percent of residential hurricane wind damage could have been prevented by the use of hurricane mitigation building techniques including: opening protection, improved connection of the roof deck, installation of hurricane straps and secondary moisture protection of the roof deck. These techniques could have prevented nearly $8 billion in residential losses due to Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana alone.

Based on the study’s finding, and with the support of Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and local business and consumer interests, new building code legislation is scheduled to be introduced during a special session of the Louisiana Legislature beginning Nov. 6. The proposed bill would do the following:

• Establish a Louisiana Building Codes Council appointed by the governor to review and adopt state building codes, regulate training and education of code officials and oversee implementation of the codes at the local level.
• Establish mandatory statewide codes for the construction, reconstruction and repairs of buildings based on the International Building Code, International Residential Code, and the International Existing Buildings Code, 2003 editions, within six months of enactment.
• Establish emergency application of flood and wind provisions to parishes designated as disaster areas within 30 days of enactment.

“Quick enactment of regulation should stimulate the economic growth in Louisiana, providing additional jobs and will send a message to Congress that Louisiana has taken an important step in rebuilding to safer standards,” says Lockwood.

For more information about these legislative efforts in Louisiana, contact Nanette Lockwood at njlock@solutia.com