Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Deficiencies in prescriptive regulations can lead to failures on mul-
tiple projects, as was the case for the grouting failures described in
Box 4-2.
Prescriptive regulations require a vigilant program of reassessment
and updating by a team with a wide range of technical expertise and
experience.
Option a requires the greatest investment by the regulatory agency with
regard to the development and the maintenance of the regulations.
Option b reduces the level of resources required of the government but
has the disadvantage of relying on the expertise and diligence of an outside
standards development body to maintain standards. This disadvantage
is mitigated when the governmental body actively participates in the stan-
dards development and review process.
Advantages of performance-based regulations include the following:
Performance-based regulations more readily allow for innovative
solutions.
Performance-based regulations provide the designer with greater flex-
ibility and ability to optimize, enabling more efficient solutions.
Performance-based regulations maintain their relevance. In contrast,
prescriptive regulations tend to encompass best practices at the time
they are written and eventually become outdated and can conflict with
evolving technologies.
Performance-based regulations are more readily maintained. Adjust-
ing them to reflect evolving public and regulatory expectations is
straightforward.
Performance and safety-based regulations have greater transparency,
backed up by defined goals and objectives.
Performance-based regulations require greater involvement and buy-
in by industry, leading to a better understanding of responsibility.
The following are some of the disadvantages of performance-based
regulations:
Performance standards place a greater reliance on the technical com-
petency of the design engineer, fabricator, and third-party reviewer.
It is more difficult to verify conformity with performance standards
than prescriptive standards.
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