Codes, Permit Officials, and Your Designer

Codes are a valuable tool in providing for the safety of people. They are not meant to be an inhibiting factor in the building process. It is the approving officials responsibility, whether building permit official, fire marshal, or zoning officer, to base their approvals on written regulations although sometimes there is confusion in the way the code is written.

Some code regulations are clear while others can be inerpreted differently. An example of a code issue that is quite clear is that all doors in a space must have a 32" clear opening which would require a 3 ft. door. This is a minimum requirement of the accessibility code. An example of a code issue that might not be as clear would be the specific location of emergency lights and exit signs. A code official may require additional exit signs as the project is being built.

It is the job of your design professional to adhere to these codes in the design of your renovation, addition, or new building and interpret the code to the best of their ability. Your designer should seek the help of the code officials if there is anything that is unclear or that might cause design changes and additional expenses to the project. The combination of the owner's intentions, the designer's skill in design and code compliance, and the officials advise related to code compliance should result in a complete, safe, and inspiring project for all. If, as your project progresses, a code makes a demand that is not spelled out in the code, you have every right to challenge that official. It is rarely the personal preference or whim of a code official that rules. Do not ask your designer to omit a code related item in the hopes of the code official over-looking it. When the building is inspected, the building inspector may very well find the code violation which would cause more problems with cost and schedule than if the code issues were addressed up front. For example, it would do little good to lay out a floor plan that ignored the number and location of required exits, the required width of corridors and clearance and sizes of doors. Ignoring these issues, could make a drastic difference in the design. These issues need to be in the mind of your designer as the designer puts together the projects. The project plans should adhere to the applicable when it is submitted to the code official. If a thorough design has been accomplished, the code official should have very few comments and the project should be approved.