Public Meeting Notice  BBRS Climate Resiliency Subcommittee Meeting - 6.12.26

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In accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 30A § 20, notice is hereby given that the Board of Building Regulations and Standards 11^th Edition Climate Resiliency Subcommittee will be convening a regular meeting. 

If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting, please reach out to Cheryl Yebba at 617- 701-8711. The Agency will make best efforts to accommodate requests received in a timely manner.

In accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 30A § 20, the Board of Building Regulations and Standards Climate Resiliency Committee convened a regular monthly meeting on: 

Microsoft Teams Meeting June 12^th, 2026 

The topics shown below were discussed at the aforementioned meeting: 10:04 AM Chair Mia Mansfield called the open meeting to order. 

Informational note: All votes were taken by roll call. Where each member voted in favor, the vote will be reported as unanimous.

Board Members Present

• Mia Mansfield, EEA
• Rebecca Haney, EEA
• Annie Howard, Building Official
• Jaclyn Kinson, Engineer
• Katie Moniz, Engineer
• Ross Seavey, DOL

Board Members Absent

• Nick Antanavica, Building Official
• Dawn Guariello, Architect
• Elsa Mullin, Developer

DOL Staff Present

• Charles Kilb, Senior Board Counsel
• Andrew Chase, Associate Executive Director

