Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

Homerr · Jan 2, 2004

Re: Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

Bit of an update... I called the fire department and found out the 'original' person handling this no longer works there. As far as I knew..All was taken care of already...Apperently this person didn't finish things. Who knows... The 'round file' comes to mind even heavier now. BUT My address and situation is still listed in their computer (the fire dept computer) Isn't that stramge? Now... remember I said the planning commission is telling me they never received my plans, yet I have their signature on them? And yet the fire department has my information in the computer. Step 1 is to file the plans, step 2 is to contact the fire department. Step 3 is final inspection and issue a permit. Hmmmm.... What happened here? Talk about the left hand not knowing what the right is doing... SHEES! You think the Fire Department and the planning commission could maybe communicate a bit better. The new person at the Fire department will be out for their inspection on Monday. I can't wait to see the look on the code officer's face when I show him HIS office's signature already on the plans. Hopefully I won't have a problem with the fire inspection. It shouldn't be, as there is no electricity in it (other than an extension cord from the garage) Anybody know what the fire department will be looking for? And as a DIY'er...I tend to overbuild everything. The pro might be able to do things possibly cheaper and more efficient, but I can guarantee my work will withstand theirs. H.

Link · Jan 2, 2004

Re: Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

Hey Homerr Saw this when you first posted but wanted to hold back to see what type of advice you were going to get. Am pleased to see you have been advised well. First of all I think eveyone here is a bit of a DIY'er in one form or another.

And thats a good thing. From personal experience (And I do this for a living) I'm going with: bomar76, plywoody and Ralph Spencer ESP What Ralph said after getting caught!

Also Yellow Mellows coment about Honey comes to mind. Luck to ya and keep us posted.

Ralph 123 · Jan 2, 2004

Re: Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

H, Call them and ask or get a copy of the rules from your buiding department. If you shmooze them they will tell you what they will be looking for. Here is my best guess, since it will have a car under it, they want to make sure if your car catches fire it won't burn the house down (at least a smoke detector or something is likely needed) and ventilation - if a car is running it won't asfixiate everybody in the house. I wouldn't have the extension cord visible the day of the inspection

CalicoKid · Jan 2, 2004

Re: Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

Homerr, The fire dept. is likely going to look for egress/escape issues, Exposed flammable lumber of light dimension at eves etc., fire rating of roof materials, lack of fire stop between adjacent stories and/or living quarters, and so on. The fire code is unique as are the elec. code, building code and all others. Many aspects overlap. I doubt if you need a smoke detector in a carport or garage, according to the codes I operate under it is not required (I'm an electrician) and would be a nuisance anyway, I don't install them in garages. If you need an extension cord then you need an outlet. The Natl. Elec. Code pretty much dictates installing outlets anywhere you might ever want to plug something in. If you've poked a hole in your garage to run the cord out the inspector will frown, if it's running under a door he'll dislike that too. If it's plugged in to an exterior wall outlet and runs along the ground it must be plugged into an outlet with an "in-use damp location" approved cover (bubble cover). Any outlet outside or in an area with concrete or unfinished floors must be GFCI protected. Stash the cord until you're done with this whole process. In my line of work I see some nice DIY and some truly horrendous workmanship. Locally there is such a building boom that everyone with a truck and a hammer is slapping up houses and some of these guys have very little experience and no scruples. Shortcuts are made out of ignorance or for profit by some contractors, as for DIY "shortcuts" It usually looks to me like good intentions with poor results due to lack of knowledge of codes, materials, and assembly techniques. Maybe your contractor aquaintance can give you an inspection before the officials do so that you might catch some things on your own (if there are problems) before they become issues with the municipality. Maybe he can accompany the inspectors and you, if he still speaks the language, so that you all understand each other (inspectors generally are poor comunicators in my experience). A little nice goes a long way, I always try to accomodate our inspectors and help make thier jobs easier and it helps my situation greatly, I haven't seen a red tag in years, not that I've deserved one!

Good Luck!

