For Immediate Release

The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) and the International Code Council (ICC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that is geared towards development and publication of customized building codes, specifically developed for the Jamaica context.

The MOU will also establish a consortium of training institutions, coordinated by the BSJ, which will serve to build the knowledge and competence of practitioners in the industry. Also, with this MOU, the BSJ and the ICC will collaborate to provide services for:

1. Assistance in the development of a Caribbean Area Information Centre for various types of ICC documents and publications.
2. Collaboration in building the capacity of its code training capability for construction industry professionals and practitioners.
3. Collaboration in the development of a building product evaluation system for approving building products and systems.

The BSJ has facilitated the development of the National Building Code (NBC) in collaboration with the construction industry and government agencies, and has the mandate to maintain, update and disseminate the NBC to the building sector. The Ministry of Local Government has principal responsibility, through the building authorities of the municipal corporations, for building code implementation and compliance.

Mark Johnson, EVP for International Code Council (ICC) declared: “This is a milestone agreement with potential to protect health, safety and welfare in Jamaica”.

Participating in the event were the Ministry of Local Government, the Bureau of Standards Jamaica, the International Code Council and the World Bank Group.

This building code reform activity forms a component of the World Bank funded Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP) which focuses on improving disaster and climate resilience. The three core components of the project include: technical assistance for improved disaster and climate resilience; risk reduction; and contingent emergency response. Under the first component, there is an activity dedicated to supporting building code implementation, with a focus on delivering a training programme. Training resources earmarked for the building code activity are contingent upon the successful passage of the draft Building Act by Parliament. A this occasion, BSJ Chairman, Mr. James Rawle, declared: “this agreement will set the stage for a successful implementation of the new Jamaican Building Code, an essential step to make Jamaica more resilient to natural disasters and climate change”

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Contact:     Garfield Dixon

                  Marketing and Public Relations Manager

                  Telephone: 550 9690, 632 4275 ext 3236 | E-mail: gdixon@bsj.org.jm

                  13 October 2017