Welcoming Remarks: Chairman Robert Solomon welcomed the Committee. Committee members present were: Bill Garpow (RPTIA), Mary Lamielle (NCEHS), Dov Lutzker (DOJ), Mark Mazz (HUD), Dominic Marinelli (United Spinal Assoc.), Kent Perkins (RVIA), Robert Solomon (NFPA) and Mark Weiss (MHARR). Others present were: Chip Wilson (FL Division of Emergency Management), Doug Anderson (Access Board Member), Jim Pecht (Access Board staff) and Marsha Mazz, DFO (Access Board staff).
Mr. Solomon summarized the purpose of the meeting – to consider further revisions for the definition of “emergency transportable housing”.
Definition: The committee agreed that the definition should represent the wide variety of transportable housing options currently in use. They concluded that the definition should not be employed to limit the application of the guidelines to a subgroup of such units. Also, they decided that the number of sections which comprise a unit should not be addressed in the definition. However, the committee concurred that it may be appropriate to limit certain of their recommendations to emergency transportable housing units having specific physical characteristics, e.g. units less than 14 feet in width in the set-up mode. In other cases, it was agreed that the provision should be applied regardless of a dimension or other area concern.
Each committee member was requested to review their notes from the January 24 and 25, 2008 meeting and to analyze whether a limitation should apply to any recommendation currently being considered or to future recommendations. This discussion will be continued at the March 27-28, 2008 meeting.
The committee agreed on the following definition:
106.5 Defined Terms. Emergency Transportable Housing. A single or multiple section prefabricated structure that is transportable by a single transport vehicle and that can be set-up and installed on a temporary site in response to an emergency without structural modification. Such structures include, but are not limited to, travel trailers, park models, and manufactured housing.
Indoor Environmental Quality: The committee briefly discussed the matter of indoor environmental quality. Mr. Solomon reported that he requested FEMA to provide the committee with any information it can release publicly regarding measures the Agency may plan which are aimed at improving the indoor environmental quality of units it purchases. Additionally, Mr. Garpow noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted testing to assess levels of formaldehyde in units supplied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as temporary housing for displaced residents of the US Gulf Coast Region following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. CDC will present their preliminary findings and recommendations during a press conference to be held Thursday, February 14th at 1:00 p.m. EST. This briefing will be audio webcast. To listen online, please visit www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media. A transcript of this teleconference will be available following the briefing at the CDC web site at www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media.