National building codes are now the basis for regulating construction in cities, counties, and states throughout the United States. Building codes and ordinances set minimum safety standards for the structural, fire, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical aspects of building construction. Codes impact architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, plumbers, electricians, manufacturers, distributors of building materials, and building occupants. Inspections at various stages verify that the structure complies with the established building code. Before a new residential or commercial building may be occupied, DPS personnel must perform an average of 10 inspections.
Building officials have a new responsibility for enforcing energy-conservation standards.
Building codes provide fundamental safeguards for county residents at work and at home. Although these codes cannot eliminate all risks, they can reduce those risks to manageable levels. In our continuing effort to enhance communication between the construction industry and DPS, the Building Construction Division would like to remind everyone about our monthly open-house sessions. These sessions focus on new policies and procedures, code interpretations, industry concerns, and other topics affecting the residential and commercial industries. No appointment is necessary.