A new guy on a site in Charlotte said 'the code is just a suggestion' when I called him on bypassing a door lock monitor.

That mindset is a fast track to a violation notice or worse, so how do you guys handle teaching green techs that the book isn't optional?

4 comments

4 Comments

quinna892mo ago

Okay but calling the code "just a suggestion" is a bit much, but the book isn't always right either. Sometimes the code doesn't fit the actual building or the situation on site. A green tech who just follows the book without thinking might miss a real world fix that's safer and works better. The trick is knowing when you can bend a rule because you understand the reason behind it, not just ignoring stuff because it's easier.

the_keith2mo ago

Tell that to my first year of "creative" ductwork.

david_jones3824d ago

I read a forum post by an old hvac guy that said code is written for the worst case scenario, not the best one. He gave an example about duct sizing where the standard rule works for most houses, but in a really tight space you might need to adjust it a bit because the normal size just wont fit without kinking. @the_keith your "creative" ductwork probably turned out better than following some generic spec that was meant for cookie cutter builds.

laura_schmidt822mo ago

I read a plumbing inspector's blog where he said code is basically a set of minimum standards, not the only way to do things. He gave an example about drain slope, where the book says 1/4 inch per foot, but in a long run with new smooth pipe, a little less slope can actually work better to prevent solids from getting left behind. The key is you have to know why that rule exists before you change it.