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Code….is getting a little sticky on a number of topics, and all this litigation is making things even worse. May I take this opportunity to thank the logical, reasonable building inspectors that are capable of deeming what is safe and what is not on their own.
If the rules for building code are to be followed to the letter in every public area….
All rivers, lakes and streams will be required to have a legal hand rail with no spaces greater than 3″ between ballusters and shall be between 3 and 4′ in height…dependent upon where.
Beach areas shall be equipped with a 6′ fence of either wood or chain link, (not easily scaled), with a self closing gate capable of being locked.
Any naturally ocurring hill of more than 3 risers shall also be equipped with a hand rail and legal steps.
Since roads are inherantly dangerous to pedestrians, bridges shall be constructed over all intersections, and barriers capable of resisting a car at 30 mph shall separate the cars from pedestrian traffic.
If we are going to make it impossible for humans to injure themselves ….lets just go all the way shall we? GOOD GRIEF.
And here in Springwater township in Ontario…we are not allowed to have a bench beside a handrail, on a deck with 4 risers. Lets just bann patio furniture on decks altogether….And watch out for those barbecues in public areas…a passerby stealing a hot dog could potentially burn himself if the hot part of the barbecue is not protected by a flashing….
L
(my rant for the month)….I’m finished…LOL
Replies
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i "Since roads are inherantly dangerous to pedestrians, bridges shall be constructed over all intersections, and barriers capable of resisting a car at 30 mph shall separate the cars from pedestrian traffic."
Hey! I like this idea. I could make some money building the bridges! ;-)
*No you couldn't!By the time you complete the required paperwork and conform to all the rules you will owe money.There is a relatively obscure law that states Contractors submitting proposals to government entities are entitled to direct costs only. As a condition to being awarded a public service contract, overhead allowances are permitted only when reviewed and authorized by the Bureau of Contractor Reimbursement (BCR) which meets every two years shortly after the contractors license renewal date. (Even years only). Profit taking is strictly disallowed unless the legislature, meeting specifically in response to National Contractor Oversight Committee (NCOC) input, approves, by a two thirds margin, each application for profit. Applications for Profit Taking (APT) forms may be ordered from the Government Printing Office. Applications are bundled in packages of 250 and will cost $22.50. A fee of one tenth of the requested profit will be assessed for each application to cover the administrative costs. Incomplete applications will be denied and the fee forfeited. Applications denied for any reason may be submitted again, but not earlier than 12 months from the original date of rejection. Reapplications must be submitted, with a $200.00 reapplication fee, to the NCOC. A special form, Reapplication for Profit Taking (RPT), is required. These forms are available from the Government Printing Office and are also bundled in packages of 250 at $22.50. Original forms must be used, no copies or electronic transmittals are allowed. Signatures must be witnessed and notorized. Failure to complete the required reapplication request form, in triplicate and with NO blank or insufficiently answered items, will result in denial of the application and forfeiture of the entire fee. The government assumes no liability for lost or misdirected applications or factors resulting in denial of claims.
*Lawrence,What will the requirements be for the people that will flash us for our protection? I also question that rule as I find flashers quite distracting.
*Jeeze Rob, maybe I should forward that question to my friendly local building inspector...he seems to believe that his good book has all the answers...LOL (but around her an averted glance seems to be the best defense...LMAO). I only wish he had an email...I would be forced to hand it over to you folks!
*Ralph, are you having a bad day? I guess the board has met on some of my projects in the past, 'cause I have actually made a profit on a few! ;-)
*Actually, it's a rather good day. Presented invoice for final payment PLUS a fair change order. Just poking fun at bureaucracy in general and wordy regulations. If I had had the time, at the time, I would have continued piling it higher.Grandpa has a visitor tonight!
