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| The Village of Rantoul Inspection
Department handles all issues concerning the Building
Codes. Here is a little more information about
Building Codes, if you have any questions, you
can contact the Inspection Department at (217)
893-1661, ext. 6826.
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| A Code is a collection of requirements
which pertain to a specific subject, to regulate
specific practices.
For example, the Code of Honor is
enforced at military schools. The Code of Honor
is a collection of requirements pertaining to
a specific subject. In this example, the requirements
are personal honor and integrity. The practices
in the Code of Honor are proper test taking, dealing
with other cadets, reporting infractions of the
code, and so on.
A second example is Traffic Code.
A Traffic Code is a collection of requirements
(driving and parking regulations) intended to
regulate practices for automobile use on public
thoroughfares.
A Building Code is a collection
of requirements (such as exit signs and smoke
detectors) which pertain to specific (such as
exiting and fire protection systems) which regulate
specific practices (such as designing, constructing
or remodeling buildings). |
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| No matter what the specific subject
may be -- construction, property maintenance,
fire prevention, electrical, or plumbing -- ALL
codes have the same purpose: To protect the public
health, safety and welfare by requiring safe construction.
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| Codes protect the public's
health, safety and welfare
We all need protection from tragedy due to fire,
structural collapse and general deterioration
of the structures that surround us: our homes,
schools, stores and manufacturing facilities.
Building Codes provide protection by reducing
potential hazards to building occupants.
Codes keep construction costs down
Codes provide uniformity in the construction industry.
This uniformity permits builders and materials
manufacturers to do business on a larger scale
-- statewide, regionally or nationally -- than
if construction was unregulated. Larger scale
allows cost savings which are ultimately passed
on to the consumer.
Codes provide consistent standards in
construction
Codes establish predictable and consistent minimum
standards which are applied to the quality and
durability of construction materials
Codes contribute to the well-being of a community
The preservation of life and safety as well as
the maintenance of property values over time are
a direct result of the application and enforcement
of Building Codes.
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| Codes are not a product of modern
civilization but, rather, have evolved from the
distant past. One of the earliest requirements
regarding regulation of a specific subject is
found in Babylonia in the Code of Hammurabi. One
of the articles held the building liable by stating
that is the house collapsed and killed the householder,
the builder "shall be slain."
By the latter part of the 19th Century
widespread loss of life and property by fire led
to the first set of building regulations in the
United States.
In 1905 the first modern code laid
the basis for testing methodology, specifications
and the various formats today's codes use. Its
specific purpose was to reduce fire hazards, but
it had a more general and humanitarian purpose:
To protect the public health, safety and welfare.
Today's BOCA National Codes carry
this early 20th century philosophy one step further
by creating uniformity in codes in large geographic
areas (such as states) and providing a process
for the codes to reflect current technology in
construction methods and materials. |
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| Code enforcement has historically
been accomplished by defraying the costs of enforcement
through a system of permit fees. These fees are
generally less that one percent of the overall
costs of a building project. Public protection
is thus obtained in a cost-effective manner with
the entire process -- from plan review to field
inspection -- carried out by professionals.
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