Building Codes

In a recent submission to Building Enclosures Magazine, PIMA president Justin Koscher briefly examines the impact the latest building codes have on making structures more resilient to natural disasters.

The following article summarizes Chicago’s efforts to adopt much of the 2018 IBC, which is seen as a boon for construction in the city. Of particular interest is the allowance of the “performative method” for projects like energy retrofits.

According to HGTV.com, adding a deck, patio, or porch to an existing home returns 90% of the money invested at the sale of the home. While an outdoor living space is something that homeowners desire, either for personal use or for potential resale value, the structural implications of adding a deck to a home constructed with floor trusses are significant. In order to prevent deck installation from becoming an issue, there are a few things components manufacturers (CMs) should be aware of if clients are interested in preemptively or retroactively installing a deck- ledger.

What is the definition of authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) found in the building code, and what does this definition mean? The 2018 set of building codes does not provides a definition for AHJ. Therefore, this term will need to be defined using the dictionary or as a term defined in another code.