Building codes, I don't need no stinking building codes.
At one time in my life I worked in the construction industry. Part of my job in those days was to provide material estimates for construction projects. In order to provide an accurate estimate and materials list, I often had to refer to the Wisconsin code book, which detailed everything from what wiring and outlets could be used, to determining what type of door you had to have between a residence and a garage (it was a 20-minute fire door some 20 years ago, in case you were wondering).
If you look around at the structure of your home, pretty much everything used is determined by the local building codes. You have ground fault interrupters in your bathroom and near your kitchen sink, hardwired smoke alarms, the thickness of drywall, the R value of the insulation in your walls, and how many gallons of water your toilet uses per flush—all determined by building codes. I had to know what the codes were so that I could bid out the correct material; it would do me no good to provide an estimate for a 32-inch-wide front door when the building code requires a 36-inch door.
We have building codes for many reasons; however, in many cases a tragedy likely happened that revealed a need for a change in building practices. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory tragedy is why we have sprinkler systems, and why exit doors are required to be unlocked during business hours. In Madison, Wisconsin, where I live, smoke alarms became mandatory after the 2007 fire-related death of Peter Talen. Investigators found six disabled smoke alarms in the home where the 23-year-old was staying.
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Of course not everyone understands the need for building codes. I recall arguments with some less than scrupulous contractors wanting to shave a few bucks off of a project by eliminating or changing items in the bid that were required by code, or worse yet, a homeowner doing his own self-contracting who was putting his own family at risk by demanding I not include a fire door between his house and garage, or that I bid out 1/2-inch drywall for a firewall instead of the required 5/8-inch drywall. These changes would have saved a few bucks, but would never have passed final building inspection.
One of the arguments I heard often is that regulations and requirements were making houses or commercial spaces too expensive. Most often, these would be the same people with bumper stickers supporting Republican candidates.
Fast forward to 2014, and I am no longer that fresh-faced kid working at a lumberyard. I have not thought of building codes in 20-some years. I have not had to, and I am betting that most of you, unless you are in the construction industry, or have undertaken a large building project on your own, have never given them a second thought. Honestly, you should not have to, because determining and enforcing these codes is really something that government does very well.
Unless, that is, you live in Scott Walker's Wisconsin. When Walker came into office as governor he created a new agency, the Department of Safety and Public Services, as a part of his first biennial budget. It combined the Safety and Buildings Division with the state Department of Regulation and Licensing. Prior to the DSPS being established, Wisconsin updated building codes about every three years. Since the formation of DSPS, most of the advisory councils that met to make recommendations to the state building code have pretty much been dissolved. At this point, the last time Wisconsin building codes were updated (with the exception of fire and electrical) was between 2009 and 2011. The energy conservation and plumbing councils have not even met once since Walker became governor.
Per Ross DePaola, an energy efficiency consultant, They are in violation of the state statute, and all indications are that they haven't worked on anything.
Building codes may not seem like a big deal, but they are. However, when the party in power, the Republican Party, claims that regulations get in the way, that they slow business growth, this is what you get. Codes that need to be updated are in some cases three years behind, and getting even further behind without any updates on the horizon.
Joe Zepcki, communications director for Mary Burke, Democratic candidate for governor in Wisconsin, stated that:
Governor Walker's failure on this issue has put people's safety in jeopardy in order to placate special interests. This is just the latest example of why we need a new direction that puts the people of Wisconsin first. As Governor, that is what Mary Burke is committed to doing.
Building codes are not a sexy campaign issue. In fact, they should not be a campaign issue at all. The fact that they are shows the utter incompetence of the Walker administration in protecting the people of his state. The ideology of deregulation has trumped public safety.
Help Mary Burke and other state Democrats build a better Wisconsin. Chip in $3 to help defeat Scott Walker and put Wisconsin back on the right track.