By offering training for architects and/or engineers who inspect educational facilities, the Office of Educational Facilities continues to help ensure uniform and consistent application of the State Uniform Building Code for Public Educational Facilities Construction.
The merger of the state's building codes into the Florida Building Code, effective January 1, 2001, should provide additional assurances that school facilities are safe. The new code will be more prescriptive and may encourage local entities to share plan review and inspection expertise. Local governments may also inspect school buildings to ensure code compliance.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation will assume regulation authority over school building inspectors. The department will have authority to impose sanctions for code violations, which should discourage pressure on building inspectors to open facilities that do not meet code requirements.

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.