What the Code *is*

Now that we have our “rule book” in hand, lets take moment to talk about how we use it – and more importantly, what the Code allows us to do. There can be a lot of misconceptions about what the Code is, and how it operates – so having a clear understanding of it’s function is an important step towards being a capable Official.

The Code is Law: well, more accurately, the Code – through its adoption, is legislative – meaning, it can be enforced. Like any other Law, By-Law, or Legislation – users have a legal obligation to follow it’s requirements. When a speed limit sign gets posted on the highway – the legislation around it makes it able for consequences to apply when it’s not obeyed: that’s right, I’m talking about tickets, fines, and prosecution. We’ll talk more about the legislation around the Code later – for now, the important takeaway is that failure to follow the Code can result in costly consequences.

The Code is a baseline: Remember, we’re talking about the minimum requirements here. Even though sometimes, the requirements might sound a little heavy – they really provide the framework though which the least acceptable version of a Building can legally be built. It’s a lot like getting just a passing grade on an exam; sure, it’s a pass – but a 51% isn’t anything exceptional. Having said that, it still provides us with a uniform starting point – and we can know with confidence that, when a Building is built, notably altered, or added to, that the same book of rules will apply in each case.

The Code is a Design Checklist: while it can certainly tell us things like, how wide a corridor (or hallway) needs to be, or, how far a 2×10 can extend while it holds weight, it also provides Designers criteria that they need to account for (where applicable) in their design. For Structural Engineers, this could include how to account for supporting varying volumes of snow, or, how much wind pressure the Building should withstand, as part of the calculations for keeping the Building from falling down. For Architects, this could include accounting for how heat transfers through the different materials used together in the Building – or even the compatibility of those materials from a chemical makeup standpoint, to the different ways in which Air, moisture, hazardous gases, or just plain water making their way into (and out of) Buildings need to be considered. For Energy Conservation Designers, or Energy Consultants – this could include anything from how many lights (and what intensity of each) they utilize, to how they may choose to balance insulating parts of the Building, against equipment efficiency for the heating and ventilation systems, to make the energy used by a Building equal out.