6A - State Building Code Discussion

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To that end, Minnesota Law directed that the building code be based on the application of scientific principals, approved tests, and professional judgment; and to the extent possible,that the code be �... adopted in terms of desired results instead of the means of achieving those results, avoiding wherever possible the incorporation of specifications or particular methods or materials. The law also mandated that the building code encourage the use of new methods and new materials. Through the adoption of a code, a building department is established for one primary purpose—to serve the public by insuring that the safety required by the various codes and rules become an accomplished fact. DIRECT BENEFITS OF ADOPTING THE BUILDING CODE Proper administration and enforcement of the State Building Code will positively increase the overall "quality" of a community in some of the following ways: • Provides consistent construction standards throughout the municipality. • Provides the community a means to assure safe construction. • Provides assurances to homeowners,financial institutions and secondary mortgage markets through sound construction regulation,thereby improving the "value" of their investment/risk. • Provides F.E.M.A. reconstruction standards in case of a disaster-versus the "replacement only" criteria that would otherwise be applied. • Provides for the integration of other construction related statutory obligations such as contractor licensing,professional design, accessibility codes, fire codes, elevator requirements, electrical codes, plumbing codes, etc. • Provides the national Insurance Services Organization (ISO) an additional form of justification to consider reduced property insurance rates within the municipality. • Provides for code administration services at the local level,which in-turn better serves your residents with direct "customer service." • Provides the ability to establish "fees for service," thereby eliminating or minimizing any general fund obligation to pay for the service. • Provides a cost effective manner in which to assure public protection and safety in local building construction. • Provides construction standards and services that are consistent for state and federal partnerships involving local grants and loans. 8