[Cob] RE: codes and laws

[claysandstraw]

I agree with Copper.  The key to managing codes is to create flexibility for
homeowners to build as they see fit.  "Cob" is not the only building
material out there.  Ultimately the real purpose of codes is to assign
liability when things go wrong.  A few states provide for homeowner building
permits that allow owner-builders to accept responsibility for the house
they create.  That solution makes sense to me becuase it advocates for many
materials in one sweep.

I also notice that no matter what material you are building with a negative
attitude will instantly set any inspector on the defensive.  Natural
builders should stop doing this to themselves and each other.

A final thought.  My inspector told me last week that he is required to
perform inspections for a master builder nearby who has been building more
than twice as many years as my inspector has been an adult.  There is no
way, he says, that he could criticize this builder, every visit to his site
is an opportunity for a lesson.
Cobbers, you and I need to become those master builders.

Kindra



****original message (some portions
ommitted)**************************************
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2005 16:19:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: Copper Harding <copperharding at yahoo.com>
Subject: [Cob] codes and laws


I've been watching the strawbale, earthbag, cob etc.
the "natural building" people try their hardest to get
the UBC or local building codes changed to allow
"their" type of building.  Usually the type of
building that they are totally in love with.  That
isn't to say that any of them are bad options - but
sometimes that taints the process of interaction with
building officials.

Or, on some level, makes many avoid any interaction
with them to avoid having to comply with the code.

So I was wondering, why do we have the UBC in the
first place.  Well, to protect people.  That's a good
thing in my book.  Why do we, as a natural building
community, have a problem with the UBC - in short  -
it's lack of flexibility.  Or even shorter - it denies
us something that seems to be a pretty basic and
intrinsict human drive - the drive for shelter.

So if it's that basic - why are we not talking, as a
community, about changing the law that governs our
rights from the get go?  I would recommend maybe
changing it on a state by state level (easier to
uphold as much of the building regulatory power is at
the state or even the county/city level)

I would think that many states might just be open to
changing their state constitution to protect the right
to provide one's own shelter.
*******

From: otherfish <otherfish at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Cob] codes and laws

Copper,
Good idea, but the political arena is not where it's going to be solved.....
what's needed is a concerted program make cob available in ALL building
codes....

I've been proposing this since 1995
but finding financial support has been the barrier to doing it....
it's a huge undertaking
a major commitment and the bucks to do it are what's needed