“And so, the Big Bad Wolf huffed and puffed and.....blew the house down.” Gasp! That house must have not been built in Webster Groves, Missouri, which has recently adopted the 2009 International Building Codes. Signed, sealed and uploaded on the 26th of July, the new amendments will be effective as soon as September 1, 2012.
It is important to consider these codes when building or adjusting anything that could potentially effect the structural integrity of your home. The big topics that are covered in the newly adopted IBC: wind, wood, water and efficiency. Here are a few brief highlights of new language and implementations in the 2009 IBC (for the full list of differences please visit: http://www.sbcindustry.com/codes.php):
Efficiency
A minimum of fifty percent of the lamps in permanently installed lighting fixtures shall
be high efficacy lamps.
DEFINITION: HIGH-EFFICACY LAMPS: Compact fluorescent lamps, T-8 or smaller diameter linear fluorescent
lamps, or lamps with a minimum efficacy of:
1. 60 lumens per watt for lamps over 40 watts,
2. 50 lumens per watt for lamps over 15 watts to 40 watts,
3. 40 lumens per watt for lamps 15 watts or less.
Gas water heaters. All gas water heaters shall be equipped with a pilotless electronic ignition system.
Air sealing and insulation. Building envelop air tightness and insulation installation shall be demonstrated to comply with one of the following options given by Section N1102.4.2.1 or N1102.4.2.2:
Fireplaces. New wood-burning fireplaces shall have gasketed doors and outdoor combustion air.
Programmable thermostat. Where the primary heating system is a forced air furnace, at least one thermostat per dwelling unit
shall be capable of controlling the heating and cooling system on a daily schedule to maintain different temperature set points at different
times of the day. This thermostat shall include the capability to set back or temporarily operate the system to maintain zone temperatures
down to 55 o F (13o C) or up to 85 o F (29 o C). The thermostat shall initially be programmed with a heating temperature set point no higher
than 70 o F (21 o C) and a cooling temperature set point no lower than 78 o F (26 o C).
Timing
Work commencing before permit issuance. Any person who commences work requiring a permit on a building, structure,
electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to a fee
established by the applicable governing authority that shall be in addition to the required permit fees.
As Webster Groves is a rich historic neighborhood of St. Louis County, the homes require a commitment to investment and consistent updates of the homes. Here’s to being the third Little Pig, and not letting him blow the house down.
Written by Ciara Brewer on behalf of Monica Brewer
No comments:
Post a Comment