Prime Minister P.J. Patterson (left) at the monthly board meeting of directors of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce at the Terra Nova Hotel, St. Andrew, on Wednesday. Beside him is JCC president, Anthony Chang (centre), and Michael Ammar Jnr., JCC first vice-president. -Rudolph BrownTHE NEW National Building Code is to be completed in another four months, according to information out of the Office of the Prime Minister this week.
The information was included in the speaking notes of Prime Minister P.J. Patterson at a Jamaica Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wednesday.
"Building approvals and the process governing building standards are to be incorporated into a new Building Code, all elements of which are to be completed by September of this year," it said.
The Prime Minister, though referring to the Code, did not go into any details on it.
The Building Act will be amended to incorporate the Code and "will make express approval for buildings to be in accordance with the Code. At that stage, professionals will have full responsibility for the works they certify."
The responsibility for the Code falls under the Bureau of Standards.
It has been under review for some time, and last year the local engineering fraternity gave notice that it would be lobbying for its completion. The construction industry has been in direct dialogue with the Prime Minister on the Code, a comprehensive and inclusive policy for the sector, and other issues, through the Development Council, which he chairs.
OTHER CODES
In 1983, a Building Code was published as a policy document, but it had no legal status. Another was developed two years after, the Caribbean Unified Building Code of 1985, but apart from being almost 20 years old, the Jamaica Institution of Engineers president, Noel daCosta, said it was not a legal document.
The code now being developed is meant to be applied to all building activity roads, drains and bridges, as well as buildings and will require the conformance by both local and foreign developers/contractors.
At present, the construction industry in Jamaica is regulated by a law established more than a century ago, the Kingston and St. Andrew Building Act of 1883.
New Building Code in September
THE NEW National Building Code is to be completed in another four months, according to information out of the Office of the Prime Minister this week.
The information was included in the speaking notes of Prime Minister P.J. Patterson at a Jamaica Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wednesday.
"Building approvals and the process governing building standards are to be incorporated into a new Building Code, all elements of which are to be completed by September of this year," it said.
The Prime Minister, though referring to the Code, did not go into any details on it.
The Building Act will be amended to incorporate the Code and "will make express approval for buildings to be in accordance with the Code. At that stage, professionals will have full responsibility for the works they certify."
The responsibility for the Code falls under the Bureau of Standards.
It has been under review for some time, and last year the local engineering fraternity gave notice that it would be lobbying for its completion. The construction industry has been in direct dialogue with the Prime Minister on the Code, a comprehensive and inclusive policy for the sector, and other issues, through the Development Council, which he chairs.
OTHER CODES
In 1983, a Building Code was published as a policy document, but it had no legal status. Another was developed two years after, the Caribbean Unified Building Code of 1985, but apart from being almost 20 years old, the Jamaica Institution of Engineers president, Noel daCosta, said it was not a legal document.
The code now being developed is meant to be applied to all building activity roads, drains and bridges, as well as buildings and will require the conformance by both local and foreign developers/contractors.
At present, the construction industry in Jamaica is regulated by a law established more than a century ago, the Kingston and St. Andrew Building Act of 1883.
