What's happening
This bill requires that light frame wood construction in Nassau and Suffolk counties be built to withstand storms with sustained winds of at least 109 mph.
Why it matters
Raises construction standards for homes and buildings. Requiring light frame wood structures to withstand 109 mph winds means new homes and buildings in Nassau and Suffolk counties must be built to higher safety standards, potentially reducing storm damage and increasing property resilience.
May increase construction costs and affect housing affordability. Stronger building requirements could lead to higher construction and material costs, which might be reflected in higher home prices or rents in these areas.
Protects public safety and property during extreme weather. By making buildings more resistant to severe storms, the bill aims to reduce injuries, fatalities, and property loss during hurricanes or other high-wind events, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change.
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Set Wind Standards for Construction
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Set Wind Standards for Homes
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 3811 A. 3147
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to wind speed limits for light frame wood construction in the counties of Nassau and Suffolk
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 15 of section 378 of the executive law is renumbered subdivision 17 and a new subdivision 15 is added to read as follows:
15. Provide that in the counties of Nassau and Suffolk, light frame wood construction shall be designed and properly installed to withstand external pressure and wind borne debris from a storm with sustained wind speed of at least one hundred nine miles per hour.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04078-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to wind speed limits for light frame wood construction in the counties of Nassau and Suffolk
Purpose
To provide a wind speed limit of 109 miles per hour for light frame wood construction in the counties of Nassau and Suffolk.
Summary of provisions
In the counties of Nassau and Suffolk, light frame wood construction shall be designed and properly installed to withstand external pressure and wind born debris from a storm with sustained wind of at least 109 mph.
Justification
The following is a list of the top wind speeds for hurricanes reaching Long Island (research compiled by Barrett Associates):
StormÑWind speed (mph)
1903Ñ80 1938Ñ98 1944Ñ86 1954 CarolÑ8 1960 DonnaÑ103 1972 AgnesÑ63 1975 BellaÑ92 1985 GloriaÑ98 1991 BobÑ98
Currently, New York State adheres to the international building code, which sets the wind-borne debris impact limits at 110 mph in areas within one mile of the coast. However, these standards are based primarily on experience of debris damage in major events more common to southern states. Further, the impact limits are also based in part on experience of damage from lower wind events with special circumstances, (i.e. roof gravel blown from an adjacent tall building impacting several buildings immediately downwind). Such conditions are not typical of Long Island. By lowering the wind-borne impact debris impact limits from 110 to 109 mph, the cost incurred for construction of housing in such coastal areas will be significantly reduced.
Legislative history
2015-16 S.4438/A.6309; 2013-14 S.3526/A.4404; 2011-12 S.2475; 2009-10 S.3145/A.6695; 2007-08 S.3633/A.6491; 2005-06 S.3610/A.7898; 2004 S.6556.
Fiscal implications
None to State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.