Barker Bruce A. - Black and Decker Codes for Homeowners 5th Edition

Electrical Plumbing Construction Mechanical
Current with 20212023 Codes

Bruce A. Barker

Codes for Homeowners

The purpose of the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), and of all building codes for that matter, is expressed in IRC Section R101.3: The purpose of this code is to establish minimum requirements to provide a reasonable level of safety, health and general welfare through affordability, structural strength, means of egress, stability, sanitation, light and ventilation, energy conservation and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards and to provide a reasonable level of safety to fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations. This statement provides important information about building codes and code inspections. Building codes are minimum requirements. A house built to minimum requirements is not necessarily a high-quality house built by craftsmen according to best practices. Code inspections are about safety and health. They are not about fit, finish, and other cosmetic issues. They are not even about functional issues that are not specifically addressed in the code. Understanding the purpose of building codes helps you set realistic expectations about the limits of building codes and code inspections.

Building codes change; most do so on a three-year cycle. Many code changes are little more than rewording or reorganization in an attempt to make code provisions easier to understand and easier to find. Many code changes and additions are substantive, and homeowners should be aware of these as they perform repairs and remodeling projects. Substantive additions and changes are the reasons for this updated edition of Codes for Homeowners.

Trying to condense a 900-page code book that is mostly text and tables in very small print into significantly fewer pages filled with pictures and illustrations is a challenge. We have not included many code provisions, because homeowners are unlikely to use them. The provisions we include have been simplified to make them easier to understand. This means that Codes for Homeowners is not your local building code. Your local building code, as interpreted by your building inspector, is the code with which you must comply. You must do so even if you do not obtain a building permit for your work. If you have any doubts or questions about how a building code provision applies in your area, you should ask your local building inspectors. In almost every case, if you approach them as a resource and not as an obstacle, you will find your local inspectors to be friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to help.

In just the United States you will find hundreds of code books describing thousands upon thousands of building code provisions. On top of this, there are even more books that look and feel like code books but are really only attempting to describe best practices. Almost all of these have their own inherent value. But almost none of them apply to a typical homeowner living in a typical single-family home. As a homeowner and DIYer, perhaps the hardest thing about building codes is learning how to tell which one applies to you and, if there is a disagreement, which takes precedence. As an introduction, here are some brief biographies of the more common codes and enforcement agencies youre likely to encounter.