Building Codes

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Building codes are very important to every single person in everyday life. In every building you go to, no matter it be home, work, school, stores, or places of entertainment, we all need building codes to rely on the safety of the structures we go to everyday. But the question is whether or not the architects and contractors followed a set of regulations called building codes while building these structures? What are building codes? According to the International Code Council, building codes are the “government’s official statement on building safety. Technically, it is a compendium of minimum safety standards arranged in a systematic manner for easy reference. It embraces all aspects …show more content…

However, Roy Harmon also claims that “the only reason the buildings eventually fail is because of neglect, not inherently poor construction” (insert source). This statement is far from agreeable. What about an electrical fire due to poor wiring? What about plumbing problems that could potentially flood the entire building? What about faulty sheetrock? All of these problems could lead to building failure due to poor construction which could be prevented if architects, engineers, and contractors would follow building regulations. So, stating that buildings only fail due to neglect is also deceptive. Buildings fail for many reasons, but one major problem that could lead to potential building failure and civilian death is called “red tape reduction”. The actions behind the “red tape reduction” could also be called “limit oversight of construction’ when it is applied to building codes” (George Pate, 2017). According to the article “Red tape reduction” could kill, George Pate states that building regulation have worked to prevent the overzealous builder from “cutting corners,” “reducing costs,” “streamlining construction,” and other euphemisms for “dangerous building practices” (2017). The world is a money hungry place that is only concerned about making the most money and saving the most money even if it means risking everything. In some instances, designers, engineers …show more content…

This technology provides ways to make checking building codes more efficient. This type of technology is able to keep track of the code compliance throughout the entire design and building process (insert source). So, if the United States is the world leading producer and consumer of this technology then why are we falling short in the code compliance area. It seems as if builders want meet the codes just below sub-par when we are able to produce infrastructure that could be the safest buildings in the world. And why? If disaster were to strike us then it would cost people more money in the long run to make up for possible building collapse and loss of property and life. It designer and contractors would think more about the safety instead of the instant money after the project is completed then potential problems of natural disaster or building failure would be a worry that no one would have to think of instead there are parents in Oregon who have to worry if their children are going to be safe if they send them to school if the mega-earthquake happens or people who live in tornado alley and people who live on the coast who cannot be insured because they live in high-risk areas of the country. As seen in A Review of Building Codes and Mitigation Efforts to Help Minimize

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