The State Building Code Technical Review Board (STRB) consists of 14 citizens appointed by the governor to ensure Virginia’s building code is administered fairly and is well-understood by the residents of Virginia. The organizations represented by the board members are the American Institute of Architects Virginia, Virginia Society of Professional Engineers, the Home Builders Association of Virginia, the Virginia Branch of the Associated General Contractors of America, Virginia Building and Code Officials Association, State Fire Chiefs Association of Virginia, Virginia chapters of the National Apartment Association and the Virginia Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors.
The STRB’s primary purpose is to hear appeals from enforcement actions under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code, the Virginia Industrialized Building Safety Regulations, the Virginia Manufactured Home Safety Regulations, and the Virginia Certification Standards.
A secondary function of the State Technical Review Board is to provide interpretations to the provisions of the USBC and SFPC and make recommendations to the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development for future modifications, amendments, or repeals of such provisions. Interpretation requests may be submitted by any code enforcement personnel with approval from the corresponding Building, Maintenance or Fire Official. Records of STRB interpretations can be found here>>
In 2020, the Review Board saw the end of an era as Ms. Patricia O’Bannon resigned from the Board after serving faithfully for more than 23 years representing the Commonwealth at Large. Her expertise and knowledge, contributed greatly to the Board, and it will be missed. In the latter part of 2019, E. G. Middleton also resigned from the Board after serving two years representing electrical contractors. His knowledge and expertise will also be missed.
Current Review Board Members: Mr. Vince Butler; Mr. Daniel Crigler; Mr. James R. Dawson, Chairman; Mr. Alan D. Givens; Ms. Christina Jackson; Mr. Joseph Kessler; Mr. Eric Mays, PE; Ms. Joanne Monday; Mr. Kenney Payne; Mr. W. Shaun Pharr, Esq., Vice-Chairman; Mr. Richard C. Witt; Mr. Aaron Zdinak, PE
Staff to the Review Board: Justin I. Bell, Esq., Board Counsel; W. Travis Luter Sr., Board Secretary
The Office of the Review Board is in the State Building Codes Office within the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Division of Building and Fire Regulation. For more information on the Review Board visit https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/index.php/state-building-code-technical-review-board-sbctrb or contact the State Building Codes Office at (804) 371-7150 or sbco@dhcd.virginia.gov