Page 5 - CodeWatcher Summer 2017

Code Warrior Ron Jones, Code Warrior

ron@thegreenbuilder.com
@CodeWarriorRon on Twitter

Codes in the Headlines

Serious code issues never make the news … unless it’s about

a disaster or sensational failure.

ADLY, WE USUALLY ONLY hear or read about top-tier group of professional, award winning journalists
codes in the wake of disasters involving buildings who specialize in all things real estate. Well, almost all things.
and other manmade structures. A good case in After attending numerous presentations and speaking
point is the recent catastrophic fire in a London directly with a couple of dozen of these NAREE writers
Shigh-rise apartment building where it is alleged and editors it became totally clear that codes, regulations,
that unapproved, possibly illegal, materials were used in a energy efficiency, resiliency, and any topics falling under
renovation that resulted in extensive destruction and tragic the category of sustainable development and building are
loss of life. simply not on their radar screens.
All too often we learn about structural failures resulting This is not an indictment of these folks; after all, they write
in scores of deaths caused by faulty engineering and and report about what their readers want, which turns out
“If we hope to make building

codes relevant to the
population at large we are

going to have to come up

with much more compelling

ways of expressing their
importance and give

everyone who has a stake in

shelter and the built
construction, the use of substandard components,
inadequate safety systems, improper utilization of spaces, environment a reason to pay
and so on. In truth, even these types of events make the news
hour or the front page only because they are too sensational attention to the subject.’
to be ignored by the viewer or reader.
The reason for the absence of coverage related to building to be information and data on real estate investment and the
codes and regulations is pretty obvious; they’re just not sexy business side of the industry. Apparently, they are just not
topics for most people. Those who produce news coverage being asked about much of anything other than the bottom
are in the business of attracting eyeballs and, frankly, code line. They discuss the topic of affordability extensively
development, adoption, and enforcement are not very exciting and dissect it in great detail but from the perspective of
subjects that stop people and grab their attention. A building profitability only.
that performs the way it is intended to is not newsworthy. If we hope to make building codes relevant to the
I already knew this but that didn’t prevent me from coming population at large we are going to have to come up with
away quite stunned by the lack of interest on the part of real much more compelling ways of expressing their importance
estate writers I talked with at the recent summer conference and give everyone who has a stake in shelter and the built
of the National Association of Real Estate Editors. This is a environment a reason to pay attention to the subject. CW

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