[Joe Fairplay]

Joe, the problem with discussing local statutes is that they are local

In my state there is no home inspector license so there are no standards and anybody can call himself a home inspector.

I hear you but those states that do not license inspections do adopt standards from one of the two home inspection organizations.
RE Agents and knowing buyers select certified inspectors to do the inspections.
Both certification organizations operate under very similar standards of practice.

 

[hdavis]

All kinds of factors come into play. HUD appraisal standards require some if the life safety to be current, for instance .

Insurance companies have their own requirements as well.

 

[G&Co.]

I hear you but those states that do not license inspections do adopt standards from one of the two home inspection organizations.

Really? Show me where the State of Michigan has adopted standards.

 

[Big Johnson]

Buy one of these and places it in the room screwed to the wall.

 

[Big Johnson]

Damn! Much ado about nothing!

I vote to tear the dump down and build new.

 

[Half-fast Eddie]

Call it a “unique vintage bedchamber” and raise the price. Maybe go to a local antique store and buy an armoire for staging.

 

[Djea3]

1) Check the local code to see if that's where the requirement comes from, and local supercedes state.

2) Determine if the code allows grandfathering or not. IRC applies only when something is being built, for instance, but NFPA 101 applies to any existing buildings, and drives a lot of upgrades.

If local code just says it must have a closet, that's it, most likely no grandfathering.

Building codes deal with design and build. Other codes deal with all structures, even existing.

IF local code says the building must be 12 ft above mean high tide then in order to sell you have to raise the house? NOPE. That is NOT how things work and with good reason. The code is actually Florida Building Code and was place in some strange area not related, it included a definition of bedroom. I just need to know the date that was initiated.

 

[Djea3]

Then that's your answer to the inspector. Tell him to produce the written requirement or retract the statement.

I don't know how it works elsewhere, I just know what I've been through in the bay area. Lots of houses were built without GFIC's, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors or low flow fixtures. All were legal at the time of construction, and have to be upgraded/installed if sold today. So not everything is grandfathered in. In this case the entire issue was dodged by calling the room a den.
Clearly the room naming was lawsuit driven, and while it might very well be arguable, it's much easier to simply sidestep the issue. What's sensible has little to do with law.

If I recall the first GFCI requirement was back in the late 70's. We are 50 years later. Most houses have replaced receptacles several times, the code does state that when replaced they must be upgraded. With regard to CO2, and smoke..no hard wiring is required (most of the new ones last 10 years). However, when a remodel takes place with a permit they still require the upgrade to hard wired three wire system for both sensors. That is a PERMIT issue not a sale issue.
However, remember that one reason these upgrades are required is INSURANCE refuses to insure so no lending can take place. The Insurance requirement TRUMPS the code. as it is a COMMERCIAL requirement.
I do not believe that even in the Bay Area there is a requirement to upgrade unless a permit for other upgrades is issued.
For sure not 20 years ago and I doubt it today.

 

[hdavis]

If I recall the first GFCI requirement was back in the late 70's. We are 50 years later. Most houses have replaced receptacles several times, the code does state that when replaced they must be upgraded. With regard to CO2, and smoke..no hard wiring is required (most of the new ones last 10 years). However, when a remodel takes place with a permit they still require the upgrade to hard wired three wire system for both sensors. That is a PERMIT issue not a sale issue.
However, remember that one reason these upgrades are required is INSURANCE refuses to insure so no lending can take place. The Insurance requirement TRUMPS the code. as it is a COMMERCIAL requirement.
I do not believe that even in the Bay Area there is a requirement to upgrade unless a permit for other upgrades is issued.
For sure not 20 years ago and I doubt it today.

Some of the town's around here inspect multifamilies periodically for life safety, and you'll get fined until you do the upgrades on what ever schedule they approve.

Hard wired, battery back up, interconnected smokes required and CO detectors.

