Are building codes a form of nanny statism and an encroachment on personal freedom?

[her209]

This thread in ATOT got me thinking about the numerous codes regarding safety such as building codes, fire codes, and health codes. These codes apply to both public and private property and when there is a violation, usually there is a fine that accompanies it.

Some examples include Exit signs that are required to be placed at each of the exits of a building and they are required to be lit in the event of a power outage, smoke alarms that are checked and test regularly, alternate fire escape stairwells, maximum occupancy limits, etc.

In addition, new (and renovated?) buildings are must follow building codes when it comes to electrical wiring, plumbing, elevators that are regularly inspected, etc. Here in California and probably elsewhere, buildings must also be able to withstand a specified magnitude Earthquake.

Undoubtedly, all these codes add to the costs of the building as well as cost of compliance and if its a business are passed onto the customers of said business.

Should an individual or business be able to make the decision of whether they will follow none, some, or all of the codes?

 

[nageov3t]

some are a little eye-roll inducing (for example, my sister can't put in a shower in her basement because of minimum floor-to-ceiling height requirements, but her and her husband are both like 5'6") but after seeing some of the shit that's happened in Chinese building constructions, I'd take tighter regulations over loose.

 

[Vette73]

Yea depends on your area. Some are just awful and inforce some of the smallest dumb things but others really need to clamp down and do their job.

Also they are needed as I don't want my neighbor to burn his house down and take mine with it because he thought 16ga speaker wire would make a good outlet with a 20amp breaker on it.

But next year all new homes will be required to have sprinklers in them. I think that is a little over the top IMO for ALL homes to have. I can understand muti-use buildings or 3story or taller units maybe.

 

[boomerang]

This is headed somewhere... Why don't you just get right to it?

 

[Cogman]

It depends on the regulations. Some of them are crazy (My parents have a walk in closet that is big enough to be considered a bedroom... They received some nasty complaints from a building inspector because they had no electrical sockets in the closet and were told that they would have to remodel the house to add electrical sockets if they ever wanted to sell the house (that, and so they could appraise the house at a higher value for higher property taxes...).

Since the house was built before the regulation my dad told him to go to hell.

Anyways, specific structural codes are definitely a good thing in most cases (Load barring wall stuff). Things begin to become crazy when you have requirements for numbers of electrical sockets and their places. Why should I be REQUIRED to put in electrical sockets? seems things would be safer without them.


Probably the biggest problem with the building codes is that there is too many of them. Inspectors pretty much pick and choose which ones they want to follow and will dig up random ones to nail people they don't like.

 

[HeXen]

without building codes. people would get stupid and someone gets hurt. even if the particular code is stupid, there is a reason..likely cause some dumbass somewhere got carried away with their own stupidity. So a strict code implemented so people don't try to find loopholes

 

[HeXen]

Anyways, specific structural codes are definitely a good thing in most cases (Load barring wall stuff). Things begin to become crazy when you have requirements for numbers of electrical sockets and their places. Why should I be REQUIRED to put in electrical sockets? seems things would be safer without them.

know why that is....cause if some dumbass bought that house, and wanted to make it a gaming room or whatever...whats a redneck do?...they run extension cords. not safe. generally, thats why every room is supposed to have a socket....again, probably someone too many out there ran 1 too many extension cords, tripped and killed themselves. who knows but i'd rather buy a house with plugs in every room simply out of convenience

 

[43st]

I'm still pretty pissed off that I can't drain my septic onto my neighbors yard when it overflows.. The police showed up last time. Stupid nanny state bullshit.. Palin has it right, they need to all be shot.

 

[jhu]

Haiti vs. Chile in 2010. I'd rather be in a Chilean building than a Haitian building.

 

[bamacre]

IMHO, these kinds of regulations at the local and state levels are more beneficial than harmful. Is there some loss of freedom? Sure. But the benefits FAR outweigh this. It benefits and eases trade, thus it streamlines economic growth. This is a good example of where local and state governments can regulate their local economies.

 

[Patranus]

If we are talking about *structural* regulations, no.
If we are talking about pointless regulations like how much glazing area you can have on a single side of a house - yes.

 

[Freshgeardude]

i think structural codes are good, they set a good standard.

here in florida, buildings need to be up to code for hurricanes.

i dont want my neighbors building in peices hitting mine at 100 mph.

 

[iGas]

It depends on the regulations. Some of them are crazy (My parents have a walk in closet that is big enough to be considered a bedroom... They received some nasty complaints from a building inspector because they had no electrical sockets in the closet and were told that they would have to remodel the house to add electrical sockets if they ever wanted to sell the house (that, and so they could appraise the house at a higher value for higher property taxes...).

Since the house was built before the regulation my dad told him to go to hell.

Anyways, specific structural codes are definitely a good thing in most cases (Load barring wall stuff). Things begin to become crazy when you have requirements for numbers of electrical sockets and their places. Why should I be REQUIRED to put in electrical sockets? seems things would be safer without them.


