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county DUllOlng L~oOe c~nange Kequest From: To: Cc: Subject: Sent: Mel Murray [SMTP:mrmurray~carolina.rr.com] cbcarpenter~¢o.cabarrus.nc.us County Building Code Change Request 12/19/2002 4:09 PM Importance: Norma Mel Murray Dr. Tara Chronister 82 Bridlewood Place Concord, NC 28025 704-792-1589 Dear Mrs. Carpenter: I am writing to ask you to consider a minor change to the building code concerning swimming pools. Currently the state residential building code has provisions for building codes based upon the Amedcan National Standards Institute (ANS0 and the National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI). The code is located in Appendix D of the building code but is not implemented state wide due to provisiorr ~14.1 in the General section of the code which requires enforcement only when-the local jurisdictio~ specifically adopts Appendix D. So, why does Cabarrus County need building codes for swimming pools? My pool is an example of why this code is needed. Qne year ago my wife and t contracted with a company we believed had the best reputation in the county. What we did not know is the company- had been solc[ to someone with no prior construction experience. The plumbing ia our pool-was not pressure-tested and now we have a leak in a line located under the pool - something that can not be repaired without destroying the pool. Because of this-our spa sits with no water in it and is simply a useless-hole in the ground.-Had-these standards-been in force in Cabarrus County the building inspectors would-have ensured the contractor conducted a pressure test of the plumbing. We also have steps outside the peel that3ead to an upper portion Qf the pool complex. The risers for the steps range from 8 inches to 13 inches, clearly violating the unadopted code. However,-because Cabarrus County has not adopted Appendix D-of the state-code, the inspectors were powerless to do anything about it. The contractor refused to demolish them and reinstall them even. 4 hired-a state certified engineer who issued a report calling the stairs dangerous and cited numerous violations of the code (which, again;, has not been adopted locally}. Had these same stairs been built inside a home the building inspectors would have stopped the contractor immediately. I could not believe the building inspectors we unable to inspect a structure with such glaring safety hazards. I have discussed this situation with Scott McAnulty, chief inspector, and he stated that unless the county commission adopts Appendix D of the state residential buirding code the situation will continue. Swimming pool contractors will continue to violate the ANSI/NSPI standards leaving the homeowner no recourse except to pursue the matter in court. Mr. McAnulty is very much in favor of the adoption of Appendix D of the code and had provided encouragement to me in the pursuit of this matter. I would be happy to personally show you our swimming pool and point out the numerous safety hazards built into it because the state code is not enforced in our county. I urge you-to adopt-Appendix D of the NC residential building code for enforcemerrt-in Cabarru~ County. I' can not think ora single reason why these provisions should not be adopted. Thank you for your time. Please call if you haveany questions. Met Murray and Tara Chmnister https :~ ~www~c~cabarrus~nc~ us/exchang~f~rms/~P M/N ~TE/read~asp-? c~mma~a~r&~bj=~ 1-/24/03