[renegade]

This post should be of interest to anyone in the construction industry or anyone thinking of building a new home. And it needs your attention now!

There is a bill currently proposed HB 1808, that would retain the current 2006 versions of ICC building codes as adopted and enforced by the Pa. Uniform Construction Code. These codes are on a 3 year cycle and since the UCC went into effect in July of 2004 it has adopted the updated code by Dec 31st of the year. We started with 2003, then on Dec 31st,2006 it changed to the 2006 versions. It is now set to change again by the end of this year to the 2009 codes. This bill would retain the current 2006 version of codes. There is also a Senate version SB 1114 that proposes the same thing and it may have a chance at moving faster.

What this will do is change the way things have to be built to meet code. Not necessarily to a new and improved method, just to a different method. The ICC (Intl. Code Council) has become a political pawn and codes are chosen by votes of attending manufacturers, code officials, architects, engineers, and other industry folks who may have an eye on the money rather than on common sense building methods and safety. A lot of late night votes with low attendance takes place too. These changes and additions can and do raise the cost of homes and renovations, as well as commercial applications. It changes the rules every 3 years and not always to a better way.

If you are a builder or are in construction, you may want to write your legislator in support of this bill and keep the rules from changing every 3 years. One of the big items in this new code would require sprinkler systems be put in every home. This would be on average about $6,600 of the roughly $9-10,000 costs this new code would add to the cost of a new home. Obviously not something needed in today's economy.