BUILDING TO ‘CODE’ - WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

Occasionally after uncovering some sort of questionable condition or situation with a portion of the homes’ structure or a system of the home that I’m inspecting, I am informed by the realtor/homeowner/Contractor involved (you fill in the blank) that “It was done to code”. Now, on the surface that seems like a pretty powerful rebuttal to a pesky ‘Ol Home Inspectors’ remark that the issue needs further evaluation by another licensed Contractor in the field of the system that is exhibiting the questionable condition. After all, if it was built/installed ‘to code’ that means it was done to some wonderful, lofty level of detail/construction and closely scrutinized by a local Building Department Official. That’s the image/thought that is conjured up in your mind, right? Besides, who does that ‘know it all’ Home Inspector think he is anyway…. more knowledgeable and above a Building Official? Get real!

Well, let’s do ‘get real’. Code is not a wonderful, lofty level of building construction or system installation. In fact, it actually is at the other end of the spectrum. Doing something to code is comparable to getting a C- or a D grade in school. Code is the very minimum level of a construction detail acceptable – anything less is unacceptable and won’t pass ‘code’ inspection requirements and must be redone/repaired/replaced. So touting that something is built to code is like saying “I build barely acceptable homes”. Another thing that comes up from time to time and sort of goes hand in hand with the code discussion is the statement that a Manufacturers specifications ‘trump’ code regulations. This is a true statement up to a point. In order to install a system or an appliance different from code requirements using the Manufacturers specifications, EVERY detail of the specifications relating to the installation must be complied with.

As a Home Inspector, I am making the inspection from the viewpoint of what things will make the structure and its’ components unsafe to you and your family to live in, and, what is the basic serviceability and durability of the structure and its’ components. Plus, Home Inspectors are not qualified to perform ‘code’ inspections, and, if they have gone through the specialized on-going training and certification to be a ‘Code Inspector’, the inspection they are performing is NOT a ‘Home Inspection’, it is a Compliance Inspection of some sort. Back to built/installed to ‘code’ and Manufacturers spec’s trump code…there is things that trump both believe it or not. And they have been around for a long time. I’m sure that you’ve heard of COMMON SENSE as well as building/doing/installing to a higher level than either code or the Manufacturers Specifications call for. These two actions trump both code and Manufacturers specs tremendously because they bring conditions to a much higher level of quality and safety. You can’t put a price on or buy common sense or a yearning to build/do/install to a higher level than what the bare bones minimum is. A person or business either has that mind set or they don’t. Bottom line: Fixing/repairing things done with no common sense and/or lower work ethics are expensive and wasteful! What level are you looking for and willing to accept as well as feel comfortable with?