| In this article we're going to briefly go over a subject | | | | home.Another modern building code concerns your |
| that very few people give any thought to unless | | | | electrical wiring. Years ago you could pretty much |
| they're the ones building the new home. We're talking | | | | wire your house with just about anything. These |
| about building codes.Whenever a new home is | | | | days there are very few states that allow wiring |
| constructed, that building has to conform to a | | | | below a certain minimum. And while old homes don't |
| number of codes or requirements. Actually, number is | | | | have to bring themselves up to code, unless they |
| a great understatement. Building code documents can | | | | make an addition to the home, new homes don't |
| be hundreds of pages long. The purpose of this | | | | have that choice. They must conform to all new |
| article is not to go over each one in detail but to | | | | electrical codes.Another building code that builders |
| simply give you an idea of the red tape involved | | | | have to be aware of concerns heating and ventilation. |
| when it comes to building a new home.If you pick a | | | | Boilers must be up to current specifications. You can |
| spot in your new home there is most likely a building | | | | use either oil or gas heat but in either case the |
| code that governs it. Let's take for example, the | | | | equipment must conform to the energy commissions |
| codes governing occupancy. That's the number of | | | | codes. Homes are then given a star rating for their |
| people that can live in the new home. This number is | | | | energy efficiency. To get what Energy Stat calls its 4 |
| based on a number of factors, including the type of | | | | star rating you have to put together quite an |
| home such as ranch, duplex, etc., the size of the | | | | expensive system. That is one of the reasons why |
| home in square feet, and the classification of the | | | | new home building costs are so high, because of all |
| home itself, one family, two family, etc. Based on all | | | | the regulations.While we didn't cover this, even the |
| these factors determines how many people cannot | | | | foundation of the new home has to conform to |
| only live in the home but how many people can | | | | certain regulations. You can't just dig a hole in the |
| safely occupy the home at one time, such as for | | | | ground. Based on the square footage of the house |
| parties.Another common building code is fire | | | | being built, the foundation has to be a certain size |
| protection requirements. For new homes built after a | | | | around and so many feet deep into the ground.And |
| certain date these codes, depending on where you | | | | of course the list of codes including water, insulation, |
| live have become very strict. Almost all new homes | | | | windows, etc., goes on and on forever. Yes, every |
| must have smoke detectors in more than one room. | | | | part of your new home has to be up to |
| There must be valid escape exits in case of fire. | | | | specifications. The up side to this is that once you've |
| Also, fire extinguishers are now required in many | | | | moved in you'll at least be fairly sure that your home |
| states for new homes. Again, this depends on where | | | | will be safe.Maybe they should have done this years |
| you live. Another requirement for new homes is the | | | | ago. Then old homes wouldn't have so many |
| actual material you can use in the building of a new | | | | problems. |