The structural collapse injury attorneys at Denena & Points reply that municipal, state, and “international” building codes all might apply to construction of a single modern building. The codes govern new construction, remodeling, restoration, and repairs. Room size, ceiling height, lighting, heating, and ventilation requirements are just some of things that building codes might address.
The earliest building codes were “specification” codes (prescriptive codes) that prescribed lumber sizes; number and size of nails to be used in each connection; spacing of studs, rafters, and joists; and thickness and composition of masonry walls, among other things. In the United States, these codes originally came from three separate regional organizations. The three groups merged in 1994 to form the International Code Council (ICC). The ICC publishes the International Building Code from which most U.S. state codes are derived. The old specifications codes still apply in some states and municipalities.
The structural collapse injury attorneys at Denena & Points emphasize that the modern ICC building codes are more performance-based than specification-based. The performance-based codes indicate how a building and its component structural assemblies must perform or hold up under “live” and “dead” loads.
Both the old specifications-based and the modern performance-based codes seek to ensure that buildings are structurally sound and safe for their occupants. But modern codes that rely on computer models and calculations provide a significantly smaller margin of safety than the old building codes.
In a modern building, for instance, if a fire breaks out, high-tech alarm systems, prominent exit signs, and other devices seek to get you out of the building as quickly. This is partly because modern light construction does not withstand fire as well and the building reaches might well the point of collapse much more quickly than an old one. Old buildings had to be more fireproof and stand up to fire longer because modern warning devices were not yet available. Even after a fire goes out, the danger of structural collapse and serious injury remains.
Structural Collapse Injury Attorneys: Always FREE Initial Legal Consultations/Case Evaluations
If a structural collapse injury results from an accident, you might need the assistance of an experienced structural collapse injury attorney to help you navigate the complex path to a financial recovery for your needless injuries. Your debilitating and disabling injuries could affect all aspects of your life from work to social situations. Because structural collapse injuries are usually serious and might last your entire lifetime, it’s vital to contact an experienced law firm like Denena & Points that significantly concentrates its practice on representing injured victims of structural collapses.
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a structural collapse, you should contact Denena & Points and schedule a free legal consultation. We have the years of experience, skill, and in-depth knowledge of personal injury and wrongful death cases that you need to win your case. Call us toll free or reach us through our convenient online contact features. There is no obligation to hire a lawyer. We usually take our cases on a contingency fee basis. So there is no attorney’s fee until our structural collapse injury attorneys successfully make a fair financial recovery for you.