New State Building Codes Reviewed

The Niagara County Builders Association recently held their annual meeting with the building inspectors of Niagara County. This is an annual event that has been going on for many years and is greatly appreciated by the builders, remodelers  and subcontractors as well as the local town building inspectors.

Wheatfield's Building Inspector, Don MacSwan, led the discussion, during which the new building codes that are taking effect in New York State this year were reviewed. It was pointed out that the rehab code is much more concise and easier to read than it was in the past.

"The former New York State code was chaotic and made it extremely difficult just to try to determine the code's meanings," said MacSwan. It is now the builders' option to work with the old or new codes during this transition period. In January, the new codes take full effect. To make it easier to comply with the new codes, there are now separate code books for the different categories (residential, commercial, property maintenance, etc.)

The consensus from the various town building inspectors was that "We will be as patient as possible, as we are all learning."

At the conclusion of the meeting, MacSwan announced that the Town of Wheatfield will be holding a seminar in the new Community Center to review the new codes this fall.

Pictured here at their annual meeting are members of the Niagara County Builders Association (NCBA) and some Niagara County building inspectors. From left to right are Robert Coulter, Lewiston Building and Zoning Inspector, Lou Fontana and Pat Ciccarelli, Niagara Falls Building Inspectors, Stan Swogier, NCBA Vice President, Jim Kuryak, NCBA President, Jim Carney (front), Wheatfield Plumbing Inspector, Murdoch Mitchell, past NCBA President, and Don MacSwan, Wheatfield Building Inspector.