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A building ordinance sets minimum standards for construction, covering materials, systems, and environmental issues. They are enforced through inspections and permits, with many countries adopting a model code approach for uniformity and economic advantages. Building codes have a long history, with modern codes being less harsh but still important for safety.
A building ordinance is a law that establishes minimum acceptable standards and guidelines governing the construction of buildings within a particular jurisdiction. A building ordinance will generally address a wide variety of topics, such as the actual materials used in the construction of a building, as well as guidelines on how those materials are assembled, both in terms of structural integrity and safety, especially safety firefighting. Typically, a building ordinance will also address the various systems installed in buildings, such as plumbing and electrical systems, and environmental issues such as parking, access, and impact on the neighborhood. A building ordinance can be very detailed, specifying, for example, the minimum number of nails or screws per linear foot to be used in rock slab installation, or the composition and gauge of electrical wire used for different indoor applications. inside a structure.
Building ordinances have a long history. The Law of Moses, in Dueteronomy 22:8, states: “in case you build a new house, you must also make a parapet for your roof, so that you cannot place bloodguilt on your house because someone who falls it might fall from it.” The Code of Hammurabi also has a number of building codes, including “229. If a builder builds a house for any one and does not do it well, and the house which he built falls down and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death.’ Modern building codes generally don’t impose such harsh penalties, even though violations can lead to serious injury or death to residents. While such ordinances have developed in different ways around the world, they are characteristic of industrialized countries. Many countries will establish a single building ordinance for the entire nation; in other countries, such as India and the United States, they are implemented and enforced by states and municipalities.
Most American jurisdictions adopt the International Building Code as a building ordinance, or model their code after it, sometimes revising parts as may be necessary due to local conditions such as the potential for hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes. A similar approach is taken in India, where local jurisdictions adopt appropriate versions of the National Building Code. This approach – the “model code” approach – is adopted in countries where the role of the national government is limited; in the US, for example, the national government doesn’t have the authority to regulate construction, so it falls to the states. Because the elements of good construction do not vary from state to state, architects and contractors support states’ adoption of model codes so they can standardize their operations.
An economic advantage of model codes is that uniformity of building codes nationwide facilitates the manufacture, distribution, and use of equipment and materials. If a municipality in one state has building codes that are inconsistent with the rest of the codes in the state, that municipality will have increased construction costs because sufficient materials to meet the code in the rest of the state will not meet that municipality’s requirements, and the special supplies will need to be shipped.
Building ordinances in the United States are generally enforced through a system of periodic inspection during construction. Builders and renovators must apply for permits to work, a requirement being enforced by lenders who won’t lend money to projects where the proper permits have not been secured. Permit-issuing authorities will inspect the works while they are underway to ensure they are complying with building codes and certify this to lenders, who will in turn release additional funds.
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