Issues such as structural integrity, means of egress, the presence of hazardous materials and fire safety influence much of the decision making during the permitting process. More often then not, rehabilitation projects that involve older buildings have to consider the issue of fire safety code compliance. Historic buildings rarely meet modern life safety code requirements. Making the necessary adaptations to comply with national, state and local building and life safety codes can be one of the most difficult challenges for the owner, builder or architect involved in the project. Issues such as open stairways, narrow or dead-end corridors, doors that are too narrow or swing the wrong way, or unrated materials must be dealt with in ways that satisfy the local code before the buildings can be occupied.
Planning is the crucial element in any rehabilitation project.
It is important to include in the earliest stages of planning input from those code officials whose concern is with life safety and related matters. Official involvement at the very onset of a project assures that these extremely important issues get full and early consideration, and increases the likelihood that all possible alternatives will be considered. Buildings codes are written primarily for new construction. They establish a minimum standard for building construction through the use of prescriptive standards that specify allowable materials or techniques. They further establish performance standards that specify the level of performance which any proposed material assembly must meet.