By ANNE MILLER, Staff writer  First published: Wednesday, October 23, 2002

Building code rules put state in step 
Updated regulations are uniform, more flexible for renovations and 
put New York in synch with nation

COLONIE -- Changes in the state building code will spur development,
encourage historic renovations and benefit the construction industry as well
as hammer-wielding homeowners -- all of which local government officials
learned more about at a three-day conference on the new regulations that
bring New York into synch with 48 other states.

State officials said savings from the new code will trickle down to
homeowners. Most industry experts agree with the rosy predictions but say
the lower costs will take time to kick in.

The rules are easier to understand, no longer requiring detailed
cross-referencing to find out what kind of nail to use for Sheetrock, for
example. That should be particularly helpful to do-it-yourself homeowners,
said Donald Cropsey, the chief building inspector for Guilderland.

"If you as a homeowner wanted to nail a stud, the (new) code is very
specific about that," he said.

For New York's code, this is the first statewide change in almost 40 years.
A six-month transition period began July 3. Through Dec. 30 the new or the
old regulations can be used. Starting next year, only the new code applies.

A separate energy code became law in New York, without a transition period,
on July 3.

The new code will increase building in New York, said Theresa Wescott, a
spokeswoman for the state Department of State. "It makes it easier to
follow. It's more professional. It makes it easier to use from a development
perspective, and easier to enforce by building inspectors."

The changes leave few buildings in the state untouched from some type of
altered regulation. The differences range from homeowners now needing
permits for certain roof repairs to changing the classifications of colleges
from industry to business, which gives the schools some building leeway.

Previously, only New York and Wisconsin used building codes different from
the other 48 states. Using the nationwide code makes it easier for
out-of-state developers to build in New York. They won't have to learn a
whole new set of rules.

"We've been lobbying for this change for years and years," said Barbara
Rodriguez, the executive vice president of the American Institute of
Architects of New York State. "We think it's going to level the playing
field."

But for now, architects and builders are redrawing libraries of housing and
development plans that they have used for decades.

Couple those extra hours with the new materials required by the revamped
energy code, and that translates into a few thousand additional dollars on a
new home in a suburban development next year, said Paul Zullo, a senior
architect for Marini Builders.

"We don't recreate the wheel," Zullo said. "Through years of business we
have stock plans. To comply with this code, we have to redraw our library of
plans."

For the first time, the state building code will not hold renovations of
older buildings to the same standards as the new ones. Previously, expensive
and time-consuming permit variances were required for many inner-city
renovation projects, according to Elizabeth Griffin, executive director of
the Historic Albany Foundation.

"Without completely rebuilding them you can't bring them up to modern
building codes," she said.

Griffin expects to see the biggest change in vacant buildings that require
new plumbing and electrical systems, and basics like stairwells. The code,
Griffin said, would serve commercial redevelopment of brownstones
particularly well.

She cited an example of an older building bought at auction recently. The
building had been gutted, and the stairs were gone. But the stairwell was
much narrower than the modern codes call for. Before July, the owner could
either ask the city for a variance or spend large sums ripping out walls.
With the new code, Griffin said, he can keep the well, have smaller stairs,
and save money.

Already she sees a difference.

"A lot of people are looking at buildings with the new codes in mind," she
said.