 Source (www.umass.edu/bmatwt/publications/articles/building_codes.html)
Common sense and open lines of communication unravel the tangle of regulations that restrain many construction projects.
To say that building codes are a complex and confusing body of regulations would be an understatement. Building code regulations are written, rewritten and interpreted by a legion of builders, manufacturers, architects, engineers, fire marshalls and inspectors. To complicate matters there is no common language --- there is no uniform building code in the United States. Four separate "models" (Model Codes) are used as guides to compose hundreds of similar yet different local codes. Some communities develop a unique code while others don't have a building code at all.
The good news is that a trend toward uniformity is developing. Seventeen states have established state-wide building codes that prohibit local amendment without state approval (see Table). State-wide codes provide builders with a consistent book of rules. A builder can work in any town within a given state and know the score.
Construction is a complicated business: many people communicate various ideas about related activities. We use many materials in a broad range of environments. One code can't satisfy all conditions. But how can a builder deal with a different set of rules in each community? There is hope. The best advice is understand the system and talk to your building official before you start any project.
THE CODE
Building codes are legal documents. They regulate construction to protect the health, safety and welfare of people. If you violate building regulations, you may wind up in court. Keep in mind building codes establish minimum standards. They do not guarantee efficiency or quality.
Typically, codes set requirements for sanitary facilities, electrical, lighting, ventilation, building construction, building materials, fire safety, plumbing and energy conservation. Anything you do that involves these areas is probably regulated. And yes, you do need a permit to demolish a building.
Model Codes
Building codes are local laws. Each municipality enforces a set of regulations. But very few communities compose their own unique set of regulations. Most adopt all or part of one of the Model Codes : The Building Officials & Code Administrators International, Inc.(BOCA), The International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), The Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI) and The Council of American Building Officials (CABO).
One Model Code is generally favored by municipalities throughout a given region. For example, some version of SBCCI Standard Building Code is adopted by the states south of the Mason-Dixon line and east of the Mississippi River (see map for regional bias). |