What is a Building Code Anyway?
A building code is a set of minimum rules and guidelines that builders must follow to construct or modify structures and systems. They are rules established to ensure that buildings are safe. Without them, we would have no way of ensuring that our houses wouldn't collapse under the snow load, or burn down from improperly installed wiring!
Builders can deviate from the code with the approval of an engineer and the appropriate regional authority. Structures can also exceed the requirements of the code without needing approval, but they may not be built to a lesser standard. A building code outlines the worst house you are legally allowed to build.
Not Just One Building Code
There is pretty much a separate code for each of the trades involved in the building process. There is a fire code, electrical code, plumbing code, gas code, and structural code. Each of these is long and complex, and is regularly referenced by tradespeople as they solve problems on the job.
Always Changing
Each of these codes is constantly being updated. Most building codes are updated every 1-5 years. They are changed to accommodate new and superior building materials and techniques, and to remove problematic or unsafe ones.
Why Don't Home Inspectors Look for Code?
There are two reasons. Firstly, it would be impossible. Many elements of a home are concealed. Wall framing is covered with siding and drywall. Plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems are concealed inside walls, ceilings, and floors.
Not only would these systems be impossible to inspect for code without taking the house apart, but there would be no way of knowing when each system was installed or modified, or what the relevant code required at the time was.
Buildings codes have become more strict over time, and houses are built to a much higher standard now than they were in the past.
Secondly, it would be hugely impractical for a home inspector to memorize all building codes. Tradespeople often don't even memorize the entire code for their specific profession. They may be familiar with the parts they deal with daily, but it is designed as a reference document to consult when deciding how best to solve a problem.
The first national building code in Canada was published in 1941. Now imagine memorizing all the building codes from 1941onward, all the annual revisions, and then determining if what you're looking at was done correctly in the year it was built or installed.
A home inspection evaluates the performance of a house, not whether the house complies with building code.
A More Practical Approach
As you can see, inspecting for code would be impractical, if not impossible. A more practical approach is to look at the performance of a house or system. If something is not doing its job properly, that is an issue. An old house does not conform to modern code, but it might still be doing its job just fine!
Key Points
Building codes are designed to keep us safe.
They are the minimum standard you must build to.
There are many different trade-specific codes.
Codes are regularly updated, and houses are better built now than they were before.
It would be impossible to memorize all codes from 1941 onward.
Instead we ask, is the house working the way it should?
Comments