Welcome to this new series featured in the BATC Digest. This is your opportunity to submit your residential construction and Minnesota building and energy code questions to be answered by a local building industry expert. We are pleased that Peter Kulczyk of Green Code Knowledge is available to answer your questions.
Question: What is the difference between a Building Official, Building Inspector, Code Official and Chief Building Inspector?
Answer: The State of Minnesota Building Code (referred to as the “code”) only refers to the Building Official, who is the administrative authority of the code in his or her jurisdiction. Some folks refer to the Building Official as the Code Official. A Building Inspector typically works as a site inspector under the authority of the Building Official. In larger jurisdictions, there is sometimes a Chief Building Inspector appointed as a supervisor for the Building Inspectors. In many documents and training programs the four titles are often used interchangeably for convenience. In reality, it doesn’t make much difference what title is used.
Question: Does the code require that a proposed new house have a particular minimum square footage of floor area?
Answer: No. There is no minimum square footage addressed in the code except for some specific room areas within the house, such as 120 square feet of floor area for at least one room and 70 square feet minimum for sleeping rooms. A jurisdiction can establish minimum house floor areas in their local zoning code.
Peter has three decades of extensive experience in the construction and building codes industry as an author, educator and experienced in residential building codes, energy codes and green building practices. His background includes working on staff with the International Code Council, as an Instructor with the State of Minnesota Building Code Division, as a municipal Building Inspector and in various positions with residential and commercial construction companies in Minnesota. Peter is certified by the International Code Council as a Building Inspector, Plans Examiner, and Green Building-Residential. He is also certified by the State of Minnesota as a Certified Building Official and Certified Instructor.
Please submit your questions to: ask@batc.org. Everyone who submits a question will receive 50 BATC Bucks. If we use your question in an Ask The Building Inspector column, you will be entered into a random drawing for a $50 gift card (one gift card awarded per column). *
* You can only receive 50 BATC Bucks and/or win a $50 gift card once.
