Granting Modifications to the Building Code
Last weekend I went to visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s home, Taliesen in Spring Green, WI. When you realize that architects were still building Victorian homes when he began working, his genius is truly amazing. It’s definitely worth the trip. A person on the tour asked whether Frank Lloyd Wright ever had problems with building inspectors.
The tour guide said that he had, in fact, run into problems with building inspectors over the course of his career. I did a little research and found some interesting information. Here is an example from the book Frank Lloyd Wright and the Johnson Wax Building which discusses how Wright submitted to a load test for the “petals” holding up the structure. The state inspector required it to hold 12 tons. That wasn’t good enough for Wright. (He had a very large ego). Wright continued to have more weight added to the top. The “petal” ended up holding 60 tons.
Building officials have the power they need to work with geniuses like Wright by approving alternative methods of construction, design and materials under IBC 104.11 if the intent of the code is met. Many inspectors are dealing with green technology and using this provision to approve techniques and materials that were unheard of 50 years ago.
- Taliesen
