jar546
CBO
So this is going to be another soapbox vent directed at many of the builders and contractors in Pennsylvania.
If the builders and their associated organizations at the state and local level would put as much emphasis and money into education for the basics and codes and less money into lobbyists and other useless endeavors, they actually may have a chance at a decent level of competency. Sure, not all builders and contractor are bad, there may even be a few in the state that actually know a thing or two about construction and the minimum code standards, but most have not a clue. I am not sure how many ever purchased any code book and if they did, was it ever opened? If it was opened, was it read? If it was read, was it comprehended? If it was comprehended, was it too hard to actually put it into practice?
For 8 years we have had the I-Codes in PA. Prior to that there was NO statewide building code and most municipalities had no form of code enforcement whatsoever. Most that did, issued permits but never performed inspections. That is a whole other subject. So 8 years later, why do we still have contractors ask questions such as: "When did they change that code, is it new?" to simple things that not only were in place 8 years ago and never changed but some that are part of standard building practices that has not changed in decades. Electricians are not exempt from this. Recently an "experienced" electrician failed an inspection because they decided to staple all of the #12 & #14 NM cables to the bottom of the floor joists in the basement with no running board. He too asked me if that was a new code change. I showed him that the exact verbiage not allowing that was in the 1978 NEC so I said to him "If 31 years ago is new to you then, yes, it is a new change".
This backass state lacks fundamental training for residential construction. I don't even want to get started about the problems with residential guys taking on commercial projects, that would require a novel to be written. Since there is no statewide licensing of contractors, the chance of a minimum level of competency will not exist. There are only a few Cities that actually have a licensing program that requires testing to prove, at least a certain level of comprehension. Therein lies the problem. With no training, residential contractors and builders of course learn by failing inspections. That does not work because of another problem with incompetent inspectors who are certified but think there job is to talk about fishing, hunting and sports with the contractors during inspection and don't want to upset the apple cart with their new best buddies. I for one am not perfect but I sure try and put a lot of effort into education, just as I did when I was a contractor. We need a statewide license for all trades, but that will be useless unless there is some bite to the law and allows more than reactive enforcement.
What basically happens is this. Rather than receive education and learn their craft, the builders and their "associations" put money into lobbyists to get legislators to relax and change the rules. Did you know that in PA for one and two family dwellings you can have a 8-1/4" rise and a 9" tread? Why the fu&% did they need that?
A few basic things about enforcement in PA thanks to lobbyists from some of these "professional associations" (just a few highlights)
1) Residential rise and run allowed to be 8-1/4" x 9". Nice!
2) HVAC equipment that is run by LPG is untouchable by code officials. We can't inspect it. No one does.
3) Coal fired HVAC, boilers, etc. are also off limits. No inspections, no permits, none.
4) Any code official can grade lumber for residential use. Yeah really, I won't.
5) Act 39 of 2007: An act excluding from UCC requirements temporary structures that are erected for fairs, flea markets, arts and craft festivals or other public celebrations; are less than 1,600 feet in size; are erected for a period less than 30 days; and, are not a swimming pool, spa or hot tub. This includes electrical .......
6) The regulations shall exclude section R313.1.1 of the 2003 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings or its successor code from applying to existing one-family and two-family unit dwellings undergoing alterations, repairs or additions but shall include provisions requiring non-interconnected battery-operated smoke alarms in one-family and two-family dwellings in accordance with section R313.1.1 of the 2003 International Residential Code for One-and Two-Family Dwellings
I love #6 because you can now gut an existing house down to the frame but not have to install interconnected smoke detectors that are hard wired. The legislators certainly had safety in mind with this one when they were lobbied by the "associations".
It just seems as though everything is a fight these days over simple, reasonable rules, regulations and codes and the "associations" are very quick and proud to announce these lobbied changes as "victories". Yeah, for who?
If the builders and their associated organizations at the state and local level would put as much emphasis and money into education for the basics and codes and less money into lobbyists and other useless endeavors, they actually may have a chance at a decent level of competency. Sure, not all builders and contractor are bad, there may even be a few in the state that actually know a thing or two about construction and the minimum code standards, but most have not a clue. I am not sure how many ever purchased any code book and if they did, was it ever opened? If it was opened, was it read? If it was read, was it comprehended? If it was comprehended, was it too hard to actually put it into practice?
For 8 years we have had the I-Codes in PA. Prior to that there was NO statewide building code and most municipalities had no form of code enforcement whatsoever. Most that did, issued permits but never performed inspections. That is a whole other subject. So 8 years later, why do we still have contractors ask questions such as: "When did they change that code, is it new?" to simple things that not only were in place 8 years ago and never changed but some that are part of standard building practices that has not changed in decades. Electricians are not exempt from this. Recently an "experienced" electrician failed an inspection because they decided to staple all of the #12 & #14 NM cables to the bottom of the floor joists in the basement with no running board. He too asked me if that was a new code change. I showed him that the exact verbiage not allowing that was in the 1978 NEC so I said to him "If 31 years ago is new to you then, yes, it is a new change".
This backass state lacks fundamental training for residential construction. I don't even want to get started about the problems with residential guys taking on commercial projects, that would require a novel to be written. Since there is no statewide licensing of contractors, the chance of a minimum level of competency will not exist. There are only a few Cities that actually have a licensing program that requires testing to prove, at least a certain level of comprehension. Therein lies the problem. With no training, residential contractors and builders of course learn by failing inspections. That does not work because of another problem with incompetent inspectors who are certified but think there job is to talk about fishing, hunting and sports with the contractors during inspection and don't want to upset the apple cart with their new best buddies. I for one am not perfect but I sure try and put a lot of effort into education, just as I did when I was a contractor. We need a statewide license for all trades, but that will be useless unless there is some bite to the law and allows more than reactive enforcement.
What basically happens is this. Rather than receive education and learn their craft, the builders and their "associations" put money into lobbyists to get legislators to relax and change the rules. Did you know that in PA for one and two family dwellings you can have a 8-1/4" rise and a 9" tread? Why the fu&% did they need that?
A few basic things about enforcement in PA thanks to lobbyists from some of these "professional associations" (just a few highlights)
1) Residential rise and run allowed to be 8-1/4" x 9". Nice!
2) HVAC equipment that is run by LPG is untouchable by code officials. We can't inspect it. No one does.
3) Coal fired HVAC, boilers, etc. are also off limits. No inspections, no permits, none.
4) Any code official can grade lumber for residential use. Yeah really, I won't.
5) Act 39 of 2007: An act excluding from UCC requirements temporary structures that are erected for fairs, flea markets, arts and craft festivals or other public celebrations; are less than 1,600 feet in size; are erected for a period less than 30 days; and, are not a swimming pool, spa or hot tub. This includes electrical .......
6) The regulations shall exclude section R313.1.1 of the 2003 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings or its successor code from applying to existing one-family and two-family unit dwellings undergoing alterations, repairs or additions but shall include provisions requiring non-interconnected battery-operated smoke alarms in one-family and two-family dwellings in accordance with section R313.1.1 of the 2003 International Residential Code for One-and Two-Family Dwellings
I love #6 because you can now gut an existing house down to the frame but not have to install interconnected smoke detectors that are hard wired. The legislators certainly had safety in mind with this one when they were lobbied by the "associations".
It just seems as though everything is a fight these days over simple, reasonable rules, regulations and codes and the "associations" are very quick and proud to announce these lobbied changes as "victories". Yeah, for who?
