The Role of
The University of Technology
in the Promulgation of
Jamaica’s New National Building Code:
Mitigating the Effects of Natural
Hazards Through Training
Lebert Langley
The University of Technology
• Is the National University (1995) providing technical
expertise in the Built Environment and Engineering
(previously College status since 1958)
– Engineering (Civil and Construction, Mech., Elect., etc)
– Construction Management
– Urban Planning
– Cost Planning and Management
– Real Estate Management
– Land Surveying and Geographic Information Systems
The University of Technology cont’d
• Supports the National Economic and Technical
framework through public sector engagement and
consultancy projects (e.g. Housing Policy of Jamaica)
• Support in research in areas of Technology and
Technology Management
• National Development plan – Vision 2030
The University of Technology cont’d
• Provision of Continuous Education in support of the
professional associations and organizations of the
Built Environment and Engineering
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Jamaica Institution of Engineers
Jamaica Institute of Planners
Jamaica Institute of Architects
Jamaica Institute of Quantity Surveyors
Incorporated Masterbuilders of Jamaica
[JIE]
[JIP]
[JIA]
[JIQS]
[IMAJ]
Jamaica’s Code Context
• New National Building Code (2009) is 11
ICC codes with 11 application documents
for particular/specific application
• Replaces previous 1908 Building Code
produced as a response to 1907
Earthquake and Fire that destroyed 85%
of the building stock or 25 million dollars
worth of damage
Jamaica’s Code Context cont’d
• New I-Codes are to be further supported
legislatively through the imminent passing of
a New Building Act of Jamaica to replace the
existing, to provide robust support
• The training of professional, technical and
support personnel in the Jamaica
Construction Industry to effectively
use/integrate, regulate and enforce the
Building Codes
Effects of Natural Disasters - Jamaica
• Jamaica’s exposure is primarily weather
related and the attendant effects
– Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
– Floods from protracted rainfall
– Earthquakes
Effects of Natural Disasters - Jamaica
cont’d
• Earthquake (1907) – Destroyed Kingston
• Hurricane Charley (1951) – affected
building stock extensively across the
island. promoted a shift in roof design as
a response from the Built Environment
Effects of Natural Disasters - Jamaica
cont’d
• June Floods (1986)– extensive damage to
agriculture, road and bridge network,
national water supply system, building
stock
• Hurricane Gilbert (1988)- affected 60% of
Housing Stock and caused USD 558
million of damage
Effects of Natural Disasters - Jamaica
cont’d
• Tropical Storm Nicole (2010) – USD 239
million in damages, flooding and land
slippages, publicly owned companies
accounted for 94% of damages compared
to tropical storm Gustav (2008) with 88%
• Tropical Storm Sandy (2012) – effected
over USD 100 million to the southeastern end of Jamaica affecting 70% of
the regions residents and business
Effects of Natural Disasters - Jamaica
cont’d
• Approximately 70% of Jamaica’s Building
stock has had no professional or
regulatory input
• The Built Environment is a significant
component of the national resources
under management
• The increased frequency of Natural
Disasters (up tenfold since 1950)
increases the Hazard of further erosion
and or loss of investment
Effects of Natural Disasters - Jamaica
cont’d
• The comparative costs of disasters relative
to GDP in terms of impact averages 2.08%
between 2001 – 2012
• The probability of an earthquake in the 50
year occurrence is said to high with
current exposure for infrastructure
collapse estimated between 40%-70%
The Revised MOU Structure
• The Standards Authority (Jamaica Bureau of
Standard)
• Lead professional body in the development of the
New National Building Codes for Jamaica, the
Jamaica Institution of Engineers (JIE)
• Training location for Professionals, Contractors and
Local Authorities is the University of Technology
(Utech)
The Revised MOU Structure cont’d
• The training and certification of tradesmen/artesans
is the Human Employment and Resource Training
Trust HEART-NTA
• Training for leadership and change management is
the Management Institute for National Development
(MIND) for public and private sector
The Training Methodology
• In preparation for and in response to its obligations
under the previous MOU in 2009, a training
programme was embarked on for the following:
 To expose academics, construction industry
practitioners and administrators to the ICC codes,
structure, and use
 To develop a cadre of trainers to train other
stakeholders
 To ensure that a dynamic curriculum to suit the
needs or code updates occur
The Training Methodology cont’d
• An initial Train the Trainers programme was
facilitated by the Standards Authority and MOU
partners in 2010 with 57 individuals participating on
select I-Codes with 51 coming from the 2 training
institutions of the MOU
• Of the 41 UTECH participants attrition has removed
45% from the organization within 3 years of the 2009
training exercise
Feedback and Lessons Learnt
• While the training was generally regarded as good it
did not leave as a legacy, training material from
which intuitive and targeted differentiation to target
groups could occur
• Training was scaled down/back, due to affordability
issues and may have lost impact and value as a result
Feedback and Lessons Learnt cont’d
• The training was largely concentrated on the IBC, IRC,
IEBC, IPMC,IECC,IFC,IMC,NEC,IFGC,IPSDC and was
more a workshop delivery type covering some key
areas:
1. was viewed as too condensed as modules and
2. lost impact for a group that required tools to
adequately train others as dictated my mandates
under MOU
UTech Training of Target Market
• Targeted government inspectors and enforcement
personnel (Local Building Authorities)
• Used a team from the cadre of Train the Trainers
programme to deliver
• Executed training in IRC and IBC along with structural
and non-structural provisions to 27 participants
UTech Training of Target Market cont’d
• Developed curriculum for training in modules
lumping several I-Codes
• Training was done over a 2 week period
• Feedback on training was similar to that of the Train
the Trainers programme in terms of impact and value
Challenges
• To have a sustainable training programme:
as a preventative component to a hazard
mitigation strategy while overcoming
financing constraints
• The development of a general curriculum
that can/may be differentiated depending
on the target group without a “baseline”
curriculum to adult learners (off the shelf
options/possibilities?)
Challenges cont’d
• Given the exposure to Natural Hazards and
their impact economically and socially the
need for training since the introduction of
the I-Codes is more than just a priority, but
the cost to do so is an impediment
• The development of local certification and
re-certification (beyond participation) as a
component of CPD training through
stakeholder (subject matter experts)
cooperation
Challenges cont’d
• Can/should certification be per I-Code? Or
in lumped modules?
• Or be tied to ICC periodic upgrades and
review?
The Next Steps
• Training of Built Environment Stakeholders
must happen
• Institutional and training capacity must be
strengthened
• Sustainability of training investment using
an alternative strategy than those
previously pursued
• Secure and provide adequate financing to
satisfy training and continuous
development objectives
Summary
• Jamaica is exposed to Natural Disasters and
suffers dramatically across the Built
Environment when impacted
• The adoption, use, effective enforcement
and regulation through I-Codes will assist
tremendously with any Hazard Mitigation
Strategy (preventative)
• The Training and CPD processes will form a
huge part of the preventative base
• Adequate scoping of training and financing
is required to succeed
Questions?
Thoughts?
Proposals?
Solutions?