Pa to see changes to State Uniform Construction Code-Good for the Housing Market?

Pa to see changes to State Uniform Construction Code-Good for the Housing Market?

Changes in the 2009 state Uniform Construction Code are set to take effect this year as well as a number changes that go into effect next year. Some of these changes are going to be easy enough to handle on the job site, and some will not increase cost, others however will be difficult at both the job site and the selling model. There is enough concern from the new construction arena that money to purchase new homes is hard enough to get from banks and lending institutions. Now here are a whole lot more reasons to be fearful of the new home construction business. Lets take a look at some of the changes that look to be some of the more difficult to deal with for both builders as well as buyers.

- As of Jan 1, 2010 all new townhome construction must include sprinkler systems.
- As of Jan 1, 2011 all new single family home construction must include sprinkler systems
- Tamper proof electrical receptacles will be required in all new building construction
- Steel pipe hangers will be the only material allowed for pipe hanging
- All forced air heating systems will be required to have programmable thermostats
- Utility closets will be required to be 12 the size of the water heater

These are just a few of the more stringent changes that are coming into effect, we all know these changes are going to greatly increase the cost of building a structure making an already devastated new construction market even more unstable. In my humble opinion I think the timing here is going to bring the new home construction industry to it's knee's. Hold on folks....