Llewelyn Bailey (centre), assistant general manager of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), makes a point to Noel daCosta (left), chairman of the Jamaica Institution of Engineers (JIE) Building Code Steering Committee, and Mary Allen, JNBS executive with responsibility for the JNBS Foundation. - Contributed
THE REALISATION of a modern National Building Code for Jamaica became one step closer with a donation of $2 million from the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation to the Jamaica Institution of Engineers (JIE).
The foundation, an associate company of the Jamaica National Building Society, is offering its support to revamp the island's existing building code, which dates back to 1892.
Mary Allen, JNBS executive with responsibility for the JNBS Foundation, noted that the assistance was in keeping with the foundation's goals to support developmental initiatives which will have a lasting beneficial impact on the lives of many Jamaicans, particularly in rural communities.
IMPORTANT PROJECT
Mrs. Allen noted that the project undertaken by the JIE was an important one as "revamping the building code, and its enforcement, should help to ensure that we are spared the level of property damage suffered in Cayman and Grenada as a result of Hurricane Ivan". "We want to ensure that, as far as possible, all our buildings are properly constructed," she added.
In accepting the cheque on behalf of the JIE, Noel daCosta, chairman of the Building Code Steering Committee, expressed his appreciation for the support, noting that "the foundation's contribution will go a far way towards helping us to achieve our objective."
The project, he said, was an ambitious one for the JIE as various attempts have been made, without much success, to update the existing building code. The last attempt was made in 1981, 24 years ago.
Mr daCosta noted that implementing the new building code would cost the JIE approximately $100 million, of which $70 million has been accounted for through the voluntary labour of 120 local and overseas engineers who are involved in rewriting the code.
The remaining $30 million has to be raised through monetary contribution such as that provided by the JNBS Foundation.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Additional contributions may be made to the National Building Code Account #10195597, which is at the JNBS' Half-Way Tree branch.
The new building code is being fashioned on the North American International Building Code (NAIBC), as both areas experience similar natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, which guide the framing of the code.
The review of the NAIBC is 93 per cent completed and it is anticipated that the new building code will be ready by December 2005.
