Building codes are essential for reducing casualties, costs, and damage caused by disasters. They also help communities recover faster by minimizing indirect costs, such as business disruptions and lost revenues. The degree of flexibility available for localities to modify their building codes depends on federal and state laws. Generally, federal laws do not prevail over building codes, since building codes are traditionally a matter of state and local laws.
However, there are some cases in which Congress expresses a “clear and manifest purpose that the law prevails over state and local building codes”, and in these cases federal courts have repealed local and state codes that conflict with federal law. An example is the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which sets national energy efficiency standards for certain residential appliances and takes precedence over state or local regulations that require greater efficiency than federal standards.For building owners, occupants, investors, insurance providers, elected officials, and citizens, applied and updated codes establish a baseline for acceptable and cost-effective quality and performance. This process may take a little longer than more autocratic alternatives, but it protects the integrity of the code development process and results in codes and standards that are the envy of the world because of their accuracy, integrity, and compliance with public health and safety regulations.A building or house that complies with the most current code will better withstand the forces of nature than houses built according to the oldest codes. After the planning and design process, the first step in building a new home, school, hospital, or other structure, or to perform a major renovation or extension to an existing building, is to obtain a permit from the local building department.
Jurisdictions that continue to use older versions of codes may allow the development of homes that don't work as well as those built according to more modern codes.HUD prefabricated house construction and safety standards differ from non-governmental model codes in terms of scope and administration. State and local governments adopt the Housing and Construction Code, a set of rules established by a government agency that specifies the design, construction procedures, and construction details. While not a perfect solution for all conditions, the industry believes that updated building codes provide a level of protection against wind, seismic activity, fire and other hazards acceptable to a wide segment of society.The code development process is unique in that it brings together all interested parties to participate and decide what is needed and feasible for the construction of new buildings. Architects and engineers must ensure that their building designs meet or exceed the minimum code requirements required by law for a particular jurisdiction.Just as car safety improved when people understood the consequences of poor quality products and demanded better cars, homeowners must learn what improvements in the quality of home construction make financial and political sense, and can be achieved through current building codes.
However, renovations and other building upgrades must normally comply with the current local building code. Code changes enable innovation in the construction industry and allow more innovative products and processes to gain market share.Most construction projects also require on-site inspections scheduled for critical phases of the construction effort to ensure compliance with the building code. Residential and commercial building codes provide a complete set of minimum health, safety, and energy standards for the design, construction, and maintenance of new homes and buildings as well as for major renovations.
Leave a Comment