Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [building-regulations]

138 questions
30
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7 answers

Extension cord and power strip safety

I've heard that there are some safety and building code issues involved with using extension cords or power strips (surge protectors) for anything other than temporary use. What are the issues, and how can extension cords be used safely?
jrdioko
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Does a homeowner need a permit for electrical work in Massachusetts?

Does a homeowner need to obtain a permit from the town in order to do electrical work on his own house in Massachusetts? The unofficial answers I can find online (e.g., this forum and the websites of various towns) are all over the place, and…
Vebjorn Ljosa
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6 answers

What "code" applies to projects that I do in my own home?

A good portion of the answers and discussion on this site references "code". What does a DIY-er need to know about code as it relates to project in their own home? Most of what I can find online either refers to commercial projects or third-party…
Portman
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21
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4 answers

What is the proper way to run wires along/across basement ceiling joists?

I want to add an electrical outlet in my unfinished basement. It makes sense to run the wire along the ceiling because that's where all the other wires are. What is the proper way to install NM cable either parallel to or perpendicular to the…
Vebjorn Ljosa
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19
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3 answers

Is notching a flange on an I-Joist ever acceptable?

My home builder said that the following notch in a flange on an I-Joist was acceptable, but I've read that you're never supposed to do so. Is that true?
gibbo
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2 answers

Is there supposed to be a gap between the wall and the roof?

We bought a new house last year. Going up to the loft we noticed there is a considerable gap (5-6 cm) between the roof and the wall, like this: Is it supposed to be like that? It's freezing up there but I'm more concerned about animals entering the…
algiogia
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6 answers

Why won't HVAC supply stores sell directly to the public?

I am quite shocked that every store in my very large metropolitan area that sells HVAC supplies requires purchasers to have HVAC contractors license. Which makes it very difficult for a very technically inclined DIY-er to do the job himself. I…
amphibient
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8 answers

Can I put an outlet inside of a wall?

I want to mount a tablet to a wall with a charger but I don't want the charger to be visible. Can I put a normal wall outlet in the INSIDE of the wall and just plug in the charger inside the wall? Location is Wisconsin, USA.
Programmer
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10
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2 answers

Foundation for structure on bedrock

We have the mixed blessing of a giant swath of exposed Canadian Shield on our property in Ontario. Literally a big flat area of exposed rock, no soil whatsoever. Scale is hard to see, but a satellite view looks like this: In our area it has been…
user2152081
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4 answers

Why are "Attefallshus" (Attefall houses) in Sweden not allowed to be on a land without a big house already on it?

Since 2014, house owners are allowed to have this kind of "mini house" built on their property. It's treated as a "real house", with its own address and somebody can live there and everything. However, you aren't allowed to skip the "big house" and…
R. Flicker
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9
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3 answers

Does the code inspector look at preexisting work, or only at recent work?

I would like to have my service panel upgraded from 50 to 200 amps by licensed electrician, but am worried about preexisting code violations. If I had it upgraded and a building code inspector came out to inspect it, would he/she just inspect the…
Shawn
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2 answers

Where can I get electrical plans for my new house?

I'm planning a few upgrades to the wiring in my condo that will require filing plans with the city. It would make my life a lot easier if I had the existing electrical plans (and probably other systems, too). The condo is new construction and I…
JayL
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5
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1 answer

How much weight should a deck of a given area support?

How much weight should a deck of a given area support, either according to building codes or convention? In my local (Massachusetts) building code, I found the answer for floors (40 lbs/ft2 live load), but I'm not sure if that is the same for decks.…
Vebjorn Ljosa
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4
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2 answers

Building code requiring rooms to have internal windows?

I am staying at the Radisson in Colorado Springs this evening and I notice that some of the rooms, in an extension built about 15-20 years ago, have large security windows facing into the hallway. The rooms also have normal outdoor facing windows.…
Tyler Durden
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4
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Timer needed on bathroom vent fan?

Does the International Building Code (IBC), or International Residential Code (IRC) require a timer on bathroom vent fans? (I realize all code is local, but just trying to get the standard rule.)
bib
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