[HISTORY: Adopted by the Rockland County
Legislature as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 2-18-1997 by L.L. No. 2-1997]
[Added 6-3-1997 by L.L. No. 12-1997[1]]
A.
Rockland County continues to grow and expand, and
new home construction is occurring on many undeveloped tracts and
parcels and renovation, reconstruction and upgrading is occurring
on previously built tracts and parcels.
B.
Recent changes and innovations in design and construction
techniques and building practices as well as in consumer desire and
preference have led to larger structures both in terms of floor space
and in the height and width of the spans of roofs and ceilings.
C.
To accomplish those longer spans, wooden I beams,
wooden truss construction, metal truss construction and construction
using gusset plates is being widely utilized for beams and/or joists
now used in the building and construction of such structures.
D.
The first purpose and goal of the Rockland County
Legislature and the government is to protect and advance the safety
and interests of all of its citizens, in all aspects of their lives
to which county government has some positive relationship or connection.
E.
These new construction techniques and longer spans
and wooden I beams, wooden truss construction, metal truss construction
and construction using gusset plates for beams and/or joists, now
used in such building and construction of larger and more spacious
structures, presents different and significant challenges and potential
danger to our firefighters and firemanic personnel in fighting fires
in such structures should they catch fire.
F.
That danger includes the possibility of faster burning
and faster and unexpected ceiling and roof collapse at points of connection
and joiner of such longer spans and areas of construction and those
areas of construction creating large voids or spaces and/or uncompartmented
areas.
G.
That danger can be significantly reduced or eliminated
to our firefighters and firemanic personnel in fighting such fires,
if they are aware in advance of such construction and the existence
at the structures of said longer spans and wooden I beams, wooden
truss construction, metal truss construction and/or construction using
gusset plates for beams and/or joists.
H.
This Legislature can provide that increased safety
and protection to our firefighters and firemanic personnel through
the registration of such construction and the existance of longer
spans and/or wooden I beams, wooden truss construction, metal truss
construction and/or construction using gusset plates for beams and/or
joists, or any type of rain roof or roofs built over existing roofs,
the existance of which will then be communicated to our firefighters
and firemanic personnel when an alram for a fire at structures having
such construction is broadcast and sounded.
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also provided for the renumbering of former §§ 220-1 and 220-2 as §§ 220-2 and 220-3, respectively., the existence of which will then be communicated to our fire fighters and firemanic personnel when an alarm for a fire at structures having such construction is broadcast and sounded.
A.
At the time that plans for construction of structures
having long roof spans and/or ceilings, and/or wooden I beams, wooden
truss construction, metal truss construction and/or construction using
gusset plates for beams and/or joists, or any type of rain roof or
roofs built over existing roofs, are approved by a local building
department, a registration of that structure shall be filed with the
Rockland County 44 Control - 911 Emergency System.
B.
The Rockland County 44 Control - 911 Emergency System
shall develop a designation or multiple designations for such structures,
residential or commercial.
[Amended 6-3-1997 by L.L. No. 12-1997]
C.
That registration shall also specify the location
at/in such structure of such structural support method or modification.
D.
Upon adoption of this article, the County Fire Coordinator
shall also begin assembling information and shall investigate the
future feasibility of amendment of this article to provide for the
supplying of duplicate plans to the County of Rockland, at the time
of building/construction approval, so that in the future those plans
can be electronically transmitted to field units at the time a fire
occurs.
Thereafter, when a fire call/alarm is broadcast,
the symbol or designation for the type of construction used, i.e.,
long roof spans and/or ceilings and/or wooden I beams, wooden truss
construction, metal truss construction and/or construction using gusset
plates for beams and/or joists or any type of rain roof or roofs built
over existing roofs or similar condition, shall also be broadcast
to alert the fire fighters and firemanic personnel of its existence
and potential threat and to allow them to prepare for and adjust their
safety and fire-fighting techniques.
[Adopted 11-6-2008 by L.L. No. 14-2008]
This article shall be known as "The Rockland
County Governmental Green Building Act."
The Rockland County Legislature finds that:
A.
It is Rockland County government's policy to be good
stewards of the environment and to finance, plan, design, construct,
manage, renovate and maintain its facilities and buildings to be sustainable.
B.
It is also a fact that, given the state of global
nonrenewable energy supply, energy costs for all sectors of the economy,
including that portion used to supply public buildings, are skyrocketing
and will likely continue to increase.
C.
Energy use by public buildings may contribute to the
problems of pollution and global climate change, but, if properly
managed, can reduce these costs, both fiscally and environmentally.
D.
Public buildings can be built and renovated using
high-performance methods for construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance
and renewable and clean energy technologies that save energy costs,
decrease pollutant discharge from buildings to preserve the environment,
and make workers and students safer and more productive by improving
indoor and outdoor air quality.
E.
Government at all levels should respond to global
energy concerns by doing whatever it can to both reduce its own reliance
on costly and environmentally unfriendly energy sources and by setting
an example for others to follow. This will improve public awareness
of these new technologies to improve the quality of life for all building
occupants and the larger environment in Rockland County and beyond.
F.
By leading the way in publicizing and utilizing green
building technologies, Rockland County government will set an example
for others in the County, whether governmental, commercial or residential,
to emulate on their projects.
As used in this article, the following words
shall have the following meanings:
The United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design green building rating standard referred to
as "silver standard."
A project where, in calculating the cost, the appropriate
County department determines that, including all reasonably calculable
costs, from the design and construction phases, including architectural
and engineering costs, the total project cost would amount to at least
$1,000,000.
Every County office, board, commission, committee, bureau,
department or public institution of higher education.
All major facility projects of Rockland County
shall be designed and constructed, acting in good faith, to at least
meet the LEED silver standard. Before, during and after construction
of such major facility projects of Rockland County, the County shall
submit the appropriate documentation, at the appropriate times, to
the U.S. Green Building Council seeking LEED silver standard certification.
This provision applies to major facility projects that have not entered
the design phase prior to July 31, 2008.
Upon the recommendation of the Rockland County
Executive, the Rockland County Legislature may, via resolution, waive
the requirements of this article. The Rockland County Executive shall
base the waiver recommendation upon a certification that, in his or
her opinion, the benefits of waiving this article's requirements outweigh
the environmental benefits to the residents of Rockland County, such
as where the County, acting in good faith, is in substantial compliance
with this article. A detailed report, outlining the relative benefits
of waiver and nonwaiver, shall accompany the recommendation.
