Keeping Unjustified Requirements Out of Model Building Codes
Keeping unjustified requirements out of model building codes is a constant challenge as NAHB strives to keep housing affordability within reach of families nationwide.

After the first round of hearings on amendments to the 2006 edition of the International Code Council's building codes concluded on March 4 in Cincinnati, it was apparent that the NAHB experts who work on your behalf had done a fantastic job. Testifying on several hundred of the over 2,200 proposed amendments, they came away with very good results. Among the most onerous changes that were defeated were those that would have mandated sprinklers in all single-family homes, required 7/11 stair geometry, required hail-resistant shingles in all new construction for much of the country, required all floor systems to be designed by an engineer and required all homes over 7,000 square feet to be engineered and fully sprinklered.

For multifamily, defeated proposals would have eliminated important design allowances for the installation of sprinklers, required sprinklers in attic spaces, reduced height and area limitations and greatly expanded inspection requirements.

All told, had these and the many other proposals been approved, the cost of new construction would have increased considerably — the sprinkler requirement alone adding $3,000-$4,000 to the cost of an average new 2,300-square-foot home. For further details, contact Jeff Inks in NAHB's Construction Codes and Standards at 800-368-5242 x8547. [ return to top ]