My initial curiosity relates to how the state is planning to streamline building codes in a state that has (for example) both a hurricane-prone coastline and Special Flood Hazard Areas. Is there going to be any geographical distinctions within the new, unified code? If so, might I suggest a "one stop shop" map of which sections of the code apply to which areas of Virginia, perhaps broken down by zip code?

This would make it easier for builders, and citizens more broadly to tell at a glance which additional requirements apply to the area in which buildings are being built and/or modified.

For example, a builder looking at the map would be able to tell at a glance that:

• a building in Newport News might fall within a "+flood zone code, + hurricane zone code" area,
• a building in Roanoke would be listed in a "+flood zone code"  (but not the hurricane code) area
• and a building in Fredericksburg would be listed in a "no additional requirements" area

I have two points to make.

1) Whereas the objective of the tiny house provisions are to make housing more affordable, a 400 sf house at $100.00/sf is still out of the range of many. I suggest that Virginia also have a provision for Tiny house with the following limitations.

200sf max for this option.

Ceiling height limited to 8ft.

Heat pump is not required.

Resistance heating is allowed.

Arc-fault breakers not required. Is there any evidence that arcs cause fires, and not just the result of a fire?

1. 1. 2. Whereas manual J calculations are required by the code. Manual J is not available to the public. Please make this available.

Thank you for making the code available in a from that can be searched and copied. Virginia is one of only 5 states to do so.

Submitted by Albert Pollard Sr, retired builder.

I live at The Arbor at Halley Rise, a new apartment building in Reston.  The management company is Kettler and the builders are Akridge and The Meridian Group.  This is podium construction which means the upper 5 floors are wood-frame and not separated by concrete slab; my understanding is that it is cheaper to build podium construction than to pour concrete between every floor.  Kettler chose NOT to install carpet on the apartment floors because it also is cheaper to turn over an apartment if you don't have to replace the carpet.  Because the WDU apartment on the top (7th) floor was already leased, I foolishly accepted a unit on the 6th floor believing that a newly-constructed apartment building would surely have adequate sound insulation to compensate for the lack of carpet; that was a big mistake.  The materials that comprise the floor above me are 3/4 in. plywood subflooring, 1/2 in. Gyp-Crete (which is required for fire protection not sound insulation), 1/4 in. Acousti-Mat, and then the laminate flooring.

I can attest that 1/4 in. of sound insulation is NOT adequate.  I have a noise diary that I will be happy to share.  The resident above me has a 40-pound dog that they allow to run and jump every day multiple times a day.  No one in the extremely expensive Northern Virginia apartment market should have to play Russian roulette as to what kind of "neighbor" will live above them.  This is NO way to be forced to live.  And it could have been prevented if the builders and Kettler had provided better sound insulation between the floors of the building by either pouring concrete slab between every floor, installing carpet or using thicker Acousti-Mat; Maxxon makes 3/4 in. Acousti-Mat.

Please, please, please change the Virginia Building Code to require adequate/better sound insulation between floors in podium construction.