Universal Carbon Monoxide Alarm - building code regulations that control almost every aspect of home design and construction. Every new home, remodeling projects, or the increase in space must be designed and constructed in accordance with the code governing the structural design, energy efficiency, quality of construction, and the overall security of the structure occupied by the community.
codes dictate the size and configuration of the stairs; the number and type of windows and glass; the number of home energy consumption; methods and materials; the location of smoke detectors; and hundreds of other items.
A new homeowner may only minimally aware of the impact of building codes in the house, as most code problems tackled before he occupies it. But homeowners remodeling or room addition tends to be very familiar with how the building code affect the design, construction, and the cost of their projects.
That is because building codes often require work to be done for the rest of the house seems otherwise sound - it could be an unpleasant surprise to find that you have to tear the ceiling of a room where you will be planned no job significant.
Here are some of the bigger problem related to the code-often found in home renovations, and some suggestions on how you can plan for them.
Power!
It should be assumed that each house over the age of thirty years will require an update of the electrical system. Usually the culprit is too little power to serve the needs of modern life; Electrical codes now require about three times the number of electrical outlets from a few decades ago.
These additional outlets will require a larger electrical panel, which in turn requires greater electrical services (more power!).
Unfortunately this is a problem that is difficult to avoid. If you plan to add or remodel, make sure your budget to upgrade the electrical contractor.
What's Holding You Up?
The older a home is less likely to meet today's codes for structural strength. If the work is done in the original construction, the structure will probably require some strengthening -. Even if the structure has been established for many years
Every renovation that expose the existing structure or change the way the load is distributed on the floor and the wall will require review the structure of the house. The addition also often causes structural changes as the existing support is changed or removed to make way for a new job.
But reworking the structural elements of the house often grow bigger (and more expensive) the obstacles in the way - the necessary relocation of existing electrical wiring and ductwork can be channeled through the framing. It was part of the so-called \\ \"ripple effect \\\" - a small change in one area ripples throughout the house. When possible, minimize the ripple effect by designing additional non intrusive structure of the house and the renovation of existing rooms without moving walls.
Where there's smoke ...
smoke detector consists of two types, battery-powered and \\ \"programmed \\\". Fixed detectors are powered from the electrical system of the house ', and interconnected - when one goes off, they all go. Housing code requires all new homes have hard-wired detectors, and most jurisdictions require their installation throughout the house when every part of it renovated.
carbon monoxide detector is a new addition to many local code. According to Journal of the American Medical Association , carbon monoxide is the leading cause of poisoning deaths in America. CO2 detector is similar in appearance to the more familiar smoke detectors and costs about $ 40 retail.
Plan needed to add both smoke and carbon monoxide detector for any renovations or additions significant project.
Watch Your Step
Stairs perhaps the single most dangerous part of every house. Accidental fall on the stairs occur for various reasons (every year about 239,000 or 9% of all household accidents occur in women with high heels and children). In recent years, the requirements of the housing ladder has been gradually improved to make the stairs are less steep and easier to negotiate.
At least limiting step ladder geometry allows the maximum height (\\ \"riser \\\") of 8 ¼ \\ \"and the minimum depth of steps (\\\" footprint \\ \") of 9 \\\". code writers are in the process riser heights decline to 7 \\ \"and increase the depth of the tread to 11 \\\", resulting in a much steeper ladder and hopefully, improved safety ladder.
But these stairs safer also greater -. Be sure to know the code of stairs in your area before you lay out your project design
Good Help Is not Hard To Find
experienced architects, remodeling contractors, plan examiners and inspectors building can help you to anticipate problems codes hidden potential in old houses. A little time and money invested in quality review your ideas can help you to avoid costly surprises later on.
