How did different insulation codes contribute to the winter storm issues in Texas? What are the origins of these different insulation codes?

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How did different insulation codes contribute to the winter storm issues in Texas? What are the origins of these different insulation codes?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Think about it this way;

Code is a way to ensure that everyone builds houses according to a decent “must-have” standard.

Code says things about all kinds of stuff. What a safe electrical installation looks like. How plumbing is supposed to work. How much weight from snow the roof should be able to handle. How to safeguard against flooding if you live close to a river. How to build a fire wall. And all kinds of shit, like that.

The problem with it is that some things are *completely and utterly unnecessary* in some places and *obviously very important in others.* There is some local adaption.

Lots of earthquakes? Codified earthquake protection.

Rat problem? Codified trash disposal facilities.

Lot’s of hurricanes? Must have a shelter. (and maybe also “uh, how about we build sturdy, ey?”)

But also things like insulation. Countries where there is snow and temperatures below freezing for months every year have code that demands sturdier walls. Code that expects the house to be able to maintain heat longer, even if the power is out.

And no-one whines about it, for the simple reason that a properly insulated house is comparably so cheap to heat that you will in the long run save money that way.

But…in a climate where you would have had good use for those well insulated walls for a week and a half, maybe two, and then you won’t need it again for a decade? The motivator is not there to build like that. The code cannot demand it, for the simple reason that it’ll be ridiculous. It’ll be a cost that nearly no-one sees the point with.