*If you have a problem with the local building inspectors........then maybe there's a problem with how you're building.Ed. Williams
*Be proud, Grandpa, be proud!A beautiful child.Rich Beckman
*EdNope.. .sounds to me like Lawrence has just run afoul of our new revised bldg/idiotproofing code here in Ontario, which makes it pretty much impossible to design a deck with a ballustrade that is even remotely attractive, or stylish.I feel yer pain L.. ..I'm in the midst of this same conundrum as we speak.-pm
*Ed? Here's a beer...ugh...forgot who I am already huh? Sorry I haven't been around pal. I only wish it was something I am doing...that I could change...but it seems to be a frail ego at the core of it...in a small town...So we shall just ignore this little bully and maybe he will go away on his own. ;)
*Hey Ralph, kinda reminds me of my little one about a year ago...
*Screw all red tape wrapping, @ss sitting, gutless, pencil pushing,mindless, misery making,worthless bureaucrats.Does that answer your question Lawrence?So now the next age old question which worthless bureaucrats are worse, Canuckians or Mericans?joe d
*Yeah, good lookin' kids Ralph. They could almost pass for twins.
*Well the Merican inspectors are so danged busy tryin' to keep up with us industrius builders down here, it's no wonder they get confused sometimes. I think the Canuckian inspectors get real bored, since the bad climate keeps everything closed up and iced over for ...what, 9, 10 months a year? The two month building season up there just makes the inspectors cranky. Or maybe it's that bad exchange rate rile 'em up again. Or maybe the bad beer up there...
*Don't be contrary, jim.Rich Beckman
*Lawrence,Thanks for the beer and good luck.Ed.
*Lawrence, Here's the scoop on the B.I.'s, they keep changing all these codes to justify their existence! Hears an example...in St. louis incline rail height went from 32"to 34" and now 36". I look for it to start back down in a year or so. I had one clown try to tell me max. riser ht. for stairs was 7". What next?
*Well, just for a laugh...here's what we have to deal with up here. Burlington Ontario...requires a 4' hand rail on all decks above 3 risers. Ontario building code has banned your typical colonial ballusters...(the 1 1/2" variety), said they just are not strong enough. Your typical ballusters require to be fastened with screws..(but they do not require them to be piloted...they will crack and be weak if you don't....but they don't specify). Every municipality has different requirements...and they are now specifying aesthetics...ahem...next subject...this one is depressing....I could go on all day...but I would rather not think about it.L
*LawrenceHere's another good one for ya; in the Supplementary Guidelines (SG7) for decks in the new Ontario Code, if you fasten posts to a rim joist with #9 screws the max. post spacing can be 5'-1", if you substitute #8 screws the max. post spacing is reduced to 3'-11". Now I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I can't i see a hell of a lot of difference between the two sizes that would justify a 25% difference, not to mention that in my world #9's are as rare as hens teeth.-pm
*#9 screws - you're talking about the same size screws we use to hang doors? How many screws per square inch are required to support the projected lateral load of a couple of 250# guys using the rail as a bench?
*"Beach areas shall be equipped with a 6' fence of either wood or chain link, (not easily scaled), with a self closing gate capable of being locked." Hasn't the province (of Ontario) already decreed that such a fence has to be built around the dock in Port Stanley because those two drunken idiots tried swimming (unsuccessfully)in Lake Erie last summer. How much do we have to do to protect people from themselves?
*RalphThis particular detail requires the post to be sandwiched between the rim and a piece of solid blocking the same size as the rim and installed parallel to the rim. The post requires 8pcs 3" wood screws, 4 on each side staggered.Now withstanding the point load of two 250# guys sitting is the i old code. ..new code requires structural integrity to be maintained after the entire front line of your favourite footbal team decides to use the rail assembly for blocking practice. The safety nets that are now required will look after the two guys who fall off after they climb up onto the new rail height while using a step ladder.Following the 25% increase per screw size mentioned above, I should be able to extend the post spacing to 8' if I use a #12 screw. -pm
*Guys...I was only kidding...just being ficeteous....Really...Be very afraid..*shudder*Ohh, and honest to god...in 12 years in the trade..I have never seen #9 wood screws for sale...metal screws yes, but never wood.L