3 ms·

Just because some building codes have a good purpose doesn't mean all building codes do. On another forum there was recently a long discussion about the require

Just because some building codes have a good purpose doesn't mean all building codes do. On another forum there was recently a long discussion about the requirement for x number of power outlets in hallways of single family homes. This was added when wall-to-wall carpeting was fashionable and people in homes without outlets in the hallways were using extension cords so their vacuum cleaners could reach all of the carpet. The theory was that it kept people from tripping over excessively long cord or from daisy chaining together too many extension cords. Is this something that should be legally mandated for everyone? Especially since wall-to-wall carpeting has fallen out of fashion, robotic floor cleaners exist, as do much lighter, often battery powered, canister vacuums. The cost of wiring up a hallway and putting in some outlets is only a small fraction of the cost of a new house but when you have dozens and dozens of these types of requirements, it does drive up the cost for a benefit that exists at a much lower level than when the requirements was added. One of the suggestions was that if a homeowner didn't like the requirements, they could petition the authors of the International Residential Code for an amendment during the next release of the code manual in three years. This sounds reasonable to bureaucratic authoritarians but isn't something an individual should be required to go through just because they're not interested in living in a 1970s shag carpeted retro wonderland.

kube-system 4y ago
Yes, codes do become outdated, but this works both ways. There is an opposite example to your hallway carpet example: many old bathrooms were not required to have outlets because there were not many mains powered bathing accessories, but now there have been multiple instances of people being electrocuted when running extension cords from other rooms into the bathroom to use. Really, if we had outlets everywhere that met the best safety standards possible -- we'd prevent all of these issues, in any time. But we don't do this because people want to save money.
tablespoon 4y ago
> On another forum there was recently a long discussion about the requirement for x number of power outlets in hallways of single family homes. This was added when wall-to-wall carpeting was fashionable... > Is this something that should be legally mandated for everyone? Especially since wall-to-wall carpeting has fallen out of fashion... That's a bizarre argument. Anyone who knows about fashions knows that 1) what goes out of fashion, often comes back into fashion again, 2) fashions aren't universally followed. Unless building codes were changed to forbid carpeted hallways, I don't see any good rationale for eliminating the code requirements for them. America isn't Japan, it's quite reasonable to assume someone will likely put carpet in that hallway at a later date (anecdote: I personally know people who have pulled out carpet and found hardwood floors underneath). Also you're focusing too much one one rationale. Those outlets are also very useful for night lights. Falling isn't usually a big deal for younger people, but it can be very serious for older people.
MisterTea 4y ago
If you want to call out a silly building code at least stay relevant and list one which is structural. Otherwise this outlet discussion is meaningless in the context of structural design.

kube-system 4y ago

Yes, codes do become outdated, but this works both ways. There is an opposite example to your hallway carpet example: many old bathrooms were not required to have outlets because there were not many mains powered bathing accessories, but now there have been multiple instances of people being electrocuted when running extension cords from other rooms into the bathroom to use. Really, if we had outlets everywhere that met the best safety standards possible -- we'd prevent all of these issues, in any time. But we don't do this because people want to save money.

tablespoon 4y ago

> On another forum there was recently a long discussion about the requirement for x number of power outlets in hallways of single family homes. This was added when wall-to-wall carpeting was fashionable... > Is this something that should be legally mandated for everyone? Especially since wall-to-wall carpeting has fallen out of fashion... That's a bizarre argument. Anyone who knows about fashions knows that 1) what goes out of fashion, often comes back into fashion again, 2) fashions aren't universally followed. Unless building codes were changed to forbid carpeted hallways, I don't see any good rationale for eliminating the code requirements for them. America isn't Japan, it's quite reasonable to assume someone will likely put carpet in that hallway at a later date (anecdote: I personally know people who have pulled out carpet and found hardwood floors underneath). Also you're focusing too much one one rationale. Those outlets are also very useful for night lights. Falling isn't usually a big deal for younger people, but it can be very serious for older people.

MisterTea 4y ago

If you want to call out a silly building code at least stay relevant and list one which is structural. Otherwise this outlet discussion is meaningless in the context of structural design.