Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

CNMI’s Department of Public Works adopts new building safety measures

Posted at 22:44 on 08 September, 2009 UTC

The Department of Public Works in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has adopted new building safety regulations that will enable the CNMI to qualify for federal grants for energy enhancement.

The regulations provide for the adoption of the International Building Code both for residential and commercial buildings and its energy code provisions.

The new building code means the CNMI is now qualified for 18.6 million US dollars in federal energy-related economic stimulus grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that could be used to enhance energy efficiency.

The Saipan Tribune reports that the new regulations bring the CNMI building codes up to date as the construction industry becomes even more modernized.

The new regulations also recognize and adopt new seismic and typhoon safety standards and codes.