 

[rrk]

some towns you cant have a third floor bedroom, and it cannot be grandfathered in

Also since Sandy there are some areas where the homes must be raised 10 feet, no CO will be given until its raised

 

[Djea3]

I hear you but those states that do not license inspections do adopt standards from one of the two home inspection organizations.
RE Agents and knowing buyers select certified inspectors to do the inspections.
Both certification organizations operate under very similar standards of practice.

One can take a two day course, never having worked a day in in construction in their life and have a license with a Internachi cert in a week. Same with the other ORG. I know at least 20 guys who are or were licensed inspectors that know NOTHING at all, some even came from sales jobs in automotive! I know a few good ones that are members and meet regularly. They stay away from the bad one altogether. One report I read a few days ago stated Outdoor "GFCI" cover loose. Referenced to hire an experienced electrician. The problem was" that building has ONLY ONE GFCi in a single bathroom, the outdoor are RECEPTACLES and have never been GFI since 1955. This is the kind of crap you get most of the time.

 

[Djea3]

Some of the town's around here inspect multifamilies periodically for life safety, and you'll get fined until you do the upgrades on what ever schedule they approve.

Hard wired, battery back up, interconnected smokes required and CO detectors.

I jut noticed you are from a blue state. A state where I believe they had inspections annually by a tax collector who assessed value of furnishings in your home and taxed you. Until it was determined to be an unlawful search under the Constitution. I bet you have to have a special license to rent half of a duplex..the license then allows entry into the property the intent being to violate the constitution, unreasonable search.
Almost the same as the annual tax on goods in stores by almost every state. On tax day we used to land all the tires from our tire shops into rented trucks and place them on the road. They were not in stock and not on the property. We saved tens of thousands in taxes every year. Until it the tax was eliminated as it was a double tax.
I get that there need to be some controls and safety, however there is a limit and entering my property to inspect without a warrant is the limit, period. I chased three armed bandits with fake badges (Local Sheriff Deputies) out of my backyard one day. I actually called them armed bandits with fake badges and told them I was going in to get my rifle and come out and kill these bandits. They RAN from my property. It was all on body cam and they had already violated my rights by even entering the property. ROFL.

 

[G&Co.]

I would be curious to know the reason for a closet requirement. People have done just fine for thousands of years with armoires and similar storage furniture. And still do in most of the world. And not just poor people. If you go to Ikea's bedroom storage section, they have many freestanding closets that are more elaborate (and some bigger) than a small bedroom built-in closet.

 

[G&Co.]

Dj, love your political rant but your red state requires closets and my blue state doesn't, so not sure where you're going with that...

 

[hdavis]

I would be curious to know the reason for a closet requirement. People have done just fine for thousands of years with armoires and similar storage furniture. And still do in most of the world. And not just poor people. If you go to Ikea's bedroom storage section, they have many freestanding closets that are more elaborate (and some bigger) than a small bedroom built-in closet.

Install a free standing and you have an instant closet

 

[Mordekyle]

I got two words for ya-

Arm-war


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Porterfarm]

So......does my house from 1854 that does not have closets now has no bedrooms???

Oh my where am I to sleep?

And if I generally fall asleep on my chair in front of the TV, does that make my living room a bedroom?

The electrical code did change their terminology, or the use of the word bedroom, to sleeping area. This way they no longer had to play with semantics. The court would need to figure it out.
Smoke detector required in all sleeping areas.....

So, the inspector giving ce classes, said when in doubt throw up another detector.

Here you have to add, the required detectors battery or hardwired, upon transfer of property, or any electric permit.

Hardwired interconnected are required in the area for the permit and any adjacent area. Bedroom next to bedroom and possible hallway ....

Unless it's just a service upgrade.

Twenty years ago we were adding electric baseboard to second floor bedrooms here upon property sales. Bedrooms had no heat. Some one required heat in bedrooms at that time. Not certain FHA, HUD or o local.

 

[hdavis]

Code now requires heat in habitable areas. No heat, it isn't habitable.

 

[Rio]

Can undercut bedrooms door to comply our here, not very practical but it passes.

 

[hdavis]

Can undercut bedrooms door to comply our here, not very practical but it passes.

Doesn't pass here.