Until building codes catch up with the environmental and social realities at hand, the question of how to meet or beat minimum-size standards remains. If guerilla housing, variances, or pushing to have your local codes changed hold no attraction, going with the flow may be your best bet. Most of the U. S. and Canada employ what is called the International Building Code. In spite of its name, the IBC is only really used in the U. S. and Canada. While the code is often tailored at the local level, it usually reads pretty much as listed here.
All houses shall have:
— At least one room of no less than 120 sq. ft.
— Ceilings of no less than 7 ft. (except 6’-8” in unfinished basements)
— No habitable room of less than 70 sq. ft. with no dimension smaller than 7’ (except kitchens)
— A window (or second door) in every bedroom of no less than 5.7 sq. ft. total. Each must be at least 24” H x 20” W and no more than 44” above the floor
— A landing or floor on each side of all exterior doors that is no less than 36” deep x the width of the door
— Hallways of no less than 36” wide
— A door to the exterior that is no less than 36” W x 6’-8” H
— Egress for habitable basements (window wells of 9 sq. ft. or greater and 36” minimum any horizontal dimention
— Stairs of no less than 36” wide with 6’-8” headroom (except spiral stairways = 26” W x 78” H)
— Stairs with risers of no more than 7 3/4” and treads of no less than 10”.
Trailer Design Considerations (May vary by state)
— All trailers must have fenders or splashguards.
— When it is dark, all trailers must have stop lamps, a license plate light, and turn signals.
— Every trailer over 1500 pounds needs to be equipped with brakes.
— Trailers with brakes require an emergency brake system designed to activate in the event that the hitch fails.
— Tail lights are required (magnetic lights are okay).
— Trailers over 80” wide must have amber reflectors on each side and the front. Red reflectors are required in the rear.
— No vehicles in combination shall measure more than 65’ in length.
— No vehicle may be wider than 102” without a special permit.
— Mirrors, lights, etc., may extend beyond 102”, but not in excess of 10” on each side.
— No vehicle or load may exceed 13’-6” from pavement to top (14’, some areas).
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If you are making a corridor that is 20’ wide, you can make it out out of concrete; if it is 10’ wide, you should use stone; if it is 6’ wide, use fine wood; but if it is is 2’ wide, you should make it out of solid gold. — Carlo Scarpa |
