The Florida Building Commission, to the dismay of an insurer'sgroup, has voted to maintain weaker wind-resistant buildingrequirements for the Panhandle area.

The 11-9 vote favored limiting the current standards to thepresent coverage area where wind resistant measures for buildingwindows are required.

Commission attorney Jim Richmond said state officials havegenerally considered the “shielding affect” of the Panhandle as areason to mandate a smaller area for such protection.

To change the Panhandle standard to match the rest of the statewould have required a super-majority of 16 votes, Mr. Richmondnoted.

But insurance industry representatives felt the commissionersmissed an important chance to strengthen building codes.

“The Commission's decision defies explanation,” said WilliamStander, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI)assistant vice president and regional manager.

Mr. Stander added, “We know tougher building codes save lives,reduce property damage, speed post-storm recovery, and protectproperty values. Moreover, the cost of building homes andcommercial properties to meet the higher standards is minimalcompared to the enormous value such codes provide.”

Mr. Stander pointed out that the 2004 storm season verified thatthe entire state is vulnerable to hurricanes and that there is noreason to have a weakened building code in the Panhandle.

“The Commission put the interests of developers beforeconsumers,” said Stander. “Their stubborn intransigence will resultin many more individuals losing their homes and businesses when thenext storm hits.”

Mr. Stander said the commission vote flies in the face ofefforts by Gov. Jeb Bush to strengthen building codes in thestate.