Benefits of Code Enforcement and Safe, Sanitary
and Sustainable Construction on Display in Ohio

During May's Building Safety Month celebration, Chief Building Official Mary Sampsel and staff at the Union County, Ohio, Building Department educated contractors and homeowners on the benefits of code enforcement and safe, sanitary and sustainable construction. "We put together some common issues that we experience from time to time and thought it might be a great way to educate our customers," Sampsel explained.

Department members shared a list of "Top 10 Code Violations" that they often encounter when contractors or owners do home improvement work without inspections:
  1. Hidden electrical splices
2. Illegal wiring methods
3. Grading problems
4. Combustion Air for gas appliances
5. Deck structural problems
6. Rotted and decayed wood
7. Leaky roofs
8. Attic ventilation and mold
9. Wood burning stoves and clearance to combustibles
10. Smoke detectors with no battery back-up
"We have seen too many cases over the years where a homeowner or contractor tries to avoid the permitting process to save a little money upfront, or simply is unfamiliar with the process," Sampsel said. "Some unscrupulous contractors tell owners that they don't need a permit and then proceed to take short cuts that can lead to less than satisfactory results. We want to encourage people to give us a call and let us help them work through their project."

Often the initial steps are the most important ones, Sampsel said. "While maybe not the most exciting part of that new vision, an improvement that properly follows your local building code helps protect that investment," she added. "The costs of any permits and subsequent inspections are a small percentage of the total price."
Above: Union County Building Department employees Mary Sampsel and Sandy Liedtke are pictured in front of the "Building Safety Month" display at the county commissioners' office. Several other displays can be found at area home improvement businesses.