Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
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Amanda Butterfield ReportingWe're in the midst of a huge housing boom with people building, remodeling and selling their homes more than ever. It has some fire officials a little concerned over safety.
Boyd Johnson: "We're seeing homes in cases as large as 14 maybe 17-thousand square feet."
Some of the homes being built today would be considered commercial buildings years ago, three stories high sometimes, burrowed in canyons. And if a home like this went up in flames, it could be hard for crews to fight.
Boyd Johnson: "You just can't build anything anywhere."
That's where the International Fire codes come in. It's all about safety.
Chief Steve Foote, South Salt Lake Fire Dept.: “All these are based on events of the past. It’s based upon experience.”
Now if you're thinking, ‘I'm not building a new home, I just want to add on a little here, I don't need to know the fire codes…’
Chief Steve Foote: "Okay, add outlets, string extra line, go off this one breaker, all sudden overloading circuits."
If you're not even remodeling....
Chief Steve Foote: "When you're starting to make little upgrades and repairs, be aware of latest technology there for your safety."
That may have kept an older home from going up in flames this morning. If it was built today it would not be up to fire code. Chances are you can probably get away without following fire codes, but that’s a risk you take that could be dangerous for your home.
If you're adding on, remodeling, or building, and want to check out the fire codes, you can find them at the web site to the top right of this story.