Probably the biggest problem with the building codes is that there is too many of them. Inspectors pretty much pick and choose which ones they want to follow and will dig up random ones to nail people they don't like.

I'm not an electrician, but I'm not aware that electrical code require an electrical socket in the closet. And, you are right that your dad do not need to upgrade the electrical layout in the house due to the grandfather clause.

Building codes are there for a good reason. It is therefore safety reasons and help builders/home owners to better their structure.

 

[Cogman]

I'm not an electrician, but I'm not aware that electrical code require an electrical socket in the closet. And, you are right that your dad do not need to upgrade the electrical layout in the house due to the grandfather clause.

Building codes are there for a good reason. It is therefore safety reasons and help builders/home owners to better their structure.

While it IS a closet, it is big enough to be considered a room. Rooms are required to have electrical sockets.

 

[Moonbeam]

IMHO, these kinds of regulations at the local and state levels are more beneficial than harmful. Is there some loss of freedom? Sure. But the benefits FAR outweigh this. It benefits and eases trade, thus it streamlines economic growth. This is a good example of where local and state governments can regulate their local economies.

A few minutes ago I would have agreed, but now I'm suspicious.

 

[nyker96]

definitely, I should build my house in any way I'd like, plumbing or no plumbing!

 

[iGas]

While it IS a closet, it is big enough to be considered a room. Rooms are required to have electrical sockets.

A room required to have sockets, however closet doesn't. I think that there is a missed understanding of what the inspector said because he/she wouldn't demand the house to be update to code unless your dad want to sell the house while claiming the closet as a room (study, office, etc...)

 

[iGas]

definitely, I should build my house in any way I'd like, plumbing or no plumbing!

Correct, you are allows to built your resident with or with out plumbing/building codes. There are boonies area that are out of building codes jurisdiction that you can do so, but good luck at getting insurance for it or fire protection.

 

[Throckmorton]

Looks like we have a bunch of nanny state fascists on this forum. How dare you tell me how to build MY house on MY property? The only person at risk if my house falls down is me and my family. Nobody else is harmed if I drop a toaster in my own private bathtub without a GFCI outlet. So now it's OK to regulate how a man dies in his own home? Figures the DEMONcrats would find a way to regulate death.

 

[hal2kilo]

A few minutes ago I would have agreed, but now I'm suspicious.

lol, I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Cogman]

A room required to have sockets, however closet doesn't. I think that there is a missed understand of what the inspector said because he/she wouldn't demand the house to be update to code unless your dad want to sell the house while claiming the closet as a room (study, office, etc...)

My dad wasn't trying to sell the house (and has no intentions of selling the house). Like I said earlier, this was for property tax evaluations that they had inspectors go to every house and check how they faired with the building codes.

Just because a space is being used as a closet, doesn't mean that it isn't classified as a room. In Idaho, at least, the qualifications for what is a room/closet/whatever is based completely on the square footage of that area. Since the closet has a door and has the right amount of square footage to be a room, it is considered a room.

The other problem it had was the fact that it had a lightbulb inside, which is another big no-no for closets but ok for rooms.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Building codes make sense. Not being able to build a shed on your land because it's not zoned for it ----> Fucking stupid.

 

[iGas]

My dad wasn't trying to sell the house (and has no intentions of selling the house). Like I said earlier, this was for property tax evaluations that they had inspectors go to every house and check how they faired with the building codes.

Just because a space is being used as a closet, doesn't mean that it isn't classified as a room. In Idaho, at least, the qualifications for what is a room/closet/whatever is based completely on the square footage of that area. Since the closet has a door and has the right amount of square footage to be a room, it is considered a room.

The other problem it had was the fact that it had a lightbulb inside, which is another big no-no for closets but ok for rooms.

NEC codes permit that the light must be on a switch and not pull chain, and there is also clearances that you must stick to due to fire safety. And, it also pending the local authority.

PS. Do not f__k around with an inspector because they can make you life a living hell.

 

[iGas]

Building codes make sense. Not being able to build a shed on your land because it's not zoned for it ----> Fucking stupid.

I agree that it is stupid, but that is because of the neighbors, and footage of your lots.

You can move to a location that isn't restrictive.

I got 5 acre of land to built my house outside of town, and I'm going to have a work shop/storage shed that is bigger than some people house.

PS. The main panel is going to be 400amps and the sub panel for the workshop is going to be 100amps.

 

[Cogman]

NEC codes permit that the light must be on a switch and not pull chain, and there is also clearances that you must stick to due to fire safety. And, it also pending the local authority.

PS. Do not f__k around with an inspector because they can make you life a living hell.

I believe they were in trouble for clearance (it was on a switch). But again, these were all stuff that didn't apply as the house was built in '85 before those regulations came into play.

I'm going to get some more details from my dad on the exact situation, but I was pretty sure it had to do with them trying to appraise the house at a higher value (Really not a good thing as it is almost impossible to sell homes were my parents live. It basically translates straight into higher taxes.)