As an ANSI accredited standards development organization, the NAHB Research Center has issued notice for public comment on the reaffirmation of the “American National Standard for Single-Family Residential Buildings, Square Footage—Method of Calculating, ANSI Z765-2003.” The comment period began Oct. 17th and will end Dec. 5th.

This standard was originally developed by the NAHB Research Center in 1996. As an ANSI-approved standard, ANSI Z765-2003 is subject to periodic updates as a way to ensure that advances in building codes, technology, and other developments can be considered for incorporation.

A Consensus Committee was selected earlier this year and met twice to discuss the existing standard. Upon review and discussion, the Committee decided that no substantive changes were required and proposed to reaffirm the existing document. However, any individual, organization, or member of the Consensus Committee may now submit a comment to be considered during the 45-day public comment period.

Sections 1 through 4 of the standard are eligible for public review and comment. Other parts of the document, including the Foreword and Annex, are not subject to public review. Complete instructions on filing comments are available online. A list of the Consensus Committee members, meeting agendas and minutes, and a link to purchase a copy of the standard are all also available on the same Web page.

For additional information and all future updates on the 2012 square footage standard review and update process, visit www.nahbrc.com/sqft2012.

As noted in the October issue of Builder, the NAHB Research Center opened a 45-day public comment period for the draft of the 2012 edition of the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) on Sept. 23rd. The end of the 45-day comment period for the NGBS is Nov. 7th.

A PDF version of the draft standard, which includes all changes that were approved by the Consensus Committee, is available for download from www.nahbrc.com/NGBS.

The Consensus Committee for the 2012 version of the NGBS is scheduled to meet the week of Jan. 23, 2012, at the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C., to consider, hear public testimony, and take formal action on the public comments. Once the committee has completed its work, the newly updated standard will be submitted to ANSI for approval in 2012.

As an ANSI-approved standard, the document is subject to periodic updates as a way to ensure that advances in building codes, technology, and other developments can be considered for incorporation.