Insurance and Local Building Codes

Insurance and local building codes will have an effect on many design decisions and should be considered in every aspect of the design process by the entire design team, including all building contractors. The contractors on the team will probably be aware of the constraints and specifications of the insurance carrier and local building codes, but the insurers and building authorities must approve the final plans.

In the U.S., you need code approval twice; first for the building plans, then, after the construction is complete. The later approval ensures that everything was installed according to code as it was documented in the approved plans.

It is important for everyone working on the project to be aware of these constraints to avoid unnecessary changes to the plans at the last minute. The best assurance of time well spent is to have a continual dialog with insurers and building authorities during the design phases.

Codes are covered in greater detail in Chapter 13, "Codes and Construction."