jar546
Forum Coordinator
This is a rant. I am referring to our profession even though I think it is still an industry. We have not reached the status as a "profession" in my opinion. There is a difference.
What I am absolutely sick of is constantly hearing from contractors and developers that they don't understand why I flagged what I did because they were able to do what they wanted in another town.
In PA we have a state-wide building code and the only difference between some municipalities is that there are some with more restrictive ordinances that were approved or grandfathered by L&I. So when I quote I-Code minimums and not anyone's ordinances, the whining should not begin.
Why can't we all be more consistent and why do others have simply let contractors do whatever they want?
Some recent examples:
1) What do you mean the footers have to be below grade 36" to the top? (this has been the frost depth for over 30 years in our area, even before the 70's and 80's when my dad was a BOCA inspector)
2) I don't understand why my proposed 2 shift 7,000 square foot daycare has to be an E when I was just approved for another one in town X as a B and we have the same capacity of 40 kids.
3) I just built 2 garages like this one in another town and they did not have a problem with my weight bearing header over the garage door. I have a final to prove it. (garage with a 2nd floor above it and a doubled 2x10 spanning a 16' opening on a weight bearing wall)
4) When we added a bathroom in town X, the code official did not make us make it ADA compliant. We put it in a closet next to the service counter. Why are you making us install this one to ADA standards? (ANSI 117.1 2003 in PA)
5) You really want me to put in a 2nd ground rod? No one has ever made me do that! I already have 1 at this temporary service for the construction trailer. (I offered for him to show me <25 ohms to earth for the 1 he had)
The list can go on and on. This is where I get frustrated and don't understand the thought process or reading and comprehension level of others.
I make mistakes, I am not perfect. However, some of these items are not in gray areas at all and appear to be very black and white.
OK rant over. Thoughts?
What I am absolutely sick of is constantly hearing from contractors and developers that they don't understand why I flagged what I did because they were able to do what they wanted in another town.
In PA we have a state-wide building code and the only difference between some municipalities is that there are some with more restrictive ordinances that were approved or grandfathered by L&I. So when I quote I-Code minimums and not anyone's ordinances, the whining should not begin.
Why can't we all be more consistent and why do others have simply let contractors do whatever they want?
Some recent examples:
1) What do you mean the footers have to be below grade 36" to the top? (this has been the frost depth for over 30 years in our area, even before the 70's and 80's when my dad was a BOCA inspector)
2) I don't understand why my proposed 2 shift 7,000 square foot daycare has to be an E when I was just approved for another one in town X as a B and we have the same capacity of 40 kids.
3) I just built 2 garages like this one in another town and they did not have a problem with my weight bearing header over the garage door. I have a final to prove it. (garage with a 2nd floor above it and a doubled 2x10 spanning a 16' opening on a weight bearing wall)
4) When we added a bathroom in town X, the code official did not make us make it ADA compliant. We put it in a closet next to the service counter. Why are you making us install this one to ADA standards? (ANSI 117.1 2003 in PA)
5) You really want me to put in a 2nd ground rod? No one has ever made me do that! I already have 1 at this temporary service for the construction trailer. (I offered for him to show me <25 ohms to earth for the 1 he had)
The list can go on and on. This is where I get frustrated and don't understand the thought process or reading and comprehension level of others.
I make mistakes, I am not perfect. However, some of these items are not in gray areas at all and appear to be very black and white.
OK rant over. Thoughts?