State Building Codes

[chicago111]

Where can i find State Building Codes online that are free?
Im looking for the Indiana Building Codes 2003 +/-

I've found plenty of sites trying to sell them to me but none where i can just look up a fact or 2.


Thanks
Chuck

[Doug Aleshire]

Chuck,

Best to just call your local building inspector for specific within your area. Each state can modify requirements over and above the IRC 2003 Codes. This means they can be more strict.

Otherwise the books are for sale - these are not made to be given out over the internet.

What is your question that you need clarification on?

[chicago111]

Well, I was hoping to find the code on some concrete work.
Has to do with another thread, but the specific question would be:
The Garage Pad in relation to the driveway pad. Does the garage pad have to be 1 inch above the driveway pad? If so, is this a constant 1 inch or can it taper from 1 inch to near zero near the middle. (talking about just the area where the garage meets the drive).

Having a problem with water under the garage door with a house thats under 1 year old (read still under warranty) and wanted to know if my situation was "to" code.

TIA
Chuck

[Doug Aleshire]

chicago111,

The Garage Pad in relation to the driveway pad. Does the garage pad have to be 1 inch above the driveway pad? If so, is this a constant 1 inch or can it taper from 1 inch to near zero near the middle. (talking about just the area where the garage meets the drive).

The code says a minimun 1/8" per foot slope towards garage door for drainage.

I am not aware of any requirement for the driveway slab to be 1 inch below garage slab. This is the first time I have encounterd such a question. I could not find anything within the IRC 2003 book pertaining to this.

It is normal though to slope or pitch the driveway slab to the sides or towards the street for drainage. There are issues of grade slopes from the building but not the driveway slab. Is it possible you having some heaving issues?

I would suggest a call to the City on this one.

Hope this helps!

[chicago111]

no, no heaving issues
My drive is sloped slightly toward the garage. Not builders fault, just they way it has to be. But...Garage pad is near even with drive pad at the center point and that is where the water is coming in. Rest of garage pad is about 1 inch above drive pad..so it kind looks likes a \/
Just wondered if there was some sort of code on that kind of thing.

Thanks for your replies, I'll have to contact the city for further info.

Thanks Again
Chuck

[trance]

it's probably not a code issue - however....

if the builder builds something that drains water INTO your house (or garage) THAT'S a problem.

if the "have" to, because of site grade - they need to do it so the water drains to the side, around the house, or in the worst case, to a drain.

They can't grade, either the lawn or the drive, so it drains into the house or garage. That's just common sense.

[Brian Garrison]

CHICAGO 111,

When I design my detail shows 1/2" difference in height at the back of the garage door to create a lip behind the door so water coming down the face of the door has somewhere to go besides in. It is a required slope as Doug stated earlier. The easiiest fix at this point is to install a strip drain maybe 1' oot from the door sloped out one end. With the house being one year old you may still have a warranty that would allow you to go back on the general contractor.

Good luck. :wall:


Brian Garrison
gerneral contractor/professional building designer

[Pendragon]

As for finding codes online, check your states website http://www.state.in.us/

Florida for example, has building codes online.

[grover]

Virginia doesn't have building codes online- I mean, they do, but their building codes pretty much just invoke IRC, with NEC et al invoked as references by IRC. It's a little frustrating because VA's codes are so damned old- for instance, residential electrical is still governed by NEC 1996! (Looks like Indiana's building code is based off IRC 2000?)
http://www.in.gov/sema/osbc/techserv/osbc_staff.html

Unfortunately, IRC is copyrighted, so you won't find it online (legally). Honestly, I don't see how states can get away with the whole "IF YOU ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW, YOU WILL BE FINED AND YOUR HOUSE CONDEMNED! IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE!! NO, WE WON'T TELL YOU WHAT THE LAWS ARE, YOU HAVE TO BUY THEM!" It just strikes me as completely illegal.

I ended up just biting the bullet and buying a copy of IRC 2003, and I'm glad I did! You can find them under $50 online if you look around; it might not make sense for this project, but might be worthwhile if you plan on other DIY projects around the house in the next few years.

[Doug Aleshire]

grover,

Trouble is the books always change. Then to top it off, each municipality can increase, not decrease, the minimum requirements. It's a guide only and every 2 years they change. For those doing their own projects, spending $50 is cheap investment but it is best to call your local building officials for whatever they have ammended to it.

I also noticed that some info on line is old as well. Unless you look at the bottom of web page for the date last edited, you think it is current. Surprise, it is not that way always! I've seen it when they are 2 or more years old! They make a web site but noone is updating it to current codes/changes. This can be very misleading to the homeowner.

Thanks for the feedback

[grover]

I dunno Doug, we've gotten a lot of milage out of one old copy of NEC 1996 here ;) Virginia is pretty sad in that respect; here NEC 2005 is out, and our legislation is talking about maybe adopting NEC 2000 next year if the proposed bill invoking IRC 2003 passes. At any rate, that's why I added the qualifier "in the next few years". Of course, even an old copy of the code will be a good reference for a DIY; yeah, a few things change in every revision, but 99% doesn't. So if you're building a whole house or do this for a living, yeah, you need the latest, but any given project is likely to be OK even with a 15 year old code book. (Which are REAL cheap online, btw) A buddy of mine has built two houses and countless garages and sheds using nothing but a 1975 copy of Francis Ching's "Building Construction Illustrated"... At any rate, it's easier to get the delta of changes and local addendums from your local inspector from last year's code then to try to get complete verbal run-down of what not to do.

Having a code book for reference- even an old one- isn't a bad thing, we just have to remember that it's not the verbatim law.

[trance]

hey guys - you all have some good points - as an architect, we HAVE to keep up with the current code...but...

1) yep, the localities don't update very quickly. here in michigan, we just got on the 2003 building code, in 2005.

2) yep, old codes will get you most of the way there.

3) if you settle for an old code book, you might find a cheap copy at a secondhand book store.

4) you'll probably find the code at your local library too. :D

[Joe.Carrick]

hey guys - you all have some good points - as an architect, we HAVE to keep up with the current code...but...

1) yep, the localities don't update very quickly. here in michigan, we just got on the 2003 building code, in 2005.

2) yep, old codes will get you most of the way there.

3) if you settle for an old code book, you might find a cheap copy at a secondhand book store.

4) you'll probably find the code at your local library too. :D

Of course the local building department officials haven't read the code anyway. :wall: ;)

[trance]

Yeah! it's amazing how they just say "we've always done it that way" & when you check the code, they're wrong...of course, I'd never say it to their face :) :)

[Doug Aleshire]

Trance,

You're right. Never say it to their face! The field inspectors can be your worse enemy or your best friend! As they say, do it by the book and you'll never have problems.....most times!

I have, though, taken my case to the City Engineer to set the Field Inspectors straight. It's not a good idea to do that but it does work. I have even requested different inspectors if they make your life miserable after being reprimanded from powers above them.

What a life we lead!