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Building Codes
In modern building construction, there are numerous codes and regulations that contractors and builders are compelled by law to follow. Though different states and municipalities have variation in their particular regulatory regimes, there are some standard guidelines that all state and local governments must abide. First, regulations require buildings to be structurally sound; that is, in the case of fire or disaster, buildings and homes must be able to withstand the shock of a sudden fire or destructive event. A sound foundation and frame can aid rescue workers by giving them the security that the building will better hold up while firefighters engage in rescue operations. Second, most regulations require that building and interior materials meet fire retardation standards. Many contemporary building materials are made with new plastics and polymers that do not, or are resistant, to burning. Fire retardant materials can help prevent a building from burning too quickly, and in fact, fire retardant materials may prevent a fire from starting or spreading. Thirdly, most buildings must have fire sprinkler, fire extinguishers and alarm systems built...
Fire sprinklers can aid in preventing the spread of a fire and a well designed system may be able to contain a significant fire event. Well placed fire alarms can help building inhabitants give an early warning to other occupants to help ensure a timely evacuation. And lastly, regulations maintain that building design must provide clear entry and exit pathways, and fire escapes. This can help facilitate a quick evacuation in the event of a fire or disaster, and this also gives easier and quicker access to fire and rescue workers as they engage in rescue operations.
Each of these codes and regulations can have a considerable impact on building construction. First, abiding by the codes can increase the cost of construction, since builders must seek and use the latest in both structurally sound and fire retardant material -- as technologies such as nanotechnology go public, each succeeding generation of fire retardant building material may be required for not only building, but for renovation of existing structures as well. Also, there may be increased costs to architectural firms as they must alter plans and designs…
Each of these codes and regulations can have a considerable impact on building construction. First, abiding by the codes can increase the cost of construction, since builders must seek and use the latest in both structurally sound and fire retardant material -- as technologies such as nanotechnology go public, each succeeding generation of fire retardant building material may be required for not only building, but for renovation of existing structures as well. Also, there may be increased costs to architectural firms as they must alter plans and designs to incorporate features such as fire escapes and clear pathways to meet building codes. As a building is being designed, there has to be a foundation to support its structure, and this can increase the cost of seeking the appropriate location for the building -- i.e., the land must be able to support the relevant structure.
It is obvious that it is in the public's interest to ensure that new structures (and renovated older buildings as well) are subject to numerous codes and regulations. History is replete with examples of catastrophic fires and mass death due to fires and natural disasters; take for example what happened to San Francisco during the earthquake and resulting fire in 1906 or in the 2003 Rhode Island Station nightclub fire in which ninety-six patrons were killed. And of course, in the age of terrorism, fire and building safety become paramount in protecting the public's well-being and security. But in order for there to be safety and security, builders and contractors must be held to account for shoddy or inferior workmanship, and the only way to ensure that homes and buildings are safe and secure, is to use the force of law through regulations and codes to oblige builders to design and build safe and secure structures.
Codes and building standards are very important for firefighter and rescuer safety. Through the use of codes and regulations, buildings and structures can be designed to ensure maximum rescuer "safer" access and exit, thus facilitating the timely rescue of persons and property. Also, fire safe building design can aid in the quick exit of occupants, thus giving firefighters "less to do," so to speak, thus both limiting the amount of time a firefighter must remain in a burning structure and the number of trips a rescuer must enter the disaster area. Also, by requiring features such as sprinklers, fire extinguishers and numerous and easy emergency exits can aid fire fighters by ensuring that occupants themselves have the ability to limit or forestall the spreading of a fire while giving them the ability to quickly exit the burning structure as the fire spreads. All this can limit the danger a firefighter can potentially face.
During the construction process, dead loads "can be accurately calculated," (Brannigan: 15). Yet, live loads are much harder to plan for. Carefully planning for the planning of these types of considerations in building design has been crucial. Recent fire codes have begun to implement live load constrictions. All of these elements can have an effect on the health of a structure during a disaster like a fire. Constructing smart means
(CPA News, 2008) It is related in the CPA News article that brand and marketing strategy should involve making clients aware of the green building services of the firm prior to beginning construction on a new green building or in the case in which they are thinking about "retrofitting an existing one. There are substantial tax deductions available..." (2008) for both. FINDINGS & CONCLUSION It has been indicated in this study that
Building Materials If one is going to build a home or a business, one needs good materials with which to construct those dwellings. However, most of the materials that are used in construction projects in Iran are far from meeting international standards (Babai, 2011). They are of a low quality, and they do not hold up in the way that they would if high quality materials had been used. Many of
Decision As the general contractor of a medium size, one of the most important decision points in construction is a go no-go decision. Go no-go decisions have become common in the modern construction industry because of the changing marketplace that has in turn generated complex procurement choices. In light of the changing marketplace in the construction industry, construction companies face new challenges in identifying the most suitable project proposals to
……How Veterans Can Make a Positive Impact on Workforce Development in the Construction IndustryABSTRACTThe U.S. construction industry faces significant workforce development challenges, mostly in terms of labor shortage. Addressing this challenge is important for meeting the present and future needs of the industry. Hiring veterans is a valuable way through which the construction industry may overcome the workforce development challenges it faces. In spite of the several initiatives introduced by
Building Surveying assessment_ , 4Task 1: Planning application requirements for Mosman Councila. Documents RequiredIt is always a priority to check the kind of approval needed.Development ExemptA lot of minor changes to buildings such as renovations of the interior and other work touching on non-structural part may fall under the exempt development category. Retention of fences, walls, blinds, awnings, greenhouses, gazebos, sheds, privacy screens, enclosures, pathways, driveways, decks, pathways, internal structures