Ohio's new building codes take effect at the end of the year.
New building codes for Ohio homes have been rolled out. The goal is to make homes more energy efficient and safe without significantly raising the cost of building them.
"This is good, it will work, this is not cost prohibitive, it will save lives," said Ohio State Fire Marshal Larry Flowers.
Among the big changes are requirements that floors have material like gypsum board or wood on the underside of the flood framing to make them less susceptible to collapse in fire. Flowers is also happy with a requirement that new homes include carbon monoxide alarms outside each separate sleeping area in homes with fuel-fired appliances or attached garages.
Ice barriers on roofs will keep ice daming from being an issue. Minimum standards for insulation have also been raised and new homes will be required to have 75 percent of their light bulbs be high-efficiency.
The code changes become effective at the end of the year.
An analysis found that code changes could add between $1,100 to $1,200 to the cost of an 1,800 square foot, two-story home. However, they will save homeowners about $230 a year in energy costs.
John Pavlis, owner of a home construction company in North Canton, likes the standards. He says they include common sense changes as opposed to over-burdensome changes that could raise the cost of building by thousands. He believes that if homeowners want to go above and beyond the standards they should have the option instead of being forced.
"Let them come to my office 'I want this. I want this. This is how much it is.' We don't mind putting them in we just don't want it forced on us," he said.
He says Ohio exceeds national standards, while at the same time saving homeowners about $600.
The standards were created over the past three years.
