Are codes an end all of proper construction and safety?

Are codes an end all of proper construction and safety? Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspection Services

In recent discussion board I let myself get into a bit of a debate about codes, appropriateness of the codes and how they affect building industry.

The main question was… “ if you build to code is it always sufficient for the application involved”?

My answer is no. I always have taken the stance that codes are a minimum legal requirement which may or may not be sufficient.

                                   
Codes and regulations are written minimum standards of practices and/or a prescriptive description that govern not just the building industry but almost all industries and professions.

As a former manager of chemical/radioactive waste processing and handling department , FDA/ISO compliant facility and shipping department that shipped hazardous materials that included radioactive, chemical and biological hazardous I was responsible for reading and applying codes and regulations to many of the functions under my supervision.

Codes and regulations in the most part are not an easy read. Understanding when a code is applicable and if there is an exception can be very convoluted.

This is true in the building industry also.

The codes alone are not and cannot be a substitute for an inspector to think, evaluate and ask themselves some common-sense questions about construction and safety.  Just because something is build to code does not mean it will be sufficient in the application in which it is applied or is safe.

A perfect example is glazing. There are specific rules for when safety glass should be used (R308.4 Hazardous locations). Safety issues or concerns with glass can be found in areas of the home which are not regulated by codes or if a certain variable is present removes the requirement.

Here is an example from R308.4 –

Any glazing that is in an individual fixed or operable panel that meets all of the following conditions are required to have safety glazing:

The exposed area of an individual pane is larger than 9 square feet;
and the bottom edge of the glazing is less than 18 inches above the floor;
and the top edge of the glazing is more than 36 inches above the floor;
and one or more walking surfaces are within 36 inches measured horizontally and in a straight line, of the glazing.

So what if the window is 19 inches off the floor or an individual pane is 8.5 sq ft? Because of the rule requirement they are not required to have safety glass. Does this really remove the issue of safety here?

I know we have to define some set of rules but just because this is the minimum requirement does not mean we should not go to the next level if a concern is present.

Another example is that I deal with many residences in mountain locations where large snow accumulation is very common. I see many homes built without regard to how snow will affect the roof covering and will shed off the roof.

If you have ever seen how snow comes off a roof in locations like this you will become very aware of the safety and damage concerns that snow can produce. There is no code for snow shedding provisions in residential construction.

A roof in these types of locations needs to be designed to avoid ice dams, sliding snow and drainage onto traffic areas. A common sense approach is to keep the roof as simple as possible, avoiding excessive valleys, crickets, dormers, mechanical roof penetrations and create shed planes away from walking and home access areas. This is easier said than done in many circumstances but should be considered during the building process.

In many homes architectural design may override function which will subject the structure to unusual circumstances and stresses of the environment they are in. They may be built to code standards but will not function well in the given environment which will result in materials not performing as intended or lasting as long as they should and almost always will require a higher degree of maintenance.

As home inspectors we are not code enforcement authorities. Almost all of us will refrain from using the term “Code” in any written report. But we can be a barometer of common sense and advocates for better practices in the industry.

“True genius resides in the capacity for evaluation of uncertain, hazardous, and conflicting information.”

Winston Churchill

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…

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