Acknowledged Public Attendees

• Sarah Alexander, EEA
• Eric Carlson, DCR

1. Reviewed and Voted Meeting Minutes for April 24^th and May 8^th, 2026
   1. Rebecca Haney motioned to approve both sets of meeting minutes, seconded by Annie Howard. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously. 
2. Reviewed, Discussed, and Voted 10^th Edition Code Change Proposals
   1. DCR Flood Hazard Management Program submitted by J. Duperault
   2. Flood hazard areas verbiage 1603.1.7.3 submitted by L. Langley
      1. Members reviewed the remaining code change proposals carried forward from the 10th Edition process, including proposals submitted by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Flood Hazard Management Program and language regarding flood hazard areas associated with Section 1603.1.7.3. The committee concluded that the concepts contained in both proposals had already been fully discussed and incorporated into previous subcommittee recommendations during earlier chapter reviews.
      2. Rebecca Haney motioned to acknowledge that code change proposals were reviewed, and their subject matter was already addressed during drafting process, seconded by Annie Howard. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously. 
3. Reviewed, Discussed, and Voted IEBC Chapter Reviews 
   1. IEBC Chapter 4 (405.2.6) – Members discussed maintaining consistency throughout the code by adding references to "substantial repair of a foundation" wherever "substantial damage" is referenced. 
   2. IEBC Chapter 11 (1103.3) – Members discussed adding language clarifying that horizontal additions, coastal dune requirements, and Appendix G requirements must be met where applicable. 
4. Reviewed, Discussed, and Voted IRC Chapter Reviews
   1. Chapter 44 referenced standards - Appendices (BO102.7) – Members continued discussion regarding the omission of language previously contained in 2021 IRC Appendix AJ Section AJ101.3, relating to multiple categories of work performed within a 12-month period. The committee reviewed whether this provision had been relocated within the 2024 IRC and noted that neither the Residential Subcommittee nor staff had identified an equivalent provision. 
      1. Members discussed relocating the language into Appendix BO, immediately following BO101.1, with new numbering to be determined (anticipated as BO101.2). Staff also advised that a related proposal had been discussed by the Residential Subcommittee and could ultimately be reconciled during the BBRS review process if overlapping amendments are adopted. Members agreed that restoring the provision would preserve important floodplain compliance requirements that had existed in the prior edition. 
      2. Rebecca Haney motioned to adopt amendment language for agenda items’ 3a, 3b, and 4a with noted edits, seconded by Annie Howard. A roll call vote was held, Ross Seavey opposed, none abstained. Motion passed with majority.
5. Reviewed, Discussed, and Voted V Zone Design and Construction Certification
   1. Members reviewed a proposed standardized V Zone and Coastal A Zone Design Certificate, intended to provide a uniform statewide certification form documenting compliance with flood-resistant design requirements. The discussion centered on adapting an existing FEMA Community Rating System sample form for Massachusetts use while ensuring consistency with Commonwealth terminology and code requirements. Members expressed concerns regarding whether the Commonwealth should adopt the FEMA form directly or develop a BBRS-approved state form, as well as ensuring the form does not inadvertently establish requirements that have not been inserted into the code.
   2. Several technical revisions were identified during discussion. Members recommended renaming the document the "V Zone and Coastal A Zone Design Certificate," removing references to a community design flood elevation in favor of consistent statewide terminology, eliminating the flood insurance policy number field, and adding references directing users to code-defined terms to improve consistency in interpreting flood elevations and related measurements. Members also discussed ensuring terminology aligns with previously adopted definitions for base flood elevation (BFE) and design flood elevation (DFE) throughout the code.
   3. The committee further reviewed proposed code references incorporating the certificate into the International Building Code and International Residential Code, including proposed amendments to IBC Sections 1603.1.7, 1603.1.7.3, 1612, IRC Section 322, and related Chapter 2 definitions. Members also discussed whether the certificate should be incorporated directly into the regulations or maintained as a BBRS-approved form, with staff recommending the latter to as it is a policy incorporating the existing code requirements and may need future administrative revisions which would be impeded if requiring regulatory amendments. Additional discussion addressed ensuring all information required on the certificate is already supported by corresponding code provisions.
   4. Because several edits remained outstanding, members agreed to revise the form, obtain additional review from the architectural representative, and defer a formal vote until the next meeting after the updated version had been circulated.
6. Reviewed, Discussed, and Voted Code Change Proposal (11th Edition)
   1. Floodplain Proposal submitted by S. Alexander
      1. Members received an overview of a new floodplain proposal submitted by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) that had recently been referred to the Climate Resiliency Subcommittee by the BBRS. The proposal would expand flood-resistant construction requirements beyond FEMA's Special Flood Hazard Area (1-percent annual chance floodplain) into the mapped 0.2-percent annual chance (500-year) floodplain, applying to new construction as well as existing buildings undergoing substantial improvement or sustaining substantial damage.
      2. Sarah Alexander explained that the proposal seeks to address increasing flood risk occurring outside current FEMA regulatory floodplain boundaries by utilizing existing FEMA mapping rather than creating new statewide flood models. Members heard that the proposal would affect approximately 53,000 existing structures statewide and roughly 500 new housing units annually, representing an expansion of regulated land area from approximately 10 percent to approximately 12 percent statewide. EEA also noted that similar approaches have been incorporated into ASCE 24-24 and the 2027 International Codes, and have been adopted in several peer jurisdictions.
      3. Members engaged in extensive discussion regarding the proposal's policy implications. Concerns were raised about the potential regulatory and financial impacts on homeowners, particularly for residential properties, as well as the need for broader stakeholder outreach before advancing such a significant policy change. Members questioned the reliability and limitations of FEMA's 500-year floodplain mapping, noting that these maps often lack precise flood elevations and are subject to frequent map amendment requests. Additional discussion addressed regional variation in floodplain extent, potential inconsistencies among communities, interaction with other Commonwealth flood mapping initiatives, and the balance between improving statewide resilience while avoiding unnecessary regulatory burdens.
      4. Members emphasized that FEMA flood maps remain the Commonwealth's primary regulatory tool despite acknowledged limitations and cited approximately $91 million in National Flood Insurance Program payments occurring within the mapped 0.2-percent floodplain in Massachusetts. Members generally agreed that additional analysis, mapping examples, and stakeholder feedback would be valuable before considering formal action. As a result, the committee limited its action to discussion only and agreed to continue reviewing the proposal at the next meeting, with no vote taken.
7. Discuss Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated 48 hours in Advance of the Meeting
   1. No matters discussed. 
8. Adjournment – The next meeting is scheduled for June 22^nd, 2026, at 12:00 PM. 
   1. Katie Moniz motioned to adjourn, seconded by Annie Howard. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously.
   2. The meeting adjourned at 12:00 PM. 

Items Relied Upon During Open Meeting

• Agenda
• Meeting Minutes
• Code Change Proposals
• 2024 IEBC
• 2024 IRC
• 2024 IBC

It is anticipated that the topics shown below will be discussed at the aforementioned meeting: 

1. Review/Discuss/VoteMinutes of the following Climate Resiliency meetings: 
   1.  April 24, 2026
   2. May 8, 2026
2. Review/Discuss/Vote Code Change Proposals (from 10^th edition)
   1. DCR Flood Hazard Management Program submitted by J. Duperault
   2. Flood hazard areas verbiage 1603.1.7.3 submitted by L. Langley
3. Review/Discuss/ Vote IEBC Chapter Reviews 
   1. IEBC Chapter 4 (405.2.6)
   2. IEBC Chapter 11 (1103.3)
4. Review/Discuss/Vote IRC Chapter Reviews
   1. Chapter 44 referenced standards - Appendices ( BO102.7)
5. Review/Vote/Discuss V Zone Design and Construction Certification
6. Review/Discuss/Vote Code Change Proposal (11^th Edition)
   1. Floodplain Proposal submitted by S. Alexander
7. Discuss matters not reasonably anticipated by the chair, 48 hours in advance of the meeting

Adjournment – the next scheduled meeting is June 22, 2026