Pedro Santacruz
Construction
4/11/12
Dr. Hansz
What is construction and how
is it developed? There are so many
questions regarding construction, zoning, and building codes. These are the main questions and regulations
when one tries to build any type of building in the United States. Construction has different types of
construction that depend on what type of occupants it will have after it is
completed and what its use will be. That
is a major question because depending on the type of use will determine the type
of fire rating it will have. Another
factor to consider is the number of stories that will determine the type of classifications
of the building. The building plans and
the building permit are generally the first steps to take for any construction. One major constrain that government has over
constructions is the accessibility standards also known as the American with
disabilities Act (ADA). Every building
has to pass the state and federal regulations. 
What are the types of
construction and how are these determine?
There are five different types of constructions. These are determined based on its hazards
towards the occupants. The higher the
fire resistivity of the building the smaller the hazards to the occupants. The International Building Code is who
classifies the type of the building. In
order to classify a building the floors, roofs, columns, beams, exterior walls
and the exterior partitions will be checked.
These will be checked to determine the degree of fire resistance.
Type І is the most fire
resistant construction and type V is the least fire resistant. Type І and type П are composed of
noncombustible elements using materials such as steel, concrete and
masonry. These elements are used on the
structural frame of the building including the exterior walls and the
roof.
Type Ш and type ІV
constructions are made using noncombustible and combustible materials. The exteriors walls of the building are made
out of noncombustible materials and the interior of the building is composed
out of combustible materials such as wood or wood based materials. The frame is mostly constructed out of wood.
From type one to type four
there is a subdivision that further explain the compositions to the structural
framing of the building whether is wood combustible or wood non
combustible. The main difference of type
V is that the envelope and the structural framing of the building do not need
to be fire rated.
Zoning is another major
element to consider when seeking constructing a building. Zoning ordinance also known as zoning code is
a document required by the planning laws of the city or county. The primary use is to regulate the use of the
land according to the laws of the city.
Cities have created different district groups that determine the use of
the land. The district groups are the
Residential groups, Commercial district group, Industrial district group and
the Special district group. All of these
groups are subdivided in to several other groups that further explain the use
of the building. For example the
commercial group is divided in to professional, office, retail and
business.
Zoning map and Zoning text
are two other restrictions that talk about the use of the land for the present
and future. Zoning map for example explains
how much land can be used for residential use.
The city will limit the use of residential housing because later on in
the future the expansion of the city might require fire stations, shopping centers,
schools and hospitals. Zoning text on the other hand means that city has a
limit on the ground coverage and the floor area that can be used. The ground area that can be used depends on
where is located. These two areas are powerful
restrictions that limit ground coverage and volume of a building. 
Building codes are
enforceable by using the police powers vested in government as it is mention in
the book by Julian Diaz and Andrew Hansz ( Real State Analysis Environments and
Activities). The local government
enforces a series of inspections during construction and after construction to
ensure the building is being built following the local codes. The local codes will inspect the plumbing and
the slabs very carefully to insure that the building will pass. After the building passed all inspections the
developer will apply for a certificate of occupancy.
This is a brief description
of the main components that take place when trying to construct a
building. These are the rules and
regulations that have to be followed in order to obtain a building permit and
use it the building after its completion for its intended purpose. Zoning and building codes are enforced by the
city, the county, state and federal laws.
These rules and regulations are to ensure the welfare of the citizens
and occupants of the building.
Works Cited
Diaz, Julian, and J. Andrew.
Hansz. Real Estate Analysis: Environments and Activities. Dubuque, IA: Kendall
Hunt Pub., 2010. Print.
Mehta Madan,Walter
Scarborough, Diane Armpriest. Building Construction: Principals, Materials, and
Systems. New Jersey: Upper Saddle River, 2008.
Mulligan E. Donald and Kraig
Knutson. Construction and Culture: A
built Environment. 2nd Ed. Illinois: Champaign, 1999,2000,2004.
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