Cob: misprint

[Howard Switzer]

<John Fordice wrote:
>
> While my following comments may not solve any immediate conflicts
> between regulation and the desire to build with natural materials, there
> is here a very important issue here.
>

I would like to reiterate what John say's for what I have to say as well and
thank him for the very good explanation of why we have building codes today
and what the issues are for natural materials.

I think what John says can also be applied generally to the issues before us
on sustainable developement and all issues of the planet's future as well.
It is the idea that, as John says,  "Once the artifact is created, it goes
beyond us and will at some point be used by others," that is the heart of
the issue. Further he points out "The problem with the codes relative to
natural materials is that like any tools, they are only as good as their
design....The codes as they exist are not designed for natural materials." I
think it safe to say that the dominant governance on the planet in general
was not designed for sustainable development. I was especially pleased with
John's last sentence, "Until we take control of the codes & make sure that
they define & allow the individual freedom to build with natural materials
on a SOUND basis that you espouse, we will be victim to our own inability to
organize into an effective force for positive change."

We should NOT miss any opportunity to organize in support of any movement
toward positive change. Especially any which would esconce the primacy of
sustainability and individual freedom prominantly in its platform, er uh
...principles, er uh ...foundations.

...ah hem,
howard switzer



> Building codes exist as a response to a history of inadequate
> construction.  While each of us on this list may be geniuses & able to
> build flawlessly while standing on one foot ( please excuse the
> lighthearted sarcasm here ), there are a world of folks out there with a
> gaziillion different motivations who want to build and who are
> unfortunately neither so flawlessly nor righteously endowed.  The point
> being, that thru either ignorance or questionable will, there are folks
> who will make bad decisions in how to build.  This is why codes exist.
>
> A response to this may be: "So who cares, it's my building & nobody
> else's business."  Fair enough..... except for the fact that what we
> build transcends us.  Once the artifact is created, it goes beyond us
> and will at some point be used by others.  It is the either intentional
> or unintentional charlatanism in not building on a sound physical basis
> that is the root of the problem which codes have been created to resolve.
>
> Please understand that the building codes are just a tool.  They are the
> result of a lot of work by alot of very intelligent people and contain a
> wealth of information.  The problem with the codes relative to natural
> materials is that like any tools, they are only as good as their design.
>  As Mr. Natural sez, "Use the right tool for the job".  The codes as
> they exist are not designed for natural materials.  Much to the credit
> of the folks who write the codes, they have kept their applicability
> open in spite with the maddening fascination of the majority of our
> culture with industrial consumerism and proprietary greed.
>
> What I mean by all this is that while the shoe of codes may not
> currently fit our desires to escape barefooted from lunacy, the vehicle
> to do so does exist in the code.  The code can be changed.  To do so
> will require an act of will on our part.  It is a huge task requiring
> devotion, time & $$$, but it can be done.
>
> So while the codes may drive you nuts, they do serve a useful purpose.
> It is up to us to change them, as nobody else is going to do it, and for
> the majority of folks, they are not going to go away.  Escape them &
> subvert them if it is your desire & if you can.  Just remember, that
> while each of us may create our own personal refuge from the madness,
> the bigger problem is still there.  Until we take control of the codes &
> make sure that they define & allow the individual freedom to build with
> natural materials on a SOUND basis that you espouse, we will be victim
> to our own inability to organize into an effective force for positive
change.
>
> Cob on.
>
> john fordice
> maker of cobbers thumbs
> &
> The Cob Code Project
>
>