Industry Spotlight
July/August 2009
TRCC IMPLEMENTS SUNSET PROVISIONS
At its June 11 meeting, the Texas Residential Construction Commission announced a general timeline and action plan related to the implementation of the state's sunset provisions.
Under provisions of Texas Government Code 325.017, the commission will not be accepting new inspection requests after Aug. 31, 2009. In other action taken, the commission approved the following:
- All new homes and projects completed by Aug. 31, 2009must be registered.
- All new builder registrations and timely renewal registration applications will be accepted through Aug. 31, 2009.
- All new builder registrations and timely renewal registration applications will be prorated.
- Inspection requests will be accepted through Aug. 31, 2009.
- Inspection requests will be scheduled for inspection as soon as possible following commission rules, policies and procedures.
Commission Chairman Paulo Flores of Dallas says, "The commission felt it necessary to implement a timeline regarding the state's sunset provisions. Aug. 31, 2009 will be the last day that the commission will receive new business, to ensure we have enough time to properly assess and complete the casework."
The website will be updated as more information becomes available. For more information about any commission-related issues, go to www.TexasRCC.org.
EDGEWATER SOONTOWELCOME BUILDERS
With next month's opening of Edgewater, the Bay Area gains a new community that offers a one-of-a-kind lifestyle.
Slated for 2,600 residents when completed, Edgewater is inspired by the Mediterranean coast with gardens and lush landscaping enhancing its waterside appeal. Water Street, a grand boulevard, leads from Edgewater's landmark bell tower at the main entrance on NASA Parkway all the way to Clear Creek.
Garden spaces within neighborhoods will welcome community gatherings and the infrastructure-connecting streets and sidewalks throughout-is designed to support pedestrian activities, from morning jogs to evening strolls.
"Our planning was inspired by traditional neighborhood developments where all aspects of the community-homes, gardens, parks, recreational facilities, retail and more-are easily walkable," says Bob Douglas, general manager of Edgewater. "Connectivity is a strong theme throughout Edgewater and we worked to create numerous elements that would encourage neighbors to get to know one other."
As the Edgewater name indicates, water will feature prominently in the community. In future development, a marina will be built with direct access to Clear Creek, offering waterway access to Clear Lake, Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The marina, which will be equipped to accommodate powerboats as large as 50 feet, will be a gathering spot for residents, who can meet at the waterside clubhouse or host parties aboard their yachts.
Edgewater also will have a 35-acre nature preserve along Clear Creek, which will include boardwalks through undisturbed wetlands and offer residents abundant bird-watching opportunities.
"We are excited to bring this community to life. There really is nothing else like it in the Bay Area," says Doug Goff, senior vice president of The Johnson Development Corp., which is developing Edgewater. "We've had strong interest in the development and, since this community has only a limited number of homesites, we anticipate brisk sales."
Builders will soon begin selling homes in the community, with prices starting around $275,000. Future development plans call for semi-custom and custom homes, with buyers enjoying something a bit different-an island where owners with water access can house their boats along one of the adjacent canals.
BIG CHANGES PROPOSED FOR ENERGY STAR
According to the EPA's latest numbers, about 37 percent of all Texas homes are ENERGY STAR certified, leading the next six states combined. However, once the program's new requirements become effective in 2011, those numbers could drop significantly along with participation in the associated rebate programs.
New requirements include adjusted HERS Index scores depending on home size (larger homes will be penalized significantly), room to room pressure balancing tests (may require additional returns and may increase inspection fees), hot water distribution requiring manifold (PEX Home-Run) or demand systems, showerheads rated less than 2.0 gpm. and more strict Thermal Bypass requirements. The requirement of a Grade 1 insulation installation will preclude builders from using traditional batt insulation.
In addition to this, the REM/rate software that determines your HERS Index is currently under development, but is likely to be based on the new 2009 IECC, which, in and of itself, is about 12 to 15 percent more stringent than the current energy codes. In other words, an E-Star home in 2011 could be roughly 30 percent above today's existing codes (today's HERS 70), plus the considerations noted above.
ASSE SAN ANTONIOEXPOEXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
The American Society of Safety Engineers' (ASSE) 2009 Exposition at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio has exceeded expectations in the number of exhibitors and square feet sold despite the economy.
The expo featured many products aimed at enhancing safety. More than 380 companies exhibited at the exposition including Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, non-profit organizations such as the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association, colleges and more, including 70 new companies. Many are launching new products and providing interactive exhibits.
One new exhibitor is Koolin' Klothz, Etc., from Ozona, Texas. Reavis' company produces "cool cloth" inserts for hard hats and caps, neck bands, bandanas and rehabilitation safety blankets. Koolin' Klothz President Cindy Reavis says, "This show has been great for us sharing best practices with attendees and being able to help them as they address what we see here as the main causes of injuries-heat, eyes and ears. The attendees at Safety 2009 are experts in work safety."
"The interaction with practitioners here at the ASSE expo is invaluable for us because the attendees here at the ASSE conference are the actual users and implementers of the programs, training and services we supply," says Burcu Baykan, Marketing Leader of DuPont Safety Resources. "This show provides a unique opportunity for companies like us to collect feedback from key users to help us improve and bring solutions to market which are a better fit to the unique challenges of those companies the ASSE PDC attendees work for."
TAB SUPPORTS LAW MAKING FIRE SPRINKLERS HOMEBUYERS'CHOICE
The Texas Association of Builders (TAB) sent a letter to Gov. Rick Perry urging him to sign into law Senate Bill 1410, which includes an amendment to give homeowners the right to decide whether they want to install costly home fire sprinkler systems in new one- or two-family homes being constructed.
"Ample evidence shows that consumers don't want mandated home fire sprinkler systems and that hard-wired smoke alarms currently required by code are very effective at saving lives in fires," says TAB Executive Director Scott Norman.
"Senate Bill 1410 gives consumers a choice and helps keep housing affordable in Texas," Norman adds. "Many of those opposing this bill are looking to line their pockets under the guise of protecting consumers."
A fire sprinkler system adds roughly $4,000 to the cost of an average home, according to TAB. For each $1,000 added to the cost of an average-priced home, more than 28,000 Texas households are priced out of the market, according to the Texas A&M Real Estate Center.
"Mandating fire sprinklers would put the dream of homeownership out of reach for many Texans," Norman says. "Meanwhile, fire sprinkler manufacturers and installers would see their U.S. market share balloon from $100 million to $3 billion."
The amendment to SB 1410-upheld 120-15 by the Texas House of Representatives and 27-4 in the Texas Senate-does the following:
- Gives consumers the final choice of whether to install fire sprinklers in new home construction.
- Prohibits cities from requiring costly fire sprinkler systems in new one- or two-family homes.
- Allows cities to require builders to offer fire sprinkler systems in all new homes.
- Allows any existing home fire sprinkler ordinance in effect before Jan. 1, 2009, to continue.
Under current law, all Texas homes-with or without fire sprinklers- must comply with statewide building codes that require numerous proven fire safety systems, such as fire blocking, fire separation, electric circuit breakers and hard-wired smoke alarms.
"Opponents of SB 1410 will frame the issue in terms of local control. I see no greater form of local control than allowing individual consumers to choose if these systems are to be installed in their homes," says Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas (HBA) President TimJackson. "SB 1410 in no way prohibits the installation of fire sprinklers in homes, and our members will gladly install such systems if consumers can afford and assume the responsibilities for ongoing maintenance, inspection and testing of the systems."
Email your press releases or upcoming events to: editor@lpimultimedia.com
