ADOPTION OF 2009 BUILDING CODES WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON CONSTRUCTION IN PENNSYLVANIA

The Lawrence County Builders Association would like to make consumers aware of a situation that will have a very large impact on the construction industry.  The adoption of the 2009 Construction Codes will have a damaging effect on consumers and businesses in Lawrence County and we ask you to join with us in urging our Legislators to support a three-year reprieve.

New home sales have hit a nine-month low. These are some of the lowest residential construction numbers we've seen in U.S. history, and economic forecasters do not anticipate an uptick in demand until well into next year.

Homebuilding in Pennsylvania remains in a deep recession. Clearly, now is an especially bad time to impose unnecessary building code regulations that add substantially to a new home's cost.

The process for developing building codes in Pennsylvania need to be changed to better control escalating costs. For instance, there are other states that do not automatically adopt the new international building codes every three years, and we think this is a change that should be considered for Pennsylvania. As of today, Pennsylvania is the only state that has adopted the new codes.

A report from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) about the impact of government regulation of housing finds that each $1,000 increase in the cost of a new, median-priced home forces 246,021 prospective buyers out of the marketplace. Using this statistic, this year's $13,000 increase in the cost of a new, median-priced home will force nearly 3.2 million prospective buyers out of the marketplace.

A number of organizations are proposing that Pennsylvania's 2006 building codes be extended for three years to allow adequate time for interested groups to discuss how the code development process can be improved to deliver quality homes at affordable prices. Those organizations include the Pennsylvania Builders Association, the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, the Manufactured Housing Association, the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association, the Pennsylvania Modular Building Systems Association and the Pennsylvania Log Home Council.

Some of the high-impact changes in the 2009 building code are found in the energy provisions. Here is a list of what these concerned organizations have identified as the highest impact changes and their estimated costs for the average single-family home.

• Increased energy requirements — estimate —$2,062
• Electrical and mechanical — estimate — $1,908.
• Structural — estimate —$1,198
• Fire sprinklers — 2,270 s.f = $7,922
• Total estimated cost of 2009 building code requirements: $13,090
• Consider, too, that for homes on wells, typical costs are even higher because of the potential need for additional components such as storage tanks and larger pumps. Owners of homes on well water need to consider how the sprinklers will operate if the power goes out or if water pressure is a problem — and solutions, like extra water tanks, pumps and generators, are costly and could drive up the cost by $1,000 or more.

• Inadequate water pressure in municipal water systems in some older Pennsylvania communities may fail to operate sprinkler systems.
• Fire sprinkler design — $400-$800 average cost = $600 in possible additional costs.

Given the slow economy, now is an especially bad time to add more government regulations on new homebuilding, which will increase costs for local governments, Pennsylvania consumers and builders at a time when all three groups are stretched financially.

We ask that you please encourage your legislators to vote in support of rolling back the 2009 codes to the 2006 version for three years until we can get businesses back on their feet and find a more efficient way of handling these building code changes.  Consumers will definitely pay a very high price if this situation is not resolved. 

For more information, please contact the Lawrence County Builders Association at 724-658-4432

HOW TO CHOOSE A REPUTABLE BUILDER

• Ask for an insurance certificate to verify current workers’ compensation and general liability insurance.

• Ask for references.  Talk with others who have had work done by the contractor about his capabilities and quality of workmanship.

• Ask to see the contractor’s work.  Check for yourself the quality of work.

• Make sure the contractor has a permanent business location and a good reputation with local banks and suppliers.

• Incorporate any warranties, guarantees or other promises in your written contract.  Always insist on a written contract and written change orders.

• Be specific about starting and completion dates.  Some delays are unavoidable and beyond the contractor’s control.

• Beware of an unusually low bid or low advertised price. If a contractor cannot pay for labor, materials and overhead, you are both in trouble.

• Select a contractor you are comfortable with – one who understands your tastes and needs and with whom you can communicate easily.

• Take you time.  Most problems occur when consumers fail to investigate contractors carefully before hiring them.

• After July 1, 2009, ask them to provide their Registration Number and verify thru the PA Attorney General's website (www.attorneygeneral.gov/hicsearch/) that they are indeed registered.