Use of Building Codes in Federal Agency Construction (1989) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Underlying Issues
Underlying Issues
Pages 5-14
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 5... ...
The committee discussed a number of such issues that have bearing on the questions posed in this study. Extensive Scope of Owner's Requirements In reviewing the scope of its charge and the origins of suggestions that federal agencies use building codes as design criteria, the committee perceived some confusion among building users regarding the scope of owners requirements and code requirements, and how these requirements influence design criteria.
|
From page 6... ...
above code EXAMPLES code requirements for public safety, health, and welfare __ · Floor load capacity O Concrete test methods · Fire exit dimensions · Electrical grounding · Wind load capacity · Seismic load capacity 6 characteristics not addressed in code for owner r s mission-related use of building Hardware quality Lighting levels · Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning · Roofing system Interior finish
|
From page 7... ...
1 FIGURE 2 Progression from Requirements to Finished Building Applicable Code Requirements - __ _ Owner's requirements for specific project -- L t Owner's general requirements (design manuals etc.) ~~1L Owner's requirements · characteristics not covered by codes · variation from code requirements Project design criteria ' 1 - 1 Building drawings and specifications it, New or altered building Architect/Engineer design Construction
|
From page 8... ...
These agencies share a number of characteristics that have significant influence on their owner's requirements: · As agencies of federal government, they are exempt from local government regulations and remain entirely responsible for establishing appropriate requirements of building performance for protection of safety, health, and welfare of building users and surrounding areas. 0 Many agencies have responsibility for relatively unusual types of buildings such as military installations, scientific laboratory and testing facilities, and facilities intended to serve special populations (such as native Americans or disabled military veterans)
|
From page 9... ...
Some observers argue that the agencies themselves may expend excess effort developing their own requirements, when standards proposed by private sector groups or other agencies would serve the agency equally well. This latter observation underlies regulations and laws that encourage federal government agencies to rely to the greatest feasible extent on voluntary standards proposed by private sector bodies.
|
From page 10... ...
However, the agencies may or may not expend greater effort -relative to a private building owner who relies on the building code to deal with particular health and safety concerns -- to assure that their owner's criteria are met. Diversity of Local Code Provisions Local building codes in the United States exhibit extraordinary diversity from one jurisdiction to another.
|
From page 11... ...
The lack of parallel structure often makes direct comparison of two code documents extremely difficult and time consuming, even for the nationally recognized model codes. Diversity of local codes is frequently cited by the building profession as a factor that fosters inappropriate regionalism and limits competition in building markets by requiring designers and builders to become familiar with potentially different regulations in every jurisdiction where they might wish to work.
|
From page 12... ...
Proponents attribute to increasing uniformity a variety of benefits: Federal agencies and other building owners (or their architects and engineers) would, as a group, expend less effort developing and reviewing their individual project design criteria; builders and building products manufacturers would have access to expanded markets and associated economies of scale; government building regulatory agencies would expend less effort reviewing and maintaining their local building codes.
|
From page 13... ...
In addition, the nation as a whole could benefit from the leadership that federal agencies can exert through greater use of model codes Model code organizations (refer to Chapter 3) may be to make greater efforts to a ~ ~ encouraged by federal agency participation reduce unnecessary differences among codes · Local communities throughout the nation may be encouraged to adopt current model codes as the basis for their local building codes.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.