"That's new Code..."

[Inspector Gadget]

If I had a buck for every time I've heard that line when enforcing something. "That must be new," or "when did that come in?" Often followed by "Feh, Codes are always changing."
So I downloaded a bunch of very old Canadian Codes and came up with a brief list of some of the things our office fights with on a regular basis.

 

[SCBO1]

We still get the "When did that code change?" moments

4-inch sphere from a 6-inch sphere on decks
6'8"-inch head clearance from 6'5"-inch on stairs
Stair tread width change issues
Still dealing with handrail required on deck stairs, returned to wall or post and distance off the stair nose.
Risers required, "What, your the only one requiring that!"

 

[arwat23]

I get this all the time, usually involving ADA accessibility / path of travel improvements. Where I work, architects and designers have gotten away with not complying the ADA requirements for decades. Now that it's being enforced better, I get complaints from clients and contractors on nearly every commercial project.

Nothing's changes in over a decade here (we use the ADAS as model code, and that hasn't changed since 2012). It's just that cities are starting to enforce it better. Got one client recently who flat out refused to let me show path of travel improvements on the plans since they "knew code" and "a project (in another city) last year didn't need this". Their contractor and lawyer backed them up, and I didn't want to deal with that. Ended up getting the project delaying by about a month because of plan check comments.

 

[tmurray]

The 6x6 one....all...the...time...

 

[Mr. Inspector]

I get it every time I require a plaque indicatiing max. available fault current. Even the utility says it.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

The 6x6 one....all...the...time...

I refer to 4x4s as "fenceposts." As in "you've used a fencepost instead of a column."
In fact, enforcing 6x6 column requirements is what led me to download an archival version of Code, because the contractor asked when this "new" code was in place, and I *distinctly* remember learning that 6x6 posts were required back in the days I did construction in the late eighties/early 90s.

 

[tmurray]

I refer to 4x4s as "fenceposts." As in "you've used a fencepost instead of a column."
In fact, enforcing 6x6 column requirements is what led me to download an archival version of Code, because the contractor asked when this "new" code was in place, and I *distinctly* remember learning that 6x6 posts were required back in the days I did construction in the late eighties/early 90s.

Wasn't enforced in my old jurisdiction until D and I showed up in 2010.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

Wasn't enforced in my old jurisdiction until D and I showed up in 2010.

I was the first to enforce it out here in the sticks. Along with a whole laundry list of other basics.

I do not receive Christmas cards from contractors.

 

[Roustabout67]

Another one I run into often is the notching of 4x4 guard posts on decks. "But I've always done it this way"...

 

[steveray]

Another one I run into often is the notching of 4x4 guard posts on decks. "But I've always done it this way"...

That is newer to be actually written in our code....

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

That is newer to be actually written in our code....

Yes, that wasn't prohibited in the code until fairly recently.

 

[MtnArch]

I was the first to enforce it out here in the sticks. Along with a whole laundry list of other basics.

I do not receive Christmas cards from contractors.

I'd be wary of any Christmas goodies from the contractors, too

 

[tmurray]

I'd be wary of any Christmas goodies from the contractors, too

Someone once delivered some homemade baking to one of the more rural post offices around here. About 1 hour later they called the ambulance because they thought they had been poised. They kind of were. The baking had cannabis in it and they were all high.

At Christmas time, people used to drop off home baking all the time to the town offices where I used to work. I was always surprised to see people eat things from people they didn't know.