Homerr · Jan 3, 2004

Re: Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

Ok, I cleaned things up under the carport for the inspector on Monday. The only thing under it is my 20ft. boat and some pieces and parts to my 26ft. project boat (cabinets, seats etc...) The extension cord is put away. (BTW: I had it tossed over a rafter from the existing garage.) As far as escape routes, the front, back and one side is completely open and un-obstructed, so I can't see them ding'n me on that. The one thing they might would be the roofing material, but as I mentioned before, the planning commission had already approved my plans. I drew them exactly as it sits, material and all. I didn't want to use the roof material on there now, but the project extended into the rainy season, so I had to cover it quick. 1/2" ply and standard roll roofing is what's up there now. I get sheets of plywood from work from time to time. (What the heck, it's free.) I eventually want to put up metal roofing, but it is expensive. We have a builders bargain center locally, but the metal roofing comes and goes fast, so I've been watching for it. I guess we'll see on Monday... I tried to get in touch with my contractor friend, but he apparently moved some time ago, and I cannot reach him... Oh well. Ifn' it don't work out... I have a big 'ol 4x4 and a chain... She's comin' down! H.

Homerr · Jan 7, 2004

Re: Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

Update on this mess: Fire inspector was out and approved everything. One hurtle done! Now back down the planning commission: Now they claim they have no idea who OK'd the plans in the first place. Fine whatever... Now he said my plans need to show SCALE and something or other about ratio. Can someone give me a visual example? When I drew my plans, I drew them like in a block form. The carport is 21ft. x 24ft Example on how it's drawn on paper: <---------- 21ft ----------> What does he mean by scale? If you were to take a tape measure out there right now, it would match exactly what I wrote on paper. Wouldn't this be 1:1 ratio? I called my contractor friend, and he explained it a little but it was difficult to describe. An actual drawing would help so I can compare etc... The planning comission person said if I put the 'scale' on the drawing, he'd come out to inspect. Thanks, H.

FLATHEAD · Jan 7, 2004

Re: Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

Scale is simple. You have to make your drawing to be exactly like the building. So say on your drawing you make every inch = every foot of building. So if you have a 8 foot wall draw a line 8 inches long to represent that wall. Your scale would be one inch equals one foot. You can buy a ruler for this that has different scales on it, it makes it much easier.

Homerr · Jan 9, 2004

Re: Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

UPDATE: Well, after the planning commission complaining about my 'plot' drawing.... I stayed up 'till 3am fixing it. Not that big of deal, but it was done. I found a neat little architect program on the net to help. Back down to the planning commission today... he approved the plans and will be out next week to 'inspect'... I'm hoping he's just tired of seeing my friendly face at his office every-other day and will just get this over with!

Will I hire a contractor next time? I doubt it, but I will certainly try and find a code book before I start anything. Contractors have their place, but as long as I'm willing and able, I'll do the work myself. Once again, you get a real feeling of "we don't want your kind around here" when the DIY'er goes into the planning office... As I should have in the first place, I looked on the internet and found a few sites specific to Oregon (and my county) that explained some basic codes and examples of what I needed to do. So why couldn't they post something like this in their downtown office? Why can't they tell you, "hey there is a great web site for the DIY'ers..go here..." ? My only answer is because I, the insignificant, uneducated American male, can't handle the task of hammering a nail in a board. I MUST hire a professional and spend half my years salary doing so. I am unable to work on my own home. I wonder if you have to prove you're a liberal before you apply for the job as a code officer? LOL!

Does anyone know where I can get a code book for Oregon that doesn't require a lawyer or engineering master to understand it? Maybe: "A dummies guide for Oregon constructiuon codes?" H.

JGREGORY · Jan 9, 2004

Re: Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

Homer, I know the construction officials in my town go to ASHRAE for some stuff and another place for construction codes. When I get back to the office I will ask my construction official. I gave you the link to ASHRAE and the other I found when I was doing a search for the other book but I can't remember the name. Hope this helps. http://www.ashrae.org/ http://www.cbs.state.or.us/bcd/

Homerr · Jan 9, 2004

Re: Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

Thanks, I'll take a look! H.

JGREGORY · Jan 16, 2004

Re: Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

Homer here is that other site I was talking about.. http://www.iccsafe.org/ Between them they have the building code covered then each state tweaks it a little bit.

TPD211 · Jan 23, 2004

Re: Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

Homerr, Try www.municode.com Navigate to your state and town, these will be the ordinances but not the building code. Also try www.findlaw.com for legal related questions. TPD211

Anyone familiar with building codes, laws etc